Salesforce’s Struggling Stock Needs Earnings to Show AI Progress

After months of pain, Salesforce Inc. investors will be scrutinizing the software maker’s upcoming earnings for signs it will be a winner in the artificial intelligence boom — or one of its most high-profile victims.

Salesforce shares are down 24% this year, putting them among the 30 worst-performing stocks in the S&P 500 Index. It’s been a swift reversal for what had been a bright light in the market, soaring over 150% in 2023 and 2024 combined. The plunge has been particularly dramatic in light of the strong showings by software giants like Microsoft Corp., Oracle Corp., and Palantir Technologies Inc., all of whom are considered to be stronger in AI.