Stock-Split Watch: Is C3.ai Next?

Core Viewpoint - C3.ai has been underperforming since its IPO, with a significant decline in stock price, raising questions about a potential stock split as a strategic move to attract retail investors [2][8]. Group 1: Stock Splits and Their Implications - A stock split allows a company to decrease its share price and increase its shares outstanding, while a reverse stock split does the opposite, but neither affects the company's market capitalization [4]. - Companies may conduct stock splits to make their shares more appealing to retail investors, especially if the share price is perceived as too high [5]. - A reverse stock split can help companies maintain compliance with exchange requirements if their stock price falls below $1 for an extended period [6]. Group 2: C3.ai's Current Situation - C3.ai's stock price has dropped from a high of $161 to around $28.50, with a current market cap of $3.9 billion, indicating that the stock is not out of reach for investors [8]. - The company has not conducted any stock splits since its IPO at $42 in late 2020, and the majority of its nearly 131 million outstanding shares are public, suggesting no immediate need to boost liquidity [9]. - C3.ai reported a loss of nearly $289 million on revenue of about $389 million in its fiscal year, indicating potential overvaluation, with a short interest of close to 21% of the public float [10]. Group 3: Potential and Future Outlook - Despite being perceived as overvalued, C3.ai possesses strong potential due to its software that aids developers in building AI applications, even for those with limited experience [11]. - The likelihood of C3.ai experiencing a significant sell-off that would necessitate a reverse stock split appears low, even though market conditions could change [12].