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C3.ai vs. Veritone: Which Small-Cap AI Stock Is Poised for Growth?
ZACKSยท 2025-08-28 13:31
Core Insights - C3.ai and Veritone are small-cap companies leading in enterprise artificial intelligence software, with C3.ai focusing on a broad industry reach and Veritone on human-centered AI solutions [1] - Both companies are at critical junctures following their recent earnings results, with C3.ai showing strong revenue growth but facing operating losses, while Veritone is expanding its software revenues despite challenges in legacy services [2] C3.ai Overview - C3.ai reported $108.7 million in revenues for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, a 26% year-over-year increase, driven by demand for its AI applications [4] - The company has strategic partnerships with major tech firms like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google, enhancing its market presence across 19 industries [4] - Preliminary first-quarter fiscal 2026 revenues are projected to be $70.2-$70.4 million, down approximately 19% from $87.2 million a year earlier, significantly missing prior guidance [5] - C3.ai's GAAP operating loss is estimated between $124.7 million and $124.9 million, with non-GAAP losses between $57.7 million and $57.9 million [5] - The company maintains a strong liquidity position with about $711.9 million in cash and equivalents as of late July 2025 [8] Veritone Overview - Veritone is experiencing growth driven by its AI training data and public sector initiatives, with a near-term pipeline exceeding $20 million, more than doubling since the first quarter [10] - The company signed 35 new public sector customers and expanded its public sector pipeline to $189 million, indicating strong demand for its aiWARE platform [11] - Despite revenue stability, Veritone's GAAP gross profit fell 7% year-over-year to $15.3 million, and the net loss widened to $26.8 million due to a non-cash charge [13] - Veritone has initiated a cost reduction program targeting $10 million in annual savings and raised about $10 million in fresh equity capital [14] Stock Performance - C3.ai stock has declined 37.8% over the past three months, with a significant drop of around 25% following disappointing preliminary results [15] - In contrast, Veritone stock has surged 95.5% in the same period, reflecting positive sentiment around its path to profitability [16] Valuation and Earnings Estimates - C3.ai has a forward price-to-sales ratio of 5.44, indicating a discount relative to its industry, while Veritone's market capitalization is around $168 million, suggesting potential upside if it executes well [18] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for C3.ai's fiscal 2026 loss per share has widened to $1.39, while Veritone's estimate has narrowed to 55 cents, indicating a positive shift in sentiment [19][22] Conclusion - C3.ai has a larger scale and established partnerships but is currently facing execution challenges and declining sales momentum [25] - Veritone is positioned for growth with improving core revenues and significant contracts, suggesting more upside potential moving forward [26]