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Can This Small AI Stock Become the Next Big Thing in Finance by 2025?

Hannah Perry | January 6, 2025

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Can This Small AI Stock Win Big in 2025?

When it comes to the booming world of artificial intelligence (AI) stocks, we often think of the giants like Nvidia (NVDA), Microsoft (MSFT), Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), and Meta Platforms (META). These tech titans are riding high on the AI wave. However, there’s a smaller player that’s gaining traction and deserves a closer look: C3.ai (AI).

C3.ai: The Unsung Hero of Enterprise AI Solutions

C3.ai specializes in enterprise AI solutions that cater to various industries such as energy, healthcare, manufacturing, financial services, and defense. At the heart of their offerings is the C3 AI Suite, a comprehensive platform empowering organizations to develop, deploy, and scale AI applications. This stock, currently valued at around $4.5 billion, is poised for explosive growth as it expands its customer base and refines its operating model—an effort that could lead to a turnaround in its profitability.

In 2024, C3.ai’s stock boasts a gain of 19.8%, despite trailing the S&P 500 Index’s impressive 24% gains. However, analysts predict a stunning upside of 61% for this year alone. So, is C3.ai an investment worth considering for the long haul? Let’s delve deeper.

C3.ai’s Impressive Financial Performance

C3.ai reported a stellar second-quarter fiscal 2025, marking its seventh consecutive quarter of accelerating revenue growth. Key highlights include a remarkable 22% year-over-year increase in subscription revenue and a 29% overall revenue surge, hitting $94.3 million—exceeding analysts’ expectations by $3.32 million!

A subscription model makes up an incredible 86% of C3.ai’s total revenue, offering a predictable income stream as it continues to capture demand across multiple industries.

Additionally, high-profile partnerships with the likes of Google (GOOGL), Amazon’s AWS, Microsoft, the U.S. Department of Defense, and Exxon Mobil (XOM) significantly contribute to the company’s robust performance.

On the Path to Profitability

Despite not yet being profitable, C3.ai’s financial outlook is promising. The company has shown a significant improvement in both its adjusted operating loss and a positive trend in its adjusted net loss per share—decreasing from $0.13 last year to $0.06 this year. What stands out is that C3.ai has maintained a strong, debt-free balance sheet, a rarity for technology firms at similar stages of growth.

By the end of Q2, C3.ai boasted about $730.4 million in cash and equivalents, providing ample liquidity to fund its future growth. Although they reported a negative free cash flow of $39.5 million, the company anticipates reaching positive free cash flow by the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025.

CEO Tom Siebel pointed to the strategic partnership expansion with Microsoft, which is projected to last until March 2030, as a crucial growth driver. This partnership can shorten sales cycles while offering access to Microsoft’s extensive customer base, which could greatly enhance C3.ai’s potential profitability.

Moreover, C3.ai’s involvement in defense projects reinforces its potential for securing long-term contracts in vital sectors.

Future Projections and Analyst Insights

C3.ai has elevated its fiscal year 2025 revenue guidance to a range of $378 million to $398 million, representing a year-over-year growth potential of 21% to 28%. Analysts forecast 25% revenue growth for fiscal 2025, followed by another 22.3% growth in fiscal 2026. Losses are expected to hover around $0.62 per share in fiscal 2025, tapering to $0.51 in fiscal 2026. With a valuation at nine times forward 2026 sales, C3.ai presents a viable buying opportunity right now.

However, opinions on Wall Street about C3.ai remain mixed. Of the 14 analysts covering the stock, four rate it as a “Strong Buy,” four as a “Hold,” two as a “Moderate Sell,” and four as a “Strong Sell”. Currently, the stock trades close to its mean target price of $36.15, with a high estimate of $56 suggesting a potential 61.5% upside over the next 12 months.

Final Thoughts: C3.ai as an Attractive Investment

With its impressive revenue growth trajectory, strong partnerships—especially with Microsoft—and a growing patent portfolio in generative and agentic AI, C3.ai is positioned for significant growth in the coming years. However, the competitive AI market carries risks.

Nevertheless, for investors looking to ride the AI revolution and who can embrace the inherent risks, C3.ai is undoubtedly a name to watch as we move towards 2025. With its robust balance sheet and market positioning, C3.ai could emerge as one of the standout players in the enterprise AI sector.

Keep your trading strategies sharp, and let’s ride these trends to profit!