Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) Stake Raised by GFI Investment Counsel Ltd.

GFI Investment Counsel Ltd. raised its stake in Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM - Free Report) by 9.1% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 23,305 shares of the CRM provider's stock after purchasing an additional 1,941 shares during the quarter. Salesforce comprises about 0.9% of GFI Investment Counsel Ltd.'s investment portfolio, making the stock its 15th biggest position. GFI Investment Counsel Ltd.'s holdings in Salesforce were worth $7,792,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of CRM. Arlington Trust Co LLC grew its stake in shares of Salesforce by 85.1% during the fourth quarter. Arlington Trust Co LLC now owns 87 shares of the CRM provider's stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 40 shares in the last quarter. Compass Financial Services Inc purchased a new position in Salesforce in the fourth quarter valued at about $30,000. Asset Planning Inc purchased a new position in Salesforce in the fourth quarter valued at about $31,000. Collier Financial acquired a new stake in Salesforce during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Finally, Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Salesforce during the 4th quarter worth approximately $35,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.43% of the company's stock.

Salesforce Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:CRM traded up $1.82 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $270.18. The company had a trading volume of 4,596,911 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,653,506. Salesforce, Inc. has a twelve month low of $212.00 and a twelve month high of $369.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.11. The firm has a market capitalization of $259.64 billion, a PE ratio of 44.44, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.58 and a beta of 1.35. The firm's fifty day moving average is $307.13 and its 200 day moving average is $311.78.

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Salesforce Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 24th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, April 10th will be paid a dividend of $0.42 per share. This is a positive change from Salesforce's previous quarterly dividend of $0.40. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.62%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 10th. Salesforce's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 26.10%.

Insider Activity

In related news, CFO Amy E. Weaver sold 6,221 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $329.88, for a total value of $2,052,183.48. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 45,861 shares in the company, valued at $15,128,626.68. The trade was a 11.94 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, COO Brian Millham sold 708 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $332.28, for a total transaction of $235,254.24. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 1,239 shares of the company's stock, valued at $411,694.92. This represents a 36.36 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 45,660 shares of company stock worth $14,095,336. 3.20% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Canaccord Genuity Group decreased their price target on shares of Salesforce from $415.00 to $400.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, February 27th. BMO Capital Markets reissued an "outperform" rating on shares of Salesforce in a report on Wednesday, March 19th. Jefferies Financial Group cut their target price on shares of Salesforce from $425.00 to $375.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on shares of Salesforce from $340.00 to $380.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 4th. Finally, Redburn Atlantic began coverage on Salesforce in a report on Wednesday, February 19th. They issued a "buy" rating for the company. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating, thirty-one have issued a buy rating and five have assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $361.42.

About Salesforce

Salesforce, Inc provides Customer Relationship Management (CRM) technology that brings companies and customers together worldwide. The company's service includes sales to store data, monitor leads and progress, forecast opportunities, gain insights through analytics and artificial intelligence, and deliver quotes, contracts, and invoices; and service that enables companies to deliver trusted and highly personalized customer support at scale.