Salesforce continues $25B accelerated share repurchase, delivered 103M shares
ASR on track for final settlement in October 2026; share count reduced across two fiscal periods
What the filing says
Salesforce reported Q2 FY27 results on August 26, 2026, highlighting continued execution of its $25 billion accelerated share repurchase (ASR) program. The company delivered 103 million shares under the ASR during the first half of fiscal 2027, reducing outstanding share count from 956 million (Q2 FY26) to 820 million (Q2 FY27 basic shares). Final settlement of the ASR is expected in October 2026.
The execution mechanism for the buyback is an accelerated share repurchase (ASR) agreement, which allows Salesforce to repurchase a large number of shares upfront with final settlement and price adjustment to occur later. In the six-month period ended July 31, 2026, the company repurchased $27.3 billion in shares, with the ASR accounting for a material portion of this activity. The company also returned $364 million in dividends to shareholders during Q2 FY27 and $729 million in the first half of the fiscal year.
Salesforce's share count guidance for full-year FY27 reflects the 103 million shares initially delivered under the ASR but excludes any impact from the final ASR settlement or potential Q3–Q4 FY27 open-market repurchase activity. The company maintains authorization under its broader share repurchase program for additional open-market purchases following the ASR completion in October 2026.
Returned $364 million in dividends to shareholders and continued to execute against $25 billion accelerated share repurchase ("ASR"). Final settlement of the company's $25 billion ASR is expected in October 2026. — Salesforce, Inc. 8-K filing · View on SEC EDGAR →
What this means
The $25 billion ASR represents a significant capital return to shareholders, reducing Salesforce's share count by approximately 103 million shares (10.7% of Q2 FY26 outstanding shares). This execution reduces dilution from equity compensation and concentrates earnings across a smaller share base. With final settlement expected in October 2026, the company anticipates modest further share-count adjustments; guidance excludes impacts from final ASR settlement and any incremental open-market activity in the final quarter. The buyback underscores Salesforce's commitment to shareholder returns alongside its $11.3 billion Q2 revenue and continued margin expansion.
Frequently asked questions
- How much has Salesforce repurchased to date under this $25B ASR program?
- Salesforce initially delivered 103 million shares under the ASR during the first six months of fiscal 2027 (ended July 31, 2026). The final settlement is expected in October 2026, at which point any price adjustments will be finalized. The exact total repurchase amount and average price will be determined upon final settlement.
- What is an accelerated share repurchase (ASR) and how does it differ from open-market buybacks?
- An ASR allows a company to repurchase a large block of shares immediately from an investment bank, with final settlement and price reconciliation occurring weeks or months later. Unlike open-market purchases under Rule 10b-18 (which execute gradually), an ASR frontloads the share delivery, reducing share count faster and providing more certainty on the total volume repurchased upfront.
- When will the ASR be complete and what happens next?
- Final settlement is expected in October 2026. Following completion of the $25 billion ASR, Salesforce maintains authorization under its broader share repurchase program for additional open-market purchases, though no specific new authorization amount was disclosed in this filing.
- How does the ASR execution affect Salesforce's earnings per share guidance?
- The company's EPS guidance for full-year FY27 reflects the reduction from the 103 million shares initially delivered under the ASR but excludes impacts from the final ASR settlement and any incremental open-market repurchases in Q3–Q4. This means actual EPS could benefit slightly if final settlement delivers additional shares at favorable prices, or be muted if prices adjust downward.
- What was Salesforce's total capital return to shareholders in this period?
- In the six months ended July 31, 2026, Salesforce returned a total of $729 million in dividends and $27.3 billion in share repurchases, for combined shareholder returns of approximately $28 billion. This reflects the company's balanced approach to capital allocation between dividends and buybacks.