Salesforce Restricts Third-Party Access to Slack Data, Impacts Competing Firms

Salesforce is limiting third-party access to Slack data, impacting competing enterprise AI firms. The move is expected to enhance data security and control over its platform. Analysts forecast an average target price of $353.04, with an upside of 32.77% from the current price. The company reported strong Q1 fiscal 2026 revenue of $9.83 billion, up 8% year over year, and raised its fiscal year 2026 revenue guidance by $400 million to $41.3 billion.

Title: Salesforce Restricts Third-Party Access to Slack Data; Analysts Forecast Upside Potential

Salesforce Inc. (CRM), a leading provider of customer relationship management (CRM) software, has implemented a strategic decision to limit third-party companies' ability to index and archive messages from Slack over extended periods. This move is expected to enhance data security and control over its platform, potentially impacting competing enterprise AI firms that rely on such data access [1].

The restriction on third-party access to Slack data comes as Salesforce continues to embed Slack more deeply into its CRM platform, aiming to create a unified space for team collaboration and data access. The integration, which includes the introduction of Salesforce Channels, allows for real-time synchronization of structured CRM data with team conversations, breaking down traditional silos between communication platforms and business systems [2].

Analysts have responded positively to Salesforce's strategic move. Based on the one-year price targets offered by 50 analysts, the average target price for Salesforce Inc. (CRM) is $353.04, with a high estimate of $442.00 and a low estimate of $225.00. This average target implies an upside of 32.77% from the current price of $265.91 [1]. Additionally, the consensus recommendation from 56 brokerage firms is currently 2.0, indicating an "Outperform" status [1].

In its latest earnings report, Salesforce reported strong Q1 fiscal 2026 revenue of $9.83 billion, up 8% year over year. The company also raised its fiscal year 2026 revenue guidance by $400 million to $41.3 billion at the high end. Salesforce achieved a non-GAAP operating margin of 32.3% for the quarter, and its operating cash flow reached $6.5 billion [1].

The acquisition of Informatica for $8 billion is expected to enhance Salesforce's data and AI capabilities, further solidifying its position in the competitive landscape of enterprise communication and AI services. Agentforce, Salesforce's AI framework, has seen rapid adoption with over 4,000 paid customers and $100 million in ARR, showcasing strong growth potential [1].

However, Salesforce faces challenges such as the integration of Informatica, which is expected to take time, with accretion anticipated by fiscal year 2027. Additionally, some geographic regions, such as parts of EMEA, remain constrained, impacting overall growth. The company also faces challenges in expanding its distribution capacity, which has been flat for the last two years [1].

In conclusion, Salesforce's decision to restrict third-party access to Slack data is part of a broader strategy to enhance data security and control over its platform. The move is expected to have a significant impact on competing enterprise AI firms. Analysts remain optimistic about Salesforce's prospects, with forecasts indicating an average target price of $353.04 and an upside of 32.77% from the current price. The company's strong Q1 fiscal 2026 performance and revenue guidance further support this optimism.

References
[1] https://www.gurufocus.com/news/2923007/salesforce-crm-limits-thirdparty-access-to-slack-data-crm-stock-news
[2] https://www.uctoday.com/unified-communications/salesforce-is-now-embedding-slack-at-its-core-to-bridge-data-people-and-ai/