Salesforce shares skyrocket 8% after stellar fiscal third-quarter earnings report
Mega cloud software provider Salesforce impressed investors with its fiscal third-quarter earnings, causing its stock to rise more than 8% in extended trading on Wednesday. The innovative company managed to exceed analysts’ estimates in both earnings and revenue.
Earnings and revenue surpass expectations
Salesforce declared, after the closing bell, adjusted earnings of $2.11 per share, compared to the expected $2.06 per share projected by LSEG. Furthermore, their revenue hit $8.72 billion, closely matching the $8.72 billion forecasted by LSEG. This represents an 11% increase from the previous year’s $7.84 billion.
The challenging times and shareholder reaction
Despite the challenging business environment, Salesforce experienced a 70% rise in its stock this year, outperforming the Nasdaq, which posted a 36% increase. Noteworthy is the company’s success in reducing expenses, significantly increasing profitability. A restructuring plan initiated in January included slashing 10% of jobs and downsizing office space.
Projections for the future
On Wednesday, Salesforce executives upped their fiscal 2024 forecast for operating cash flow growth to 33% from 30%. Additionally, they projected revenue for the fiscal fourth quarter to increase about 10% to between $9.18 billion and $9.23 billion. The target was slightly above the $9.21 billion expected by LSEG.
CEO’s perspective
Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff expressed pride in his team’s ability to execute a profitable growth plan while delivering an $8.7 billion in revenue. In the press release, he also mentioned their raised operating margin guidance for this fiscal year as a significant achievement.
Revenue breakdown
Salesforce’s biggest unit, which provides customer support, saw a 12% spike with revenue reaching $2.07 billion. Similarly, their sales software segment enjoyed a 12% increase, reaching $1.9 billion. Additionally, their platform and other revenue, incorporating Slack, increased by 11% to $1.69 billion.
Market reaction and outlook
Following the earnings report, Salesforce shares rose to $250, positioning them at around 20% off their record high from two years ago. Overall, the company seems to be on a consistent upward trajectory, achieving success even in challenging conditions.
