Salesforce is preparing its largest ever debt issuance to finance a massive share buyback and ongoing investments in AI and cloud technology, signalling a strategic shift in capital allocation among profitable tech giants.
Salesforce is preparing a record-sized bond offering of up to $25 billion to help fund an expanded stock repurchase programme, according to reports citing people familiar with the matter. The proposed sale, which bankers say could be structured across multiple tranches and marketed to institutional investors in the United States and abroad, would be the largest debt raise in the company’s history and among the biggest in the technology sector this year.
According to Bloomberg, the company is targeting a U.S. note sale of at least $20 billion and could launch the transaction as soon as this week, though timing remains subject to market conditions. The proceeds are expected primarily to back a newly authorised $50 billion buyback plan and to preserve liquidity for ongoing investments in artificial intelligence, enterprise software and global operations. The firm announced the $50 billion repurchase programme and a 5.8% dividend increase on 26 February after reporting record fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 results, with revenue of $41.5 billion, the company said in its earnings release.
Market participants view the move as emblematic of a broader shift among profitable technology firms: rather than drawing solely on cash reserves, companies with stable, subscription-based revenue are tapping deep credit markets to return capital to shareholders while keeping funds available for strategic priorities. Investment managers such as pension funds and insurers have shown appetite for large, highly rated technology bond offerings, underpinning bankers’ confidence that sizeable tranches can be absorbed.
Analysts point to Salesforce’s improving cash generation and the company’s investment-grade credit profile as factors supporting a large issuance. Truist Securities, for example, kept a Buy rating and a $280 per share target on the stock after reports of the planned debt sale, with the firm noting that strong free cash flow combined with potential new debt makes buybacks a near-term capital-allocation priority.
At the same time, credit-watchers have raised cautions. Moody’s moved to downgrade Salesforce to A2, citing concerns that the hefty repurchase programme and related borrowing would increase leverage and pressure the company’s credit metrics. S&P Global Ratings has left its A+ rating in place but shifted its outlook to negative. Those ratings actions underscore the trade-off between returning cash to shareholders and maintaining balance‑sheet flexibility.
Company executives have publicly framed the buyback as part of a broader strategy to improve profitability and reward long‑term holders while continuing to invest in AI-driven products that integrate customer data across sales, service and marketing applications. Industry observers note that the combination of restructuring, cost controls and selective workforce reductions over recent years has bolstered margins and helped free cash flow, making a large financing more feasible.
If completed, the note sale would surpass Salesforce’s prior large financings, by way of comparison, the firm raised roughly $9 billion to help fund the Slack acquisition, and would place it among the most active technology issuers in the corporate debt markets. Bankers stress the final size and pricing will reflect investor demand and the prevailing interest-rate backdrop.
Investors remain divided over the long-term implications. Supporters argue the programme demonstrates board confidence in the business and offers an earnings-per-share lift that can bolster returns. Critics warn that levering to fund buybacks can increase vulnerability to macroeconomic shocks and leave less room for opportunistic acquisitions or unexpected investment needs.
As the market awaits formal offering documents, the transaction will be watched closely for its scale, structure and the extent to which Salesforce balances shareholder distributions with commitments to sustain investments in AI and cloud platforms that underpin its enterprise-software franchise.
- https://thearabianpost.com/salesforce-eyes-massive-debt-deal-for-buybacks/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/salesforce-plans-25-billion-debt-sale-to-fund-share-buyback–bloomberg-93CH-4552612 – Salesforce Inc. is planning to sell up to $25 billion in debt to fund a share buyback, marking its largest-ever note sale. The company is targeting a US bond offering of at least $20 billion, with the notes potentially being sold as soon as this week, though the timing could change. This move follows the software firm’s announcement of a $50 billion stock buyback program and a 5.8% dividend increase on February 26. The debt issuance aims to finance a significant expansion of its stock buyback plan while maintaining liquidity for ongoing investments in artificial intelligence, enterprise software, and global operations.
- https://www.investing.com/news/analyst-ratings/salesforce-stock-buyback-plan-prompts-truist-to-keep-buy-rating-93CH-4553003 – Truist Securities has maintained a ‘Buy’ rating and a $280.00 price target on Salesforce.com (NYSE: CRM) shares following reports of a planned debt issuance. According to Bloomberg, Salesforce is planning to issue up to $25 billion of debt to fund a share buyback. The potential bond offering would be Salesforce’s largest, approximately three times bigger than the $9 billion raised to help fund the Slack acquisition. Truist analyst Terry Tillman noted that the combination of expected strong free cash flow and potential new debt funding points to stock repurchases representing a capital allocation imperative in the near term.
- https://www.reutersconnect.com/item/salesforce-plans-to-raise-up-to-25-billion-to-fund-buybacks/dGFnOnJldXRlcnMuY29tLDIwMjY6bmV3c21sX01UMU5VUlBITzAwMDZNR0k5Vw – Salesforce Inc. plans to sell as much as $25 billion of debt to fund a share buyback, according to a report from Bloomberg News, marking the software firm’s biggest-ever note sale. The company is targeting a US bond offering of at least $20 billion, with the notes potentially being sold as soon as this week, though the timing could change. This move follows the software firm’s announcement of a $50 billion stock buyback program and a 5.8% dividend increase on February 26. The debt issuance aims to finance a significant expansion of its stock buyback plan while maintaining liquidity for ongoing investments in artificial intelligence, enterprise software, and global operations.
- https://www.fxleaders.com/news/2026/03/11/salesforce-eyes-record-25b-debt-sale-to-supercharge-buybacks/ – Salesforce intends to sell up to $25 billion in debt to finance a share buyback, marking its largest-ever note sale. The company is targeting a US bond offering of at least $20 billion, with the notes potentially being sold as soon as this week, though the timing could change. This move follows the software firm’s announcement of a $50 billion stock buyback program and a 5.8% dividend increase on February 26. The debt issuance aims to finance a significant expansion of its stock buyback plan while maintaining liquidity for ongoing investments in artificial intelligence, enterprise software, and global operations.
- https://www.salesforce.com/uk/news/linked-content/salesforce-delivers-record-fourth-quarter-fiscal-2026-results/ – Salesforce reported record fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 results, with revenue of $41.5 billion, up 10% year-over-year. The company announced a $50 billion share repurchase program, replacing all previously unused authorizations, and increased its quarterly dividend to $0.44 per share, up 5.8% year-over-year. The debt issuance aims to finance a significant expansion of its stock buyback plan while maintaining liquidity for ongoing investments in artificial intelligence, enterprise software, and global operations.
- https://ts2.tech/en/salesforces-50-billion-buyback-triggers-moodys-downgrade-s-p-warning/ – Salesforce’s $50 billion buyback program has triggered a downgrade by Moody’s to A2, citing concerns over increased debt levels due to the buyback strategy. S&P Global Ratings maintained its A+ rating but shifted its outlook to negative. The company is planning a bond offering that could reach $25 billion, with proceeds earmarked for buybacks. This move follows the software firm’s announcement of a $50 billion stock buyback program and a 5.8% dividend increase on February 26. The debt issuance aims to finance a significant expansion of its stock buyback plan while maintaining liquidity for ongoing investments in artificial intelligence, enterprise software, and global operations.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The article reports on Salesforce’s plan to sell up to $25 billion in debt to fund a share buyback, marking its largest-ever note sale. This information aligns with recent reports from Bloomberg and Investing.com, dated March 10, 2026. ([investing.com](https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/salesforce-plans-25-billion-debt-sale-to-fund-share-buyback–bloomberg-93CH-4552612?utm_source=openai)) The earliest known publication date of substantially similar content is March 10, 2026. The narrative appears original and fresh, with no significant discrepancies noted.
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
The article includes direct quotes attributed to Bloomberg and Investing.com. However, the exact wording of these quotes cannot be independently verified through the provided sources. The lack of accessible original sources raises concerns about the accuracy and authenticity of the quotes. ([investing.com](https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/salesforce-plans-25-billion-debt-sale-to-fund-share-buyback–bloomberg-93CH-4552612?utm_source=openai))
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The article originates from The Arabian Post, a niche publication. While it references reputable sources like Bloomberg and Investing.com, the lack of direct access to these sources diminishes the overall reliability. The absence of verifiable quotes and the reliance on secondary reporting further reduce the trustworthiness of the content.
Plausibility check
Score:
7
Notes:
The claims about Salesforce’s $25 billion debt sale to fund a share buyback are plausible and align with recent financial activities of the company. However, the lack of direct access to original sources and the inability to verify specific details raise concerns about the accuracy of the information presented.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): FAIL
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The article presents information about Salesforce’s planned $25 billion debt sale to fund a share buyback, aligning with recent reports from Bloomberg and Investing.com. However, the lack of direct access to original sources, unverifiable quotes, and reliance on a niche publication raise significant concerns about the accuracy and reliability of the content. Given these issues, the content cannot be fully verified, leading to a FAIL verdict with MEDIUM confidence.