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SoundHound vs. C3.ai: Which AI Stock Is the Better Buy Now?
ZACKS· 2026-02-19 13:45
Core Insights - Artificial intelligence is a compelling long-term investment theme, with SoundHound AI and C3.ai representing distinct approaches within the AI sector [1][2] Company Performance - SoundHound has positioned itself as a leader in voice-enabled AI across various sectors, while C3.ai focuses on enterprise AI applications [2] - Over the past six months, SoundHound's stock has decreased by 39.4%, and C3.ai's stock has fallen by 37.5%, both underperforming the Zacks Computers – IT Services industry, which declined by 18.6% [4] - SoundHound reported a 68% year-over-year revenue growth in Q3, with revenues reaching $42 million, while C3.ai's total revenues for the fiscal second quarter were $75.1 million, with subscription revenue making up 93% of total revenue [10][14] Valuation and Financial Metrics - SoundHound trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 13.26X, in line with the industry average, while C3.ai trades at a significantly lower 4.59X, indicating a steep discount [8] - SoundHound is narrowing its projected losses, with a consensus estimate for a loss per share of 6 cents in 2026, while C3.ai faces deeper expected losses with a projected loss of $1.21 per share [13][18] Growth and Strategic Initiatives - SoundHound is expanding its voice commerce capabilities and has partnerships with companies like Parkopedia and OpenTable to enhance monetization [12] - C3.ai has shown strong federal bookings growth, with a 49% sequential increase in bookings and an 89% year-over-year growth in federal bookings, indicating strong momentum in government sectors [15] Investment Outlook - SoundHound's growth trajectory and expanding monetization ecosystem suggest better upside potential compared to C3.ai, which is facing revenue contraction and deeper losses [20][21]
SoundHound Stock Down 29% in a Month: Buy the Dip or Avoid Premium?
ZACKS· 2026-02-11 17:21
Core Insights - SoundHound AI (SOUN) stock has decreased by 28.7% over the past month, underperforming the Zacks Computers – IT Services industry, which declined by 12.3%, and the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector, down by 2.1% [1][5] - The stock is currently trading at approximately $8.25, significantly below its 52-week high of $22.17 and close to its low of $6.52 [1] Technical Analysis - SOUN is trading below both its 50-day and 200-day simple moving averages, indicating sustained selling pressure [2][3] - The stock is approximately 22% below its 50-day average and about 34% below its 200-day average, suggesting a shift in market sentiment [3] - A recovery to the $10–$11 range is necessary for stabilizing momentum, with near-term volatility expected to persist [6] Financial Performance - In Q3 2025, SoundHound reported record revenues of $42 million, a 68% year-over-year increase, with a total revenue of $114 million for the first nine months of 2025, up 127% [7] - The company raised its full-year 2025 revenue outlook to between $165 million and $180 million [7] - SoundHound ended Q3 with $269 million in cash and no debt, providing flexibility for continued investment [8] Growth Projections - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 revenue implies a growth of 38.3%, with an expected loss per share of 6 cents, an improvement from the previous year's estimated loss of 15 cents [9] - Analysts have not materially downgraded forward expectations despite the stock's decline, indicating confidence in the company's fundamentals [9] Strategic Developments - SoundHound is expanding its agentic AI capabilities, recently unveiling new voice commerce functionalities at CES 2026, which could enhance revenue streams [12][15] - Partnerships with Parkopedia and OpenTable allow for voice-enabled transactions, expanding monetization opportunities [14][15] - The company has diversified its revenue base beyond automotive, with significant growth in enterprise AI and restaurant sectors [16] Competitive Landscape - SoundHound competes with companies like C3.ai, Palantir Technologies, and LivePerson, each focusing on different aspects of AI and enterprise solutions [24][25][26] - Despite competition, SoundHound's unique voice-first approach and proprietary technology differentiate it in the market [27] Valuation Considerations - The stock trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 14.57, slightly above the industry average of 13.85, indicating a premium valuation despite the lack of sustained profitability [19] - The recent technical breakdown below key moving averages adds a layer of near-term risk, particularly in a volatile AI market [23] Investment Outlook - The recent decline in SOUN stock reflects technical weakness rather than a collapse in business fundamentals, with strong revenue growth and solid cash reserves [29] - For long-term investors, the reset in valuation may present a more attractive entry point, provided execution remains strong [30][31]
Buy, Sell or Hold ServiceNow Stock? Key Tips Ahead of Q4 Earnings
ZACKS· 2026-01-26 14:50
Core Insights - ServiceNow (NOW) is set to announce its fourth-quarter 2025 results on January 28, with expected revenues of $3.52 billion, reflecting a 19.2% year-over-year growth [1] - The consensus estimate for earnings per share is 87 cents, indicating a 19.2% increase from the previous year [1] Revenue and Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fourth-quarter 2025 subscription revenues is $3.43 billion, suggesting a year-over-year growth of 19.5% on a GAAP basis [6] - Subscription revenues are projected to be between $3.42 billion and $3.43 billion, with constant currency growth estimated at 17.5% to 18% [6] Performance Trends - ServiceNow has consistently beaten the Zacks Consensus Estimate in the last four quarters, with an average surprise of 9.79% [4] - The company’s stock has declined by 41.7% over the past year, which is better than the Zacks Computer & Technology sector's return of 28.4% and the Computers – IT Services industry's decline of 22.6% [12] Strategic Developments - ServiceNow's AI products are expected to exceed $0.5 billion in Annual Contract Value (ACV) in 2025, with a target of reaching $1 billion in 2026 [18] - The acquisition of Veza enhances ServiceNow's security portfolio by focusing on identity security, which is crucial for managing access to sensitive data [18] - The $7.75 billion acquisition of Armis will strengthen ServiceNow's offerings in cyber exposure management and is expected to drive greater AI adoption [19] Partnerships and Integrations - ServiceNow has expanded its partnerships with major companies like NVIDIA and Microsoft, enhancing its AI capabilities and integration with enterprise workflows [10] - The collaboration with NVIDIA has led to the development of Apriel 2.0, which aims to improve AI reasoning and capabilities for enterprises [8] Valuation Insights - ServiceNow's current valuation is considered stretched, with a forward price/sales ratio of 8.73X compared to the sector's 7.32X [15] - The company holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), suggesting that investors may want to wait for a more favorable entry point [20]
Serve Robotics at a Premium Valuation: Should Investors Stay Away?
ZACKS· 2026-01-14 14:46
Core Insights - Serve Robotics Inc. (SERV) is trading at a forward 12-month Price/Sales (P/S F12M) ratio of 45.06, which is a premium of approximately 186% compared to the Zacks Computers – IT Services industry average of 15.75 [1] - The premium valuation is attributed to strong momentum in autonomous delivery adoption and rapid fleet expansion, with growing engagement from delivery platforms and restaurant partners [2] Financial Performance - SERV shares have declined by 17.6% over the past three months, underperforming the industry, broader technology sector, and the S&P 500 [4] - The company reported a GAAP net loss of $33 million in Q3 2025 and $67 million over the first nine months of 2025, indicating elevated losses due to high scaling costs [8] - The share count increased to 67.8 million by the end of Q3 2025 following multiple capital raises, increasing reliance on external funding [9] Earnings Estimates - Earnings expectations for SERV remain under pressure, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the 2026 loss per share widening to $1.83 from a previous estimate of $1.59 [10] Operational Developments - Serve Robotics is in a critical scaling phase, focusing on expanding sidewalk autonomy in urban environments while maintaining safety and reliability [13] - The company deployed over 2,000 autonomous robots, making it the largest sidewalk delivery fleet in the U.S., and reported sharp growth in delivery volumes [14] Strategic Acquisitions - The acquisition of Vayu aims to enhance autonomy performance and operational efficiency, contributing to a robotics-and-autonomy-as-a-service platform [15][16] Partnerships and Market Position - Partnerships with major delivery platforms like Uber and DoorDash are crucial for improving utilization and monetization, allowing robots to dynamically accept orders [17][18] - Collaborations with national restaurant partners support higher throughput and refine autonomy models, enhancing system-wide performance [18] Investment Perspective - Despite progress in autonomous sidewalk delivery and fleet expansion, SERV remains in an early stage of commercialization with profitability still distant [20] - The current stock valuation reflects optimistic long-term adoption expectations, suggesting limited margin for error [20]
SoundHound Trades at a Premium Value: How to Play the Stock?
ZACKS· 2026-01-07 14:25
Core Insights - SoundHound AI, Inc. (SOUN) has shown strong operating momentum entering 2026, with a year-to-date stock increase of 12.6%, outperforming the Zacks Computers – IT Services industry and the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector, despite trading below its 52-week high of $22.17 [1] Valuation and Performance - SoundHound's current forward 12-month price-to-sales ratio is 19.98X, which is above the industry average of 15.91X and its own three-year median of 17.52X, indicating market confidence in the company's growth potential [4] - The stock is currently trading below its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, suggesting near-term technical weakness despite strong operational performance [7] Revenue Growth and Guidance - In Q3 2025, SoundHound reported record revenue of $42 million, a 68% year-over-year increase, driven by demand across various sectors including automotive and voice commerce [9] - Management has raised full-year revenue guidance to between $165 million and $180 million, indicating confidence in sustained growth [9] Strategic Initiatives - SoundHound is focusing on agentic voice commerce, moving beyond basic voice assistants to AI agents capable of completing real-world transactions, with recent partnerships enhancing this strategy [11] - At CES 2026, SoundHound showcased new capabilities allowing users to perform various tasks using voice commands, integrating with platforms like OpenTable and TomTom [12] Financial Expectations - Although SoundHound remains unprofitable, earnings expectations are improving, with the 2026 loss per share estimate remaining at 5 cents, an improvement from the previous year's estimate of 14 cents [14] - Revenue expectations for 2026 suggest a growth rate of 38.9%, reflecting confidence in enterprise adoption and voice commerce scaling [14] Competitive Landscape - SoundHound faces increasing competition from major platform companies and well-funded AI startups, with notable competitors including Nuance Communications, Cerence, and LivePerson, which are investing heavily in conversational AI [18] - The automotive sector presents challenges, including global tariffs and industry softness, which could impact SoundHound's near-term deployments [19] Investment Considerations - The current valuation of nearly 20X forward sales suggests limited margin for error, necessitating consistent execution and progress toward profitability to support further stock upside [20] - Given the premium pricing and ongoing losses, the stock may be better suited for investors to wait for more favorable valuation or clearer earnings momentum [20]
Will BigBear.ai Emerge as a Top Small-Cap AI Turnaround Story?
ZACKS· 2025-12-22 15:01
Core Insights - BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc. (BBAI) is being recognized as a potential small-cap AI turnaround, focusing on higher-value applications and improving its financial position [1] Financial Performance - In Q3 2025, BigBear.ai reported revenues of $33.1 million, impacted by program timing issues in U.S. Army contracts, but maintains a solid backlog of $376 million, ensuring multi-year revenue visibility [2] - The company ended the quarter with a record cash balance of $456.6 million, enhancing financial flexibility and reducing liquidity risk [2] Strategic Developments - BigBear.ai has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Ask Sage, a generative AI platform, expected to generate approximately $25 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) in 2025, marking a sixfold year-over-year increase [3] - The acquisition positions BigBear.ai in the growing market for agentic AI in defense and intelligence, viewed as a catalyst for margin expansion and cross-selling opportunities [3] International Expansion - The company is expanding internationally by opening an office in the UAE and forming strategic partnerships in border security and aerospace, indicating ambitions beyond its U.S. federal base [4] Competitive Landscape - BigBear.ai faces competition from Palantir Technologies, which excels in AI-driven analytics for government and enterprise, and C3.ai, which focuses on enterprise AI software across various sectors [5][6] - Both competitors have established customer bases and diversified platforms, setting a high bar for BigBear.ai to achieve sustainable ARR growth [7] Stock Performance - BigBear.ai's stock has increased by 96.3% over the past year, outperforming major benchmarks and trading at a forward price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 15.89, which is above industry peers [8][10][12] Earnings Expectations - Over the past 60 days, expectations for the company's 2025 loss per share have improved from $1.10 to $0.93, with the anticipated 2026 loss per share narrowing from $0.32 to $0.25, indicating a trend of steady improvement [15]
BigBear.ai's Edge AI Push: A Path to Tactical Dominance?
ZACKS· 2025-12-10 14:41
Core Insights - BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc. (BBAI) is focusing on edge-ready, mission-grade AI for national security, with Q3 2025 results indicating financial pressure but a strategic shift that may enhance its market position [2] - The company reported a revenue decline of 20% year-over-year to $33.1 million, with adjusted EBITDA showing a loss of $9.4 million due to increased SG&A expenses related to growth initiatives [2][9] - BigBear.ai's balance sheet is strong, with $456.6 million in cash, which is being leveraged to build long-term competitive advantages [2] Acquisition and Growth Strategy - The acquisition of Ask Sage is a significant development, bringing a generative-AI platform that supports over 100,000 users and is expected to achieve an ARR of $25 million in 2025, a six-fold increase from 2024 [3] - Ask Sage's capabilities align with BigBear.ai's existing systems, enhancing its position as a central AI integrator for the Department of Defense (DoD) and other intelligence agencies [3][4] Competitive Landscape - BigBear.ai faces competition from Palantir Technologies (PLTR) and C3.ai, both of which are key players in the defense-grade AI sector [5][6] - Palantir is noted for its strong presence in high-classification environments, while C3.ai is expanding its applications in defense logistics and predictive maintenance, making the competitive landscape challenging for BigBear.ai [5][6] Stock Performance and Valuation - BBAI's stock has increased by 124.2% over the past year, outperforming major benchmarks and the Zacks Computer and Technology sector [7] - The stock is currently trading at a premium, with a forward 12-month price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 17.17 compared to industry peers [11] Earnings Expectations - Expectations for BBAI's loss per share for 2025 have improved from $1.10 to $0.93, while the anticipated loss for 2026 has narrowed from $0.32 to $0.25, indicating a trend of steady improvement [13]
SoundHound Stock Lost 23% in a Month: Bargain Opportunity or Red Flag?
ZACKS· 2025-12-04 14:40
Core Insights - SoundHound AI, Inc. (SOUN) has experienced a significant decline in stock price, dropping 22.8% over the past month to approximately $11.78, contrasting with the broader market's gains [1][7] - Despite the stock's downturn, the company reported a remarkable revenue growth of 127% year-to-date, reaching $114 million, and raised its full-year revenue guidance to between $165 million and $180 million [7][9] Financial Performance - SOUN shares are trading significantly below their 52-week high of $24.98 and above their low of $6.52, indicating a bearish technical setup [5] - The company reported a GAAP loss of $109.3 million in Q3, with high cash burn and increasing competition affecting the outlook [7][14] - Operating cash outflow exceeded $76 million in the first nine months of the year, highlighting the need for balanced growth investments [15] Growth Momentum - The company achieved $42 million in revenue for Q3, marking a 68% year-over-year increase, and cumulative revenue for the first three quarters reached a record $114 million [8] - Management's confidence in demand is reflected in the upward revision of revenue expectations, signaling robust deployments and expansions across customer accounts [9] Industry Position and Customer Reach - SoundHound is expanding its customer base across various industries, including automotive, restaurants, healthcare, and financial services, with notable deployments in voice ordering solutions [10][11] - Recent agreements, such as integrating Chat AI into millions of devices for a major Chinese tech company, enhance its presence in the smart-device market [10] Technological Foundation - The company's platform is built on advanced technologies like Speech-to-Meaning and Deep Meaning Understanding, which enhance its capabilities in conversational AI [12] - SoundHound's strong balance sheet, with $269 million in cash and no debt, provides financial flexibility for continued innovation [13] Competitive Landscape - The voice and agentic AI market is becoming increasingly competitive, with major players like Nuance Communications and Cerence posing significant challenges [28] - SoundHound's recent acquisition strategy, while potentially beneficial, introduces risks related to integration and cost management [17] Valuation Concerns - SoundHound's stock trades at approximately 21.5X forward 12-month sales, above the industry average of 16.54X, raising concerns about valuation relative to its loss profile [18] - Analyst estimates indicate a mixed outlook, with revenue projections rising but earnings expectations softening, highlighting the tension between growth and profitability [22]
Bull of the Day: Vertiv Holdings (VRT)
ZACKS· 2025-12-03 12:01
Company Overview - Vertiv Holdings is a global designer and manufacturer of critical digital infrastructure technologies for communication networks and data centers, benefiting from AI and data center demand [1][6] - The company has a diverse product portfolio that includes thermal systems, liquid cooling, switchgear, busbar, and modular solutions, which are essential for power management in high-performance data centers [6] Stock Performance - Vertiv's shares have surged nearly 200% since April, breaking out to an all-time high in 2025 with increasing volume, indicating strong market performance [2][12] - The stock is part of the Zacks Computers – IT Services industry group, which ranks in the top 35% of approximately 250 Zacks Ranked Industries, suggesting potential for outperformance over the next 3 to 6 months [2][3] Earnings Trends - Vertiv has consistently beaten earnings estimates, with a recent EPS of $1.24, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.00 by 24% and showing a 63% year-over-year growth [9][10] - Analysts have raised Q4 EPS estimates by 3.23% in the past 60 days, with the current consensus at $1.28 per share, reflecting nearly 30% growth year-over-year, and projected revenues of $2.86 billion, up more than 22% [11] Technical Analysis - The stock remains above its upward-sloping 50-day and 200-day moving averages, indicating a strong technical trend, with recent pullbacks presenting buying opportunities [14] - Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, which have been positive for Vertiv, suggesting continued bullish momentum [15] Industry Context - Stocks in the IT Services industry are relatively undervalued based on traditional metrics, with projected earnings growth of 9.64%, compared to the S&P 500's 7.50% [4] - Investing in leading industry groups can enhance stock-picking success, as the top 50% of Zacks Ranked Industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1 [5]
Can the 3Cloud Acquisition Push Cognizant Stock Higher in 2025?
ZACKS· 2025-11-17 20:31
Core Insights - Cognizant Technology Solutions (CTSH) is enhancing its AI capabilities through the acquisition of 3Cloud, a leading Microsoft Azure service provider, which will add over 1,000 Azure experts and 1,500 Microsoft certifications to its workforce [1][11] - The acquisition will expand Cognizant's Azure portfolio and client base across various sectors, including banking, healthcare, and technology [2][11] - Cognizant's recent acquisitions have contributed significantly to its revenue growth, with an expected inorganic growth impact of 250 basis points for 2025 [3][11] Financial Performance - Cognizant's revenue growth for the trailing nine months of 2025 was 7.6% year over year, reaching $1.12 billion, with recent acquisitions adding approximately 350 basis points to this growth [3] - The company anticipates fourth-quarter 2025 revenues to be between $5.27 billion and $5.33 billion, reflecting a growth of 3.8-4.8% on a reported basis [8] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fourth-quarter 2025 revenues is $5.31 billion, indicating a year-over-year growth of 4.43% [9] Strategic Partnerships and AI Integration - Cognizant's expanding partner ecosystem, including companies like Anthropic and Rubrik, is a key driver for its growth, enabling the integration of advanced AI tools into client operations [5] - The company has embedded AI across more than 150 use cases, enhancing productivity and decision-making processes [7] Market Position and Stock Performance - Cognizant's shares have appreciated by 8.9% over the past month, outperforming the Zacks Computers – IT Services industry, which declined by 3% [4] - The company is currently ranked 2 (Buy) by Zacks, indicating a positive outlook in the market [12]