Salesforce is reportedly resuming negotiations to acquire Informatica, a data management software company, according to recent reports. Analysts suggest that while this potential acquisition might initially pressure Salesforce’s stock, it could significantly enhance the company’s artificial intelligence (AI) strategy. The deal could also allow Salesforce to purchase Informatica at a lower per-share price than previously speculated in April 2024.
Acquisition Details and Market Reaction
The news comes as Salesforce prepares to release its first-quarter earnings on Wednesday. On Friday, Informatica’s stock surged over 17% to close at $22.55, while Salesforce’s stock fell 3.6% to $273.13. This market reaction reflects the complex dynamics of the potential deal.
Strategic Importance of Informatica’s Technology
Informatica’s data management software plays a crucial role in helping companies collect, classify, and cleanse data from various sources. This capability is particularly valuable in the era of “generative” AI, where companies are focusing on utilizing proprietary data to build and train AI models. Salesforce already partners with Informatica to offer its products to customers, making an acquisition a potentially strategic move.
Analyst Insights on Valuation and Approval
RBC Capital analyst Rishi Jaluria noted that the rise of GenAI has made data management increasingly important for enterprises. JPMorgan analyst Pinjalim Bora suggested that Informatica’s cloud business, expected to grow 25% year-over-year to a $1 billion scale, could be valued at 6 to 7 times annual recurring revenue. This valuation implies a potential offer price between $20 to $26 per share. Analysts also believe that regulators would likely approve the deal, citing a potentially favorable environment for large-scale M&A under the current administration.
Salesforce’s AI Strategy Evolution
The potential acquisition comes as Salesforce shifts its marketing strategy from “copilots” — conversational chatbot interfaces — to autonomous, goal-driven AI “agents” that can execute multistep tasks on behalf of users. Introduced at its Dreamforce customer conference in September 2024, Agentforce represents this strategic shift. An upgraded version, Agentforce 2.0, was announced in December along with the “Digital Labor Platform.”
Market Performance and Future Projections
Salesforce’s stock has retreated 17% in 2025 as of Friday’s market close, while Informatica’s stock remains down 11% for the year despite the recent surge. Analysts project that Salesforce’s revenue will grow about 8% in fiscal 2026, with a potential 1% revenue lift from AI products. The company’s strategic moves in AI and potential acquisitions like Informatica will be closely watched in the coming months.
