C3.ai-AI Shares Dip 27% YTD: Buy, Sell or Hold the Stock Post Q3 Earnings?

Core Viewpoint - C3.ai has experienced a significant decline in stock value, losing 26.8% year-to-date, while the broader technology sector has only declined by 0.9% [1]. Despite this, the company reported strong third-quarter fiscal 2025 results, with earnings and revenues surpassing expectations [1]. Financial Performance - C3.ai reported an adjusted loss of 12 cents per share for the third quarter of fiscal 2025, which is better than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 25 cents [2]. The company had a non-GAAP loss of 13 cents in the same quarter last year [2]. - Revenues for the third quarter reached $98.78 million, reflecting a 26% year-over-year increase and exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.83% [3]. Subscription revenues rose by 22% year-over-year to$ 85.7 million, indicating strong demand for AI-driven enterprise solutions [3]. Client Engagement and Partnerships - In the third quarter of fiscal 2025, C3.ai secured 66 agreements, including 50 pilot projects, marking a 72% year-over-year increase [6]. The company also finalized 47 agreements through its partner network, a 74% year-over-year increase [7]. - Partnerships with major companies like Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, and McKinsey QuantumBlack have accelerated sales cycles and expanded the company's global reach [8]. C3.ai and Microsoft closed 28 agreements across nine industries, representing a 460% quarter-over-quarter increase [8]. Growth Prospects - C3.ai expects revenues for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025 to be between $103.6 million and$ 113.6 million, and for the full fiscal year, revenues are projected to be between $383.9 million and$ 393.9 million [13]. - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 revenues is $108.64 million, indicating a growth of 25.46% year-over-year [14]. For fiscal 2025, the consensus estimate for revenues is$ 388.16 million, reflecting a 29.57% year-over-year growth [15]. Market Position and Valuation - C3.ai's stock is currently trading at a forward Price/Sales ratio of 7.36X, which is higher than the sector average of 6.32X, indicating a stretched valuation [16]. - Despite strong demand for its solutions, C3.ai faces stiff competition in the enterprise AI sector, which may hinder its market share growth [19]. The company plans to invest aggressively in its offerings to secure market share, although this may pressure margins in the near term [19].