Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE: CRM) is the world’s leading provider of cloud-based customer relationship management software, helping businesses manage sales, marketing, and customer support on one platform. The company has grown from a bold idea about delivering software through the cloud into one of the most influential enterprise technology players globally.
Recently trading around $250 per share with a market cap of about $233 billion, Salesforce has cemented its role as the backbone of modern CRM. Its subscription model produces high-margin recurring revenue, with 77% gross margins, 20% EBIT margins, and strong free cash flow that make it a core holding for many institutions.
Once viewed as a fast-growing disruptor under founder and CEO Marc Benioff, Salesforce is now a software incumbent with global reach, balancing steady growth with shareholder returns. Ownership has broadened from being founder-heavy to being spread widely across the largest asset managers, while insiders like Benioff still hold meaningful stakes.
Looking at who owns Salesforce and how insiders are trading gives a sense of how confident big investors are at today’s levels.
Who Are Salesforce’s Top Shareholders?
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Salesforce provides cloud-based customer relationship management software that helps companies manage sales, marketing, and customer support in one system. Its shareholder base is anchored by the world’s largest asset managers, alongside meaningful insider ownership from founder and CEO Marc Benioff.
- The Vanguard Group – 88.4M shares (9.3%), ~$21.5B. Added 899K (+1.0%).
- BlackRock – 50.5M shares (5.3%), ~$12.3B. Cut 640K (-1.3%).
- State Street – 49.3M shares (5.2%), ~$12.0B. Added 776K (+1.6%).
- Marc Benioff (CEO & Founder) – 21.9M shares (2.3%), ~$5.3B. Flat.
- Geode Capital – 20.9M shares (2.2%), ~$5.1B. Added 115K (+0.6%).
- Capital International Investors – 18.3M shares (1.9%), ~$4.5B. Added 4.7M (+35%).
- Capital Research Global Investors – 11.4M shares (1.2%), ~$2.8B. Cut 9.4M (-45%).
- Fidelity – 11.0M shares (1.2%), ~$2.7B. Cut 5.9M (-35%).
One highlight from last quarter is Harris Associates, led by Bill Nygren, which lifted its Salesforce stake by over 818%, now holding about 2.99M shares worth $816 million. That aggressive increase looks like a strong conviction bet on the stock.
Another notable move came from Balyasny Asset Management, run by Dmitry Balyasny, which boosted its holdings by more than 516% to roughly 664K shares valued at $181 million. This sharp increase suggests rising confidence in Salesforce’s growth trajectory.
Meanwhile, AQR Capital Management, managed by Cliff Asness, raised its position by 120%, now owning around 1.17M shares worth $318 million. The move shows that quant-driven strategies are also finding opportunity in Salesforce despite recent volatility.
Passive giants dominate ownership, keeping Salesforce embedded in global portfolios. Benioff’s stake provides alignment with shareholders. Hedge funds like Harris Associates, Balyasny, and AQR are making bold moves, which shows a mix of conviction and opportunistic positioning among active managers.
See whether Salesforce’s top shareholders are buying or selling today >>>
Salesforce’s Recent Insider Trades
Insider activity at Salesforce offers a window into how leadership is managing their personal exposure during a period of slower growth and rising investor scrutiny. While the company remains profitable and widely held by institutions, insiders have not been aggressive buyers.
Instead, the trend has leaned toward small disposals, which may suggest diversification, scheduled sales, or simply limited conviction to add more at current prices.
Here are some recent insider sales:
- Marc Benioff (CEO & Director): Sold several small blocks in August, between 77 and 1,761 shares each, at ~$247–$249.
- Other Directors: Minimal changes, mostly small grants or token sales.
Insider selling looks modest compared to overall holdings. Benioff’s consistent small disposals may reflect diversification or planned activity.
The lack of insider buying could suggest leadership is waiting for clearer signals before increasing their stakes.
See recent insider trade data for over 50,000 global stocks (It’s free) >>>
What the Ownership & Insider Trade Data Tell Us
Salesforce’s shareholder base is dominated by index funds, ensuring the stock stays embedded in global portfolios. Founder Marc Benioff’s stake keeps leadership aligned with investors, but active managers are split, with some building positions and others cutting back sharply.
Insiders appear cautious, with small and steady sales rather than meaningful buying. This may suggest that leadership is content holding their existing exposure but not eager to add more at current levels.
For investors, the picture is one of stability mixed with hesitation. Institutions still treat Salesforce as a core tech holding, but the divided stance of active managers and the absence of insider buying highlight uncertainty about near-term upside.
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