Does Salesforce stock pay dividends?

Direct answer: Yes — Salesforce (NYSE: CRM) began paying a quarterly cash dividend in December 2024 and has since made quarterly payments and modest increases. This article explains the dividend hi...

2026-01-24 10:37:00

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Does Salesforce stock pay dividends?

Short answer up front: yes — Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE: CRM) pays a quarterly cash dividend on its common stock. This article explains the timeline (Salesforce’s first board declaration occurred in December 2024), the initial amount and subsequent adjustments, how the dividend schedule works, current yield and payout metrics as reported by financial-data providers, where to verify announcements, tax considerations, and practical guidance for investors. If you want to verify declarations quickly, check Salesforce investor relations press releases and SEC filings; for trading and custody, consider using Bitget and Bitget Wallet for account and custody services.

Note: this article covers Salesforce common stock (CRM) in the U.S. equity market only and does not address unrelated uses of the word "Salesforce."

Quick answer

Yes. Does Salesforce stock pay dividends? Yes — Salesforce pays a quarterly cash dividend on CRM common shares. As of the most recent company announcements and data-provider summaries, the company has moved from no dividend historically to a regular quarterly payment schedule. Reported recent figures (approximate, market-dependent): an annualized dividend in the neighborhood of $1.60–$1.70 per share and an indicated yield around 0.6%–0.8% based on typical market prices; the company’s payout ratio has remained modest relative to earnings and free cash flow. These numbers change with share price and subsequent Board actions.

Background on Salesforce (CRM)

Salesforce, Inc. (ticker CRM on the New York Stock Exchange) is a global enterprise software company focused on customer relationship management (CRM), cloud platforms, and related applications and services. Major business lines include Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, Platform/Heroku/Developer services, Marketing Cloud, Tableau analytics, Slack collaboration, and industry/vertical offerings. As a large, mature software company, Salesforce historically prioritized growth and reinvestment; investor interest in shareholder returns increased as the company’s free cash flow generation matured.

For investors, a company’s dividend policy signals capital-allocation priorities. For a technology and cloud company such as Salesforce, initiating a cash dividend can indicate a shift toward returning a portion of ongoing cash flow to shareholders alongside other uses of capital (e.g., acquisitions, investments, or share repurchases). That context helps explain why many market participants asked "does Salesforce stock pay dividends" after the company’s 2024–2025 capital-allocation updates.

Dividend history

This section summarizes Salesforce’s dividend activity in chronological order, showing the company’s move from no common dividends to the initiation of a quarterly program and later adjustments.

Prior dividend policy (pre-2024)

Before December 2024, Salesforce historically did not pay common dividends on its common stock. The company focused on revenue growth, product investment, strategic acquisitions, and, at times, other capital-return mechanisms. Historically, many large software firms deferred regular cash dividends while prioritizing growth and strategic M&A; Salesforce followed that pattern until its Board authorized a dividend program in late 2024.

First declaration and implementation (Dec 2024)

In December 2024, Salesforce’s Board of Directors announced the company’s first-ever quarterly cash dividend on its common shares. The initial declaration set a quarterly per-share amount and provided ex-dividend, record, and payable dates in the company announcement. The move marked Salesforce’s first regular cash return to common shareholders by way of a dividend; prior distributions (if any) were limited or executed through other corporate actions.

As of the end of 2025 and into early 2026, the initial per-quarter amount cited in the 2024 declaration was commonly reported across investor channels as $0.40 per share for the first quarter of payments. Investors searching "does Salesforce stock pay dividends" typically find this December 2024 declaration referenced as the start of the program.

2025 adjustments and subsequent declarations

Following the initial declaration, Salesforce’s Board continued to declare quarterly dividends. During 2025 the Board made at least one adjustment to the quarterly dividend amount, with reported per-quarter amounts moving modestly upward (reported around $0.416 per quarter in later 2025 declarations). The company issued press releases and investor notices with the relevant ex-dividend, record, and payable dates for each quarter.

As of January 22, 2026, the company’s dividend program had settled into a regular quarterly cadence with periodic amounts reported by financial-data providers and investor-relations communications. Investors asking "does Salesforce stock pay dividends" should note that the board retains discretion to raise, lower, or suspend dividends, and that exact dollar amounts, ex-dividend dates, and payable dates are published in company releases and SEC filings.

Dividend mechanics and schedule

Understanding how a company dividend works is important for determining eligibility and timing.

Salesforce’s dividend follows the standard corporate dividend mechanics: the Board issues a declaration (the declaration date) specifying the per-share amount, the record date (the shareholder-of-record cutoff), the ex-dividend date (the trading cutoff for eligibility), and the payable date (when cash is distributed).

Typical timing observed in Salesforce declarations shows the ex-dividend date occurring about one to two business days before the record date and the payable date following several days to a few weeks after the record date. Exact spacing varies by declaration and is specified in each press release.

How to be eligible for a dividend

To receive a declared cash dividend, investors must hold Salesforce common shares before the ex-dividend date. The ex-dividend date is the key cutoff: if you buy the stock on or after the ex-dividend date, you will not receive the upcoming dividend; if you purchase the stock before the ex-dividend date and hold through the ex date, you will be eligible, subject to settlement conventions used by brokerages. Settlement and brokerage posting timing can affect visible account balances, so investors should verify with their brokerage or custody provider.

Payment methods and where to find official notices

Dividends are paid in cash to registered shareholders or their brokerage/custodial accounts. Official notices appear in Salesforce investor-relations press releases and in SEC filings (for example, Form 8‑K when material events are reported). For the most current and authoritative information about declared amounts and dates, consult the company’s investor-relations announcements and filings.

If you hold CRM in a brokerage account, your broker will typically credit your cash dividend automatically on the payable date. For direct-registered shareholders, dividends are usually paid via the transfer agent’s distribution process.

Amount, yield and payout metrics

When answering "does Salesforce stock pay dividends," investors often also want concrete numbers: the per-share dividend, annualized total, yield, and payout ratios.

Key dividend metrics:

Per-share dividend: the cash amount paid per share each quarter.
Annualized dividend: the per-quarter amount multiplied by four (or the sum of declared amounts if unequal across quarters).
Dividend yield: annualized dividend divided by current share price (market-derived and therefore variable).
Payout ratio: the proportion of earnings (or free cash flow) returned as dividends; commonly shown as dividend divided by net income per share or by free cash flow per share.

Typical recent figures

As reported by investor summaries and financial-data providers in late 2025 and early 2026, Salesforce’s indicated annualized dividend was approximately $1.60–$1.68 per share (based on quarterly amounts in the $0.40–$0.42 range). This implied an indicated yield in the ballpark of 0.6%–0.8% depending on the market price of CRM at any given time. Reported payout ratios were generally low-to-moderate (often in the low 20% range when compared to trailing earnings or free cash flow), reflecting a conservative initial distribution relative to cash generation.

Please note that these figures change with share price and with any further Board actions. Investors querying "does Salesforce stock pay dividends" should verify the latest declared per-share amount and compute yield based on current market pricing. Financial-data providers may report slightly different yields or trailing payout ratios because they rely on different earnings windows, share-price timepoints, or definitions of cash flow.

Comparison to peers / industry

In the broader enterprise software and cloud sector, dividend yields tend to be lower than in mature, high-dividend sectors (utilities, consumer staples). Many software companies either do not pay dividends or offer modest yields while prioritizing growth and strategic investments. Salesforce’s dividend yield and payout approach are consistent with companies that have transitioned from growth-only strategies to a mixed capital-allocation policy that includes modest dividend payments alongside other uses of cash.

Corporate rationale and capital allocation

Why did Salesforce start paying a dividend? While the Board’s public statements provide the official rationale, common drivers for initiating a dividend at a large technology company include:

Stronger, more predictable free cash flow as the business matures.
Demand from income-oriented shareholders for return of capital.
Desire to diversify capital returns beyond share repurchases and M&A.
Signaling financial stability and confidence in ongoing cash generation.

Dividends are only one tool in a company’s capital-allocation toolbox. Salesforce continues to use cash for product development, strategic acquisitions, operating needs, and share repurchases when authorized by the Board. For investors, the important point is that dividends are typically discretionary and subject to Board approval each period — meaning the company can adjust the dividend level, timing, or suspend payments if it deems necessary for corporate strategy or liquidity.

Tax considerations for shareholders

Dividends paid by U.S. corporations such as Salesforce are generally treated as taxable income for U.S. taxable accounts. The tax treatment differs by investor type and jurisdiction:

U.S. taxable accounts: Qualified dividends may receive preferential tax rates if holding-period and other conditions are met; nonqualified dividends are taxed as ordinary income. Consult a tax advisor for specific tax rates and holding-period rules.
Tax-advantaged accounts (IRAs, 401(k)s): Dividends typically grow tax-deferred or tax-free depending on the account type and local rules.
Non-U.S. holders: Dividends paid to nonresident investors may be subject to U.S. withholding tax at statutory rates; treaty relief or other mechanisms can change the effective withholding rate. Non-U.S. investors should consult tax professionals and review their brokerage’s documentation and withholding procedures.

Tax rules are complex and change over time; this section is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax advice.

Investor guidance and where to verify dividend information

If you want to verify "does Salesforce stock pay dividends" or check the most recent declared amounts and dates, follow these steps and sources.

Primary sources to check

Salesforce investor relations press releases and investor website (company declarations and dividend-related announcements). These are the authoritative primary source for declaration dates, amounts, and Board statements.
SEC filings (e.g., Form 8‑K) where the company reports material actions; filings typically include the declaration details and any Board authorizations.

As of January 22, 2026: according to Salesforce investor relations press releases, the company has declared and paid quarterly dividends since the initial announcement in December 2024 and issued subsequent notices for 2025 declarations.

Secondary data providers

Common secondary financial-data providers compile dividend histories and yield calculations. Examples include MarketScreener, StockAnalysis, MarketBeat, DividendMax, DividendInvestor, Koyfin, MarketChameleon, and Macrotrends. These sites are useful for quick reference and historical tables, but their reported yields or timing can differ slightly depending on price input and data-update timing. When precision is required, prioritize official Salesforce press releases and SEC filings.

For trading and custody, many investors use regulated brokerages or custodians; for users of Bitget services, confirm dividend crediting and record-keeping policies with Bitget support and Bitget Wallet documentation.

Risks and considerations for dividend-focused investors

When evaluating dividend-paying stocks, including Salesforce, investors should consider the following risks and caveats:

Discretionary nature: Dividend payments are typically discretionary for many technology companies and can be increased, reduced, or suspended by the Board at any time.
Business performance: Dividends depend on the company’s profitability and cash flow; slower growth or unexpected expenses can pressure dividend sustainability.
Opportunity cost: Capital used for dividends could alternatively be deployed in growth initiatives, acquisitions, or balance-sheet strengthening.
Market reaction: Dividend announcements may be interpreted by investors in context — a dividend initiation can be seen as positive for income investors but may also lead some growth investors to reassess the company’s capital priorities.

Dividend-focused investors should weigh yield and payout ratios against business fundamentals and management’s capital-allocation track record. This article does not provide investment advice.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Q: When did Salesforce start paying dividends? A: Salesforce’s Board announced the company’s first quarterly cash dividend in December 2024. Subsequent quarterly declarations have followed in 2025 and into early 2026.

Q: How often does Salesforce pay dividends? A: Quarterly, when declared by the Board.

Q: What is the current dividend yield for Salesforce? A: Yield varies with market price. As of commonly reported summaries in late 2025 / early 2026, the indicated yield was roughly 0.6%–0.8% based on annualized payouts around $1.60–$1.68 per share; check live market data for an up-to-date yield.

Q: Does Salesforce have a formal dividend policy? A: The Board has authorized a regular quarterly dividend program, but dividends remain at the Board’s discretion and are subject to change.

Q: Where can I confirm dividend dates and amounts? A: Confirm with Salesforce investor-relations press releases and SEC filings (8‑K), and cross-check with reliable financial-data services. For custody and trading questions, contact your broker or Bitget customer support.

References and sources

Sources used to compile this article include Salesforce investor-relations press releases and public financial-data providers. For up-to-date, authoritative details, consult Salesforce’s investor communications and regulatory filings. Representative sources reviewed include:

Salesforce investor relations press releases and announcements (company investor site).
MarketScreener dividend declaration summaries.
StockAnalysis dividend pages for CRM.
DividendMax dividend history pages.
MarketBeat dividend overview for CRM.
DividendInvestor dividend history and details for CRM.
Koyfin dividend data pages for CRM.
MarketChameleon dividend overview for CRM.
Macrotrends historical dividends paid data for CRM.

As of 2026-01-22, Salesforce investor-relations announcements reflect the company’s December 2024 dividend initiation and subsequent quarterly notices through 2025.

External links

For official documentation and the most recent declarations, consult Salesforce investor relations and SEC filings. For trading or custody of CRM shares and dividend crediting, consider Bitget and Bitget Wallet for trading and custody services and verify dividend crediting policies with Bitget support.

Notes for editors: Update this article whenever Salesforce announces changes to its dividend policy, new declarations, or material capital-allocation shifts. Keep per-share amounts, ex-dividend dates, and yield figures current and sourced to official releases or SEC filings.

Further exploration and next steps

If you want to monitor Salesforce dividends closely, set alerts on primary source pages and secondary-data dividend calendars. For trading, custody, and secure wallet solutions, explore Bitget and Bitget Wallet offerings and review their dividend-handling procedures. Always verify declared amounts on the company’s investor-relations page and in SEC filings before making decisions.

This article is factual and informational. It does not constitute investment, tax, or legal advice. For personal tax questions or investment suitability, consult a qualified professional.

The content above has been sourced from the internet and generated using AI. For high-quality content, please visit Bitget Academy.