Key HighlightsMonness Crespi Hardt elevates CRM to Buy rating, establishing a $200 target based on attractive valuation metricsShares have declined 41% year-to-date in 2026 and sit 58% below all-time peak levelsCurrent valuation metrics show P/E of 18.1 with PEG ratio at 0.47Company completed $3.6 billion all-cash acquisition of Fin (previously Intercom)Institutional investors control 80.43% of outstanding shares, with recent position increasesSalesforce (CRM) shares currently trade at $151.67, hovering near the 52-week bottom of $149.80, following a substantial 41% decline throughout 2026. This performance places it as the second-weakest stock within Monness, Crespi, Hardt’s research coverage.Salesforce, Inc., CRMThis Wednesday, Monness elevated CRM from Neutral to Buy, assigning a $200 price objective. The investment firm emphasized that the valuation presents a compelling opportunity considering the magnitude of the selloff.Salesforce has retreated 58% from its peak reached in late 2024. When the rating adjustment was announced, shares were changing hands at $155.02, though they’ve continued sliding since then.The fundamental metrics support the value thesis. CRM currently shows a price-to-earnings multiple of 18.1 alongside a PEG ratio of 0.47. The enterprise maintains a gross profit margin of 77.6% while generating a free cash flow yield of 12%.Monness highlighted several additional factors supporting their upgrade, including Salesforce’s robust cash flow generation capabilities, impressive margin structure, and the substantial $25 billion share repurchase authorization approved in March.Strategic Acquisition of FinSalesforce has recently finalized an agreement to acquire Fin, the company formerly operating as Intercom, in an all-cash transaction valued at $3.6 billion. Fin’s artificial intelligence agent technology autonomously handles customer inquiries, achieving a 76% resolution rate while generating more than $400 million in annual recurring revenue.Multiple Wall Street firms reacted favorably to this strategic move. Jefferies maintained its Buy recommendation with a $250 price objective. Canaccord Genuity confirmed its Buy stance at $225. Stifel preserved its Buy rating alongside a $250 target. Wolfe Research continued with an Outperform designation and $220 target.UBS stood apart from the consensus, maintaining a Neutral position with a $185 price target while expressing reservations about the acquisition’s immediate financial contribution.Financial Performance and Forward OutlookFor its latest quarterly results announced May 27, Salesforce delivered earnings per share of $3.88, surpassing analyst expectations of $3.13 by $0.75. Total revenue reached $11.13 billion, exceeding the $11.05 billion consensus forecast, representing 13.3% growth compared to the prior year.Management provided FY2027 EPS guidance ranging from $14.06 to $14.12, with Q2 2027 projections between $3.25 and $3.27. The analyst community’s full-year EPS consensus currently stands at $10.29.Institutional investment activity continues. SG Trading Solutions established a new stake valued at approximately $1.18 million. Temasek, Fisher Asset Management, and Van Eck Associates have all expanded their existing holdings. Collectively, institutional investors and hedge funds control 80.43% of CRM shares.Wall Street’s consensus price target stands at $257.61. Among 42 analysts tracking the stock, 26 recommend Buy, 12 suggest Hold, 3 advise Sell, and one rates it Strong Buy.The company announced a quarterly dividend distribution of $0.44 per share, scheduled for payment on July 2, yielding 1.2% annually.Technically, CRM’s 50-day moving average rests at $177.91, while the 200-day moving average sits at $204.72, both significantly above current trading levels.The post Salesforce (CRM) Stock Plunges 41% This Year — A Buying Opportunity Emerges? appeared first on Blockonomi.