Key Takeaways AI expands integrations with Copilot, Fabric and Azure AI Foundry to unify enterprise AI operations.The deeper partnership lets users query data, access apps and deploy models across Microsoft platforms.A growing partner network and new integrator program support wider C3.ai adoption across industries.C3.ai, Inc. (AI) expanded its long-standing collaboration with Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) by upgrading integrations across Microsoft Copilot, Microsoft Fabric and Azure AI Foundry. The enhancem ...

Core Insights - C3.ai's agentic AI initiative is becoming a significant growth driver, with the introduction of the C3 Agentic AI Platform and the Strategic Integrator Program aimed at enabling enterprises and government agencies to create domain-specific AI applications [1][10] - The platform addresses key generative AI challenges, ensuring enterprise-grade reliability and achieving a high success rate in large-scale deployments across various sectors [2] - C3.ai has secured early deployments with notable clients like the U.S. Army and Nucor, showcasing its potential in agentic AI adoption [3][10] - The company is targeting a $2 trillion addressable market, with increasing government adoption and OEM partnerships, positioning itself for a leading role in the agentic AI segment [4] Company Developments - The C3 Agentic AI Platform combines generative pretrained transformers with secure workflows, effectively mitigating risks such as data exfiltration and cybersecurity threats [2] - The platform's open architecture prevents vendor lock-in and is supported by 131 pre-built enterprise AI applications, enhancing its competitive differentiation [3] - C3.ai's OEM model allows partners to license and customize its technology, expanding market reach without incurring additional sales costs [10] Competitive Landscape - Competitors like Palantir Technologies and BigBear.ai are emerging as significant challengers in the agentic AI space, with Palantir expanding its AI platform for government and commercial clients [5][6] - BigBear.ai is developing mission-ready agentic AI tools, increasing competition for enterprise-scale AI transformation projects [7] Financial Performance - C3.ai's stock has seen a decline of 31% over the past three months, contrasting with a 3.5% decline in the industry [8] - The company trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 7.8X, significantly lower than the industry average of 17.12X, indicating potential undervaluation [12] - Analyst sentiment has become more cautious, with fiscal 2026 EPS estimates widening to a loss of $1.33, reflecting deeper expected losses compared to previous estimates [14]

Core Insights - C3.ai, Inc. emphasizes the significance of its Initial Production Deployment (IPD) model as a key driver for enterprise adoption and recurring revenue growth, having closed 28 new IPDs in Q1 FY26, totaling 374 active deployments [1][9] Summary by Sections IPD Model and Revenue - The IPD framework serves as a 3-6 month trial for clients to assess the C3 Agentic AI Platform's real-world performance before full-scale deployment, with subscription and prioritized engineering services (PES) constituting 98% of total sales in Q1 FY26 [2][9] - The model is expected to create long-term customer retention, although it incurs transitional costs, leading to a decrease in non-GAAP gross margin to 52% from 59% year-over-year due to increased upfront support and implementation costs [3] Customer Engagement and Partnerships - C3.ai's customer engagement is expanding, with partnerships with Nucor, HII, and Qemetica showcasing the platform's integration into critical operations, including supply chain optimization and defense readiness [4] - Collaborations with major cloud providers like Microsoft Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud accounted for approximately 90% of deal activity in Q1 FY26, highlighting the platform's growing market presence [4] Future Growth and Financial Guidance - The conversion rate from IPDs to recurring subscriptions is anticipated to be pivotal for C3.ai's next growth phase, with Q2 FY26 revenue guidance set between $72 million and $80 million, indicating a modest recovery [5] - The company currently has over 260 active IPDs and aims to convert pilot projects into long-term enterprise contracts, which could enhance sustainable growth if conversion rates improve [6] Stock Performance and Valuation - C3.ai's shares have decreased by 30.2% over the past three months, contrasting with a 4.4% decline in the industry, while other competitors like TaskUs and ServiceNow have also seen declines [7] - The company trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 8.28X, significantly lower than the industry average of 17.05X, with other industry players showing varying P/S ratios [10]

FY26-Q1 Financial Highlights - Revenue reached $70.3 million[7] - Subscription revenue accounted for $60.3 million[18], while subscription and prioritized engineering services revenue combined totaled $69.0 million[18] - Non-GAAP gross profit was $36.3 million, resulting in a non-GAAP gross margin of 52%[18] - The company's cash balance stood at $711.9 million[7] Partner Ecosystem - 40 agreements were closed through the partner network in Q1[11] - The joint 12-month qualified opportunity pipeline with partners increased by 54% year-over-year[11] - C3 AI and Microsoft jointly closed 24 agreements[11] Bookings and Deployments - Manufacturing accounted for 46% of total bookings in FY26-Q1[24], a significant increase compared to 5.2% in FY25-Q1[23] - Federal, Defense and Aerospace represented 28% of total bookings in FY26-Q1[24], down from 31% in FY25-Q1[23] - Federal, Defense and Aerospace accounted for 32.1% of initial production deployments in FY26-Q1[27], while Manufacturing accounted for 28.6%[27] - Federal, Defense and Aerospace accounted for 33.3% of Generative AI initial production deployments in FY26-Q1[30], with Construction, Manufacturing, Oil and Gas, and Telecommunications each accounting for 16.7%[30] Guidance - The company expects total revenue between $72.0 million and $80.0 million for FY26-Q2, representing a year-over-year growth between -15% and -24%[14] - Non-GAAP loss from operations is projected to be between $(49.5) million and $(57.5) million for FY26-Q2[14] - The company withdrew its previous full-year fiscal 2026 guidance due to the appointment of a new CEO and restructuring of sales and services organizations[15]

Industry Overview - Artificial intelligence (AI) is projected to generate up to $4.4 trillion in productivity improvements, with enterprise AI being a significant contributor to this growth [1][5] - Global enterprise AI spending is expected to reach $423 billion by 2027, driven by demand across various sectors including manufacturing, energy, healthcare, and finance [5] Company Profile: C3.ai - C3.ai is a publicly traded company focused on providing AI solutions for enterprises, offering a specialized platform for building, deploying, and scaling AI applications [2][7] - Founded in 2009, C3.ai has established a strong presence in heavy, regulated industries such as defense, oil and gas, and utilities, partnering with major companies like Baker Hughes and Shell [9][10] - The company reported a revenue increase of 25% to $389.1 million in fiscal 2025, indicating strong growth potential [10] Product Offerings - C3.ai's core offerings include the C3 Agentic AI Platform, which allows organizations to develop large-scale AI applications, and C3 AI Applications, which are prebuilt solutions tailored for specific industries [8] - The introduction of C3 Generative AI expands its capabilities, providing domain-specific applications that enhance employee interaction with enterprise systems [10] Market Position and Competition - C3.ai is well-positioned to leverage new AI technologies and scale rapidly due to its deep domain understanding [10] - The enterprise AI market is becoming increasingly competitive, with major cloud providers like Microsoft, Amazon, and Oracle integrating AI into their platforms, posing a risk to C3.ai's market share [13] - Despite the competition, the growing AI market offers opportunities for multiple players to succeed [14] Investment Considerations - C3.ai represents a high-risk, high-reward investment in the enterprise AI sector, with a solid foundation from its platform and customer base [15] - The path to profitability remains uncertain, and investors should monitor the company's performance closely as competition intensifies [15][16]

Core Viewpoint - C3.ai is a prominent player in the enterprise AI sector, but it faces significant challenges regarding cash burn and competition, which could impact its long-term viability and investment attractiveness [1][16]. Company Overview - C3.ai specializes in providing an enterprise AI platform, focusing on deploying AI in large organizations across various sectors such as supply chains, energy, and defense [4][6]. - The company offers tools like the C3 Agentic AI Platform and C3 Generative AI, which facilitate the development and implementation of AI solutions [5][6]. Financial Performance - C3.ai has accumulated losses of $1.4 billion since its inception in 2009, with a projected non-GAAP loss from operations of around $100 million for fiscal year 2026 [8][9]. - The company ended the last fiscal year with $743 million in cash and equivalents, but this could diminish quickly if losses continue at the current rate [8]. - Revenue growth for fiscal year 2026 is expected to be between 15% and 25%, which is considered moderate compared to its spending levels [9][11]. - The company signed 264 agreements in fiscal year 2025, marking a 38% year-over-year increase, indicating potential for improved growth rates in the future [10]. Competitive Landscape - C3.ai faces increasing competition from major tech companies like Microsoft, Google, and AWS, which are heavily investing in AI and have established customer bases [13][14]. - Smaller startups are also emerging with specialized AI tools that are easier to implement and more flexibly priced, intensifying the competitive pressure [14][15]. - To maintain relevance, C3.ai must continue to address complex customer needs in its core verticals, or risk being marginalized in the market [15].

Core Insights - C3.ai's partnership with defense contractor HII is expected to significantly enhance its growth in the government sector, particularly in shipbuilding operations for the U.S. Navy [1][2] - The collaboration aims to integrate C3.ai's AI technology into HII's operations, addressing critical challenges in national defense, such as shipbuilding delays [4][11] Partnership and Expansion - The partnership builds on a successful pilot program at HII's Ingalls Shipbuilding, where C3.ai's algorithms optimized scheduling and labor allocation [3] - The deployment will initially focus on improving planning and throughput for various naval vessels, including amphibious ships and submarines [3][11] Federal Business Growth - C3.ai has recently secured a $450 million contract ceiling with the U.S. Air Force, expanding its presence in the defense sector [5][6] - The company is positioning itself as a key vendor for AI-driven operational intelligence in mission-critical applications, which is crucial for its long-term growth strategy [6][12] Financial Performance - In fiscal Q4, C3.ai reported revenues of $108.7 million, reflecting a 26% year-over-year growth [7] - Total revenues for fiscal 2025 reached $389.1 million, marking a 25% increase year-over-year, with subscription services comprising 96% of total revenues [8][9] Partner Ecosystem and Market Position - C3.ai's partner-supported bookings surged by 419% year-over-year in fiscal Q4, indicating strong demand for its solutions [10] - The renewal of a key alliance with Baker Hughes has generated over $500 million in revenue, enhancing C3.ai's credibility in industrial markets [9] Innovation and Differentiation - C3.ai's Agentic AI platform is deployed in over 100 use cases, providing ready-to-use applications for specific problems, distinguishing it from other AI vendors [13][14] - The company's application-first model is increasingly appealing to enterprise buyers seeking immediate solutions [14] Share Price and Valuation - C3.ai shares have increased by 11.8% over the past three months, outperforming the industry average [15] - Despite recent gains, C3.ai is priced at a discount compared to its industry, with a forward price-to-sales ratio of 6.81 [19] Strategic Outlook - The partnership with HII represents a strategic inflection point for C3.ai, contributing to strong revenue growth and an expanding partner ecosystem [21]

Core Insights - HII and C3 AI have formed a strategic partnership to enhance digital technologies and apply AI to improve shipbuilding throughput at HII's Newport News and Ingalls Shipbuilding divisions [1][5][8] Company Overview - HII is the largest military shipbuilder in the U.S., with a history of over 135 years in advancing national security and a workforce of 44,000 [10] - C3 AI specializes in Enterprise AI application software, providing integrated products for developing and deploying AI applications [11] Partnership Details - The partnership aims to integrate AI solutions across various shipbuilding operations, including planning, operations, supply chain, and labor allocation, to accelerate production and support U.S. Navy fleet readiness [5][6] - Initial efforts will focus on enhancing planning and scheduling at HII's divisions, specifically for amphibious ships, destroyers, nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, and submarines [7] Technological Implementation - The collaboration builds on a previous six-month deployment of C3 AI's technology at Ingalls Shipbuilding, which utilized complex algorithms to optimize work schedules, resulting in significant improvements in schedule performance [6][8] - The deployment of the C3 Agentic AI Platform will be scaled across HII shipyards to further enhance operational efficiency [6]

Financial Highlights - C3 AI's FY25-Q4 revenue reached $108.7 million[22], representing a 26% growth compared to FY24-Q4[5, 8] - Subscription revenue for FY25-Q4 was $87.3 million[22] - The company's cash balance stands at $742.7 million[5] - For FY25, total revenue was $389.1 million, a 25% year-over-year increase[6, 23] - Subscription revenue accounted for 84% of the total revenue in FY25[6] - Non-GAAP gross margin for FY25 was 69.6%[6, 23] Partner Ecosystem - C3 AI closed 193 agreements through its partner network in FY25, a 68% year-over-year increase, accounting for 73% of total agreements[12] - Partner-supported bookings grew by 419% year-over-year in Q4[12] Guidance - C3 AI projects FY26-Q1 total revenue to be between $100.0 million and $109.0 million, representing a 15%-25% year-over-year growth[19] - The company anticipates FY26 total revenue to be between $447.5 million and $484.5 million, also a 15%-25% year-over-year growth[19]

Core Viewpoint - C3.ai, Inc. is currently trading at a slight premium compared to its sector but at a discount to historical metrics, with a forward 12-month Price/Sales ratio of 6.39X, higher than the sector's 6.18X, yet below its three-year average [1] Group 1: Share Price Performance - C3.ai's shares have increased by 20.7% in the past month, but this performance lags behind the Zacks Computer & Technology sector and the Zacks Computers - IT Services industry [2] - The current stock price reflects a 48.6% discount from its 52-week high of $45.08 and a 36.1% premium to its 52-week low of $17.03 [2] Group 2: Growth Drivers - Partnerships with major players like Amazon AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, and Booz Allen Hamilton are significant growth multipliers, resulting in 28 closed deals across nine industries, indicating a 460% quarter-over-quarter increase [5] - C3.ai has expanded its customer base in both commercial and government sectors, securing notable clients such as Flex, Sanofi, ExxonMobil, Shell, and the U.S. Department of Defense [6] - The company has a robust federal pipeline, particularly with the U.S. Department of Defense, citing 39 active pilots that are gaining traction in areas like predictive maintenance and logistics optimization [10] Group 3: Financial Challenges - C3.ai reported a GAAP net loss of 62 cents per share in the fiscal third quarter, with a non-GAAP loss of 12 cents per share [11] - The company signed 50 new pilots in the fiscal third quarter, totaling 310 pilots, which carry higher upfront costs and pressure on gross margins [12] - C3.ai anticipates some moderation in gross margins due to the increased mix of costly pilots and expects elevated operating losses due to ongoing investments in sales and R&D [13] Group 4: Estimate Revisions - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2025 loss per share remains unchanged at $2.29, while the estimate for fiscal 2026 loss per share has widened to $2.41 [14] - Sales growth estimates for fiscal 2025 and 2026 are projected at 29.6% and 22.4%, respectively [14] Group 5: Overall Assessment - Despite high-profile partnerships and a strong pipeline, C3.ai's ongoing lack of profitability, margin pressures, and increasing cost structure raise concerns [17] - The company operates at a steep GAAP loss with over 300 active pilots that have yet to convert into significant revenues, which may further impact margins [16] - The forward Price/Sales ratio of 6.39, while above the sector average, does not indicate an improved long-term financial outlook, leading to an unfavorable risk-reward profile for investors [17]