Salesforce Q2 outlook mixed, TD Cowen keeps 'Hold' on stock as growth slows

Published 19/08/2024, 12:58
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On Monday, TD Cowen maintained its Hold rating on Salesforce.com (NYSE:CRM) stock with a set price target of $285.00. The firm's analysis comes ahead of the company's second-quarter earnings report, which is scheduled for release on August 28, 2024. The assessment by TD Cowen indicates a mix of positive and challenging signals for the customer relationship management giant.

TD Cowen's recent partner survey has shown a quarter-over-quarter improvement in Salesforce.com's growth execution within commercial markets. This suggests that the company has made strides in expanding its reach and enhancing its sales performance in this segment. The upbeat note on commercial market growth provides a contrast to the previous quarter's results.

However, the firm's system integrator (SI) checks reveal that Salesforce.com is still facing hurdles in securing larger enterprise deals. These challenges persist despite the company's efforts to bolster its standing with big corporate clients. The difficulty in landing substantial enterprise contracts could potentially impact the company's revenue growth from this crucial customer base.

Despite these enterprise-level challenges, TD Cowen anticipates Salesforce.com to deliver second-quarter results that align with market expectations. The firm also expects the company to maintain its growth guidance for the fiscal year 2025. This projection indicates a belief in the company's ability to sustain its growth trajectory in the near term.

Furthermore, TD Cowen sees a possibility for Salesforce.com to report an upside on its margins. This would imply that the company might achieve better profitability than currently forecasted. Such an outcome could be a result of cost management or higher-than-expected revenue growth.

Salesforce.com's transition to single-digit growth is expected to start in the second quarter, a factor that has influenced TD Cowen's decision to maintain the Hold rating on the stock.

InvestingPro Insights

As Salesforce.com (NYSE:CRM) gears up for its second-quarter earnings report, investors are closely monitoring the company's performance metrics. According to real-time data from InvestingPro, Salesforce has a market capitalization of $254.76 billion, reflecting its significant presence in the software industry. The company's P/E ratio stands at 46.63, which, while on the higher side, is supported by an impressive gross profit margin of 76.0% over the last twelve months as of Q1 2025. This margin strength underscores the company's efficiency and could be a contributing factor to potential margin upsides as suggested by TD Cowen.

InvestingPro Tips reveal that Salesforce.com has a perfect Piotroski Score of 9, indicating a very healthy financial state, which may reassure investors about the company's fundamentals ahead of the earnings report. Additionally, the company's cash flows have been robust enough to sufficiently cover interest payments, a sign of financial stability. For those considering a deeper dive into Salesforce's financial health and future prospects, InvestingPro offers 10 additional tips on their platform.

The InvestingPro Fair Value estimate of $302.38 for Salesforce.com slightly exceeds the TD Cowen price target, suggesting that there may be room for growth. With the next earnings date on the horizon, these insights could prove valuable for investors weighing their positions in Salesforce.com.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

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