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Wall Street is taking a hard look at Salesforce following its latest earnings report, sparking a mixed reaction. The stock is a member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and one of the index’s newer dividend-paying components, which makes the recent analyst action all the more noteworthy for income investors.Goldman Sachs lowered its price target on Salesforce (CRM) stock to $281, down from $330, while keeping a “buy” rating on the tech stock, per Tipranks.It’s a significant reset but not an exit call, given the investment bank still sees upside from current levels.

Salesforce is optimistic on its widening AI moat.Bloomberg/Getty Images

Goldman Sachs trims CRM stock outlookSalesforce’s revenue, subscription revenue, and earnings margins all beat Wall Street expectations. For its fiscal fourth quarter ending Jan. 31, the company reported the following, per CNBC.Salesforce reported revenue of $11.20 billion versus estimates of $11.18 billion.Comparatively, adjusted EPS stood at $3.81 above estimates of $3.04. CRM forecast fiscal 2027 revenue at a midpoint estimate of $46 billion, indicating year-over-year growth of 10%, which was in line with consensus. Related: Salesforce quietly cuts hundreds in AI-related layoffsHowever, it guided operating margins about 60 basis points below what analysts had penciled in.That margin miss, even if modest, spooked some investors who were hoping for more profit expansion alongside revenue growth.The bigger question Goldman flagged is hovering over Salesforce for months: Can the company turn its artificial intelligence product, Agentforce, into a durable growth engine before newer competitors close the gap?Is Salesforce a top dividend stock to own?Down 47% from all-time highs, Salesforce stock offers shareholders a dividend yield of 0.9%. Given an annual payout of $1.76 per share, the yearly dividend expense for CRM stock is about $1.65 billion. Comparatively, its free cash flow is forecast to increase from $14.40 billion in fiscal 2026 to $15.9 billion in 2027 and $21 billion in 2030. CRM has enough to more than double its dividend and still reinvest in growth projects and accretive acquisitions. CRM stock: Key dividend metricsAnnual dividend: Salesforce established a rate of $1.76 per share.Dividend yield: It reached approximately 0.9%, based on recent share price.Payout ratio: It represented about 10.4% of FCF.Dividend growth: Salesforce initiated its dividend in early 2024, marking a new chapter for the stock. Share repurchase authorization: At $50 billion, it was one of the largest buyback programs in software history.Free cash flow: The company generated more than $14 billion in free cash flow in fiscal 2026, returning 99% to shareholders via dividends and buybacks.The buyback program is arguably the more important capital return story here. The ongoing drawdown allows shareholders to “buy the dip” and benefit from a growing dividend payout over time. Salesforce’s Agentforce momentum is real Here’s what’s working in Salesforce’s favor. Agentforce, its AI-powered platform for automating customer service and other business functions, has grown from essentially zero to an annualized revenue run rate of $800 million in just 15 months. CRM closed 29,000 Agentforce deals, up 50% quarter over quarter (QoQ), which indicates this product is gaining massive commercial traction. Salesforce General Manager Madhav Thattai shared his perspective.Chief Executive Officer Marc Benioff said on the earnings call that Salesforce has processed mroe than 19 trillion AI tokens to date.It also introduced a new metric, Agentic Work Units (AWUs), to better track the actual work its AI agents complete on behalf of customers.  In the fourth quarter alone, the platform delivered 771 million AWUs.On the customer side, names such as Wyndham Hotels, SharkNinja, and General Motors are already using Agentforce at scale. More Dividend Stocks:Lowe’s rival hikes dividend payout again in 2026Costco banks on membership growth to drive dividend payoutThe Dow’s best dividend stocks: A shortlist for income investorsWyndham reported5,000 Agentforce deployments across 8,300 hotels, along with a 2% increase in direct bookings tied to AI voice agents.Combined Agentforce and Data 360 annualized revenue, including Informatica, now exceeds $2.9 billion, up more than 200% YoY.The SaaS giant also boosted its fiscal 2030 revenue target to $63 billion, up from a prior target of more than $60 billion.What is the CRM stock price target?Analysts tracking Salesforce forecast revenue to increase from $41.53 billion in fiscal 2026 to $60 billion in fiscal 2030. In this period, free cash flow is forecast to expand from $14.4 billion to $21 billion. If CRM stock trades at 15x forward FCF, which is above the current multiple, it could return over 70% over the next three years. Out of the 40 analysts covering CRM stock, 29 recommend “strong buy,” 10 recommend “hold,” and one recommends “strong sell.”The average CRM stock price target is $275, 41% above current levels. Related: Salesforce quietly raised its dividend to pacify activist funds

TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.Why we love this dealAs much as we might hate the extreme heat of July or frigid winds of January, during the summer and winter seasons, it’s at least easier to know which clothes will work and which won’t. But those in-between times, like the not-quite-warm, not-quite cold early spring and late fall time periods, are fairly hard to dress for. You don’t want to leave the house in something too heavy where you’ll be sweating before you even reach the car, but you also don’t want to opt for something too light to the point where you’ll have a constant chill you can’t kick even despite the sun being out. When it comes to staying comfortable in those transitional times, your best bet is a midweight jacket that you can layer on top of or rock by itself and still know that you’ll be comfortable and cozy no matter where you are or what you’re doing. And with spring right around the corner, there’s no better time to grab one than right now.Columbia is selling the Castle Dale Full-Zip Jacket for 50% off, meaning you can skip paying the usual price of $55 and get it for only $28. The versatile piece of apparel comes in standard, big, and tall sizes, meaning that every sort of silhouette can enjoy wearing it no matter their height or size. Castle Dale Full-Zip Jacket, $28 (was $55) at Columbia

Courtesy of Columbia

Why do shoppers love it?A heavy winter coat will start to get old come March or April. It might do the trick for the rare time that the weather still hits in the 20s and 30s in those early days of spring, but as we inch closer and closer to summer, you’re going to want something a bit lighter, but still quite insulated. You can’t go wrong with this Columbia jacket. Made from a 100% polyester microfleece, the jacket is super soft, with a double-sided brushed finish that feels super cozy and keeps you warm without weighing you down. Although polyester isn’t super breathable, it is moisture-wicking and fast-drying which means an unusually warm day won’t leave you damp with sweat. It’s also an anti-pilling fabric, which means your apparel stays in tip-top shape no matter how many times you wear it.The jacket has comfort stretch which, in simpler terms, means it’s engineered with elastic fibers to give the fabric flexibility and pliability, making it move with your body instead of working against it. It has a short collar and a zipper closure that runs the entire length of the front of the jacket. Two pockets are available for keeping hands warm or holding smaller items, and the classic black and white Columbia tag is stitched into the upper lefthand corner of the jacket. Related: Columbia is selling its award-winning lightweight running shoe for 50% offAvailable in seven colors, sizing is what is truly unique about this jacket. It doesn’t only come in standard sizes small through XXL, but for larger frames, you can choose sizes 1X through 6X and LT through 5XT for taller individuals. It can be machine washed, and for best results, you should wash it in cold water on a gentle cycle and tumble dry on low heat. Details to knowMaterial: 100% polyester microfleece.Colors: Seven.Sizes: In standard sizes, the jacket is available S through XXL. In big sizes, it’s available in 1X through 6X. In tall sizes, it’s available in LT through 5XT.Care: Machine wash on a gentle cycle in cold water and tumble dry on low heat. Do not bleach or iron. Shoppers describe this jacket as an “essential piece of outdoor apparel” that has “valuable insulation”. The fabric is of nice quality and feels super soft. Shoppers appreciate the variety in sizing, which is fairly unique compared to other popular retailers. It’s light, so you can wear it when the weather gets warmer, but it still provides enough heat to make a difference when you are cold. It also looks great on, and has a sleek, simple design. Shop more deals Whirlibird V Interchange Jacket, $135 (was $230) at ColumbiaTech Trail Utility Warm Long Sleeve Crew Shirt, $23 (was $45) at ColumbiaHydroforce Full Zip Hoodie, $57 (was $95) at ColumbiaWith winter melting away, and hopefully soon to be completed in the rearview mirror, there’s no better time to start transitioning your wardrobe or grab the Castle Dale Full-Zip Jacket. Stay comfortable and equipped for any kind of spring weather for only $28.