New York, Jan 23, 2026, 19:11 EST — After-hours
- Salesforce (CRM) shares edged down 0.02% to $228.05 on Friday, holding steady in after-hours trading
- Salesforce unveiled new MuleSoft tools designed to automatically detect and catalog AI “agents” operating across leading cloud platforms
- Traders are eyeing Monday’s open and next week’s Fed decision to set the tone for rate-sensitive software stocks
Salesforce (CRM) shares edged down 4 cents to $228.05 during Friday’s regular session and barely moved in after-hours trading. Investors digested the company’s new efforts to control the rise of AI “agents” within major corporations. The stock fluctuated between $227.00 and $230.77, starting the day at $226.78.
The timing is key as the software sector lags behind the broader AI tech surge. Investors remain divided over how AI agents will impact subscription revenues. The main concern: if automation handles more tasks, companies might actually require fewer paid users down the line, despite a potential uptick in spending on AI-driven features. 1
Salesforce is spinning this as a reason to buy deeper into its stack, not pull back. Their angle: control and trust — clear insight into what agents are doing, what they can access, and who’s on the hook when things go wrong.
Salesforce revealed on Thursday that it has upgraded MuleSoft Agent Fabric, its integration software, by adding “Agent Scanners.” These new tools automatically detect and catalog agents across multiple platforms, including Salesforce’s Agentforce, Amazon Bedrock, Google Cloud’s Vertex AI, and Microsoft Copilot Studio. Andrew Comstock, a MuleSoft executive, said companies that tap into the full range of the multicloud AI ecosystem will gain an advantage. AT&T architect Brad Ringer described the framework as “a massive accelerator” for advancing its AI strategy. 2
Salesforce is revamping the partner channel it relies on to roll out its systems. Phil Samenuk, senior VP of alliances and channels for the Americas, told CRN the firm plans to launch a new partner program early in fiscal 2027, which begins Feb. 1. The program will include annual reviews based on certifications and customer outcomes, along with tweaks to incentives and enablement. He noted Salesforce’s ecosystem has “around 16,000-plus partners,” with partners driving over half of Agentforce client projects. Plus, 72% of customers continue using agents after a partner-led rollout. 3
Stories like that plumbing-and-services angle can break through a sluggish software market: they move the focus from just a “nice demo” to how quickly companies can roll out, manage, and track these tools. Plus, it passes some of the sales load to partners who profit from the implementation work.
A regulatory filing on Friday revealed that Salesforce President and Chief Engineering Officer Srinivas Tallapragada sold 657 shares at $228.09 each to cover taxes from restricted stock unit vesting. This is a standard move related to his compensation. 4
In its December earnings report, Salesforce raised its full-year revenue forecast to a range between $41.45 billion and $41.55 billion. The company highlighted strong demand for AI capabilities embedded in its cloud offerings, Reuters noted. 5
Still, the downside risk remains. Should customers cut back on IT budgets or if AI-driven features simply reshape usage without boosting overall subscription revenue, growth could fall short despite a surge in product launches.
With the regular session wrapped for the week, focus shifts to the macro front: the Federal Reserve’s meeting on Jan. 27-28, with a rate decision expected Jan. 28, will probably influence growth stocks. Earnings from major tech firms around that time could also shift risk sentiment, and software companies like Salesforce usually follow those trends. 6
