KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 4 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia rallied to close broadly higher on Wednesday amid strong buying interests mainly in utility and technology stocks, with the benchmark index gaining 0.44 per cent. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rose 7.13 points to 1,614.09 from Tuesday’s close of 1,606.96. The index opened marginally higher at 1,606.97 and moved between 1,606.53 and 1,616.03 throughout the day. Advancers thumped decliners 727 to 381 on the broader market, with 522 counters unchanged, 781 untraded and 10 suspended. Turnover advanced to 3.60 billion units valued at RM3.30 billion versus 3.32 billion units valued at RM3.30 billion on Tuesday.
Salesforce (CRM.US) reported its third-quarter financial results on Tuesday, showcasing strong revenue growth and advancements in AI but falling slightly short on earnings per share (EPS). Here's a breakdown of the key highlights:
Key Financial Metrics
Revenue:
- $9.44 billion, exceeding the consensus estimate of $9.35 billion.
- Up 8% year-over-year (YoY).
Earnings Per Share (EPS):
- Adjusted EPS of $2.41, below analyst expectations of $2.44.
Margins:
- Operating margin: 20%.
- Non-GAAP operating margin: 33.1%.
Cash Flow:
- Free cash flow increased by 30% YoY to $1.78 billion.
- Cash flow from operations up 29% YoY.
Performance Obligations:
- Remaining performance obligations (RPO): $26.4 billion, a 10% YoY increase.
CEO Remarks
Marc Benioff, Salesforce’s chair and CEO, praised the company’s strong performance and highlighted Agentforce, Salesforce’s AI-powered enterprise system.
"Agentforce, our complete AI system for enterprises built into the Salesforce Platform, is at the heart of a groundbreaking transformation. The rise of autonomous AI agents is revolutionizing global labor, reshaping how industries operate and scale."
Shareholder Returns
- Stock Buybacks: $1.2 billion repurchased in Q3.
- Dividends: $400 million returned to shareholders.
Outlook
Q4 Forecasts:
- Revenue: $9.9 billion to $10.1 billion.
- Adjusted EPS: $2.57 to $2.62.
Full-Year 2025 Guidance:
- Revenue: $37.8 billion to $38 billion.
- Adjusted EPS: $9.98 to $10.03.
Benioff emphasized the company’s leadership in the AI-driven transformation of business operations, stating:
"With Agentforce, we're not just witnessing the future — we're leading it, unleashing a new era of digital labor for every business and every industry."
Market Reaction
Salesforce shares were up slightly (+0.13%) following the release. Analysts and investors are expected to gain more insights during the company’s conference call at 5 PM ET.
With strong revenue growth and a focus on AI, Salesforce is positioning itself as a leader in digital transformation, even as it works to address challenges in meeting EPS expectations.
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