Latest news with #SaaS
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Why C3.ai Fell 29% in the First Half of 2025
Shares of fell sharply in February in part as the company underwhelmed with its fiscal third-quarter earnings report. The company continues to be significantly unprofitable. Share dilution and share-based compensation are also concerns. 10 stocks we like better than › Shares of (NYSE: AI) pulled back through the first half of the year The software-as-a-service (SaaS) company bills itself as offering "AI for the Enterprise" as well as AI-based application software. It continued to post wide losses in its earnings report and fell sharply in February as business and consumer sentiment began to weaken on fears of a trade war. While the stock recovered a bit in the second quarter of the year, it wasn't enough to make up for its struggles earlier in the year. According to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence, the stock was down 29% through the first half of the year. The chart below shows how the stock's losses came during a brief period in February. The stock started to slide in February on signs of weakening business and consumer sentiment and as the broad market fell from its peak. stock then fell 10% on Feb. 27 as the company posted another wide loss in its Q3 earnings report. Revenue rose 26% to $98.8 million. On the bottom line, the company continued to be unprofitable as it reported an adjusted loss per share of $0.12. However, its generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) net loss of $80.2 million shows it's still losing nearly as much money as it's making in revenue, and its unit economics are barely improving as that loss rose from $72.6 million in the quarter a year ago. has spent heavily on share-based compensation historically, and that pattern continued with $174.4 million in share-based compensation through the first three quarters of the year, or nearly 75% of revenue for that period. In its Q4 report in May, posted similar numbers with revenue up 26% to $108.7 million and an adjusted loss of $0.16 per share. Its GAAP net loss came in at $79.7 million, up from $72.9 million. While the company made progress with its partnerships and added new customers, the business doesn't seem to be growing fast enough to offset the losses, and its gross margins remain low for a software company at 62% in Q4. The company's revenue growth has improved, but still seems to have a long way to go to build the scale necessary to generate a profit and prove its viability. Given its exposure to AI and its growth, the stock has potential over the long term, but the downside risks and the share dilution seem to outweigh those for now. Before you buy stock in consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $674,432!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,005,854!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,049% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 180% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of July 7, 2025 Jeremy Bowman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Why Fell 29% in the First Half of 2025 was originally published by The Motley Fool Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Salesforce, Inc. (CRM) Is Competing With The Rise Of AI, Says Jim Cramer
We recently published . Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) is one of the stocks Jim Cramer recently discussed. Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) is a SaaS company that provides customer relationship management software. The firm has spent a large portion of 2025 locked in a fierce battle with Microsoft for AI CRM supremacy. Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM)'s shares have lost 20% year-to-date as investors are worried not only about the firm's AI platform Agentforce showing modest market penetration but also about its non-AI businesses underperforming in today's AI-driven enterprise software industry. Cramer discussed the effect of AI on Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM): '[On Morgan Stanley saying Tim Cook's successor could benefit from having a hardware background] Well look, it's funny hardware is part of the, I'm glad you mentioned hardware, hardware's part of the issue of how NVIDIA got to where it is. This is an essentially, there's a belief in many people on Wall Street and in Silicon Valley, that hardware prevails here because we're gonna get rid of a huge number of people who would do SaaS, you know, software as a service, and that includes, yes, Salesforce. . . . Because there are going to be fewer and fewer people who are actually in the organization who need that. But that does not mean that you wouldn't need more Apple.' A customer service team in an office setting using the company's Customer 360 platform to communicate with customers. Cramer discussed the divide in Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM)'s products in his earlier remarks: 'Now this is tough for me, because my charitable trust owns Salesforce. And Salesforce, even though it's embraced agentic, is regarded as company, that well you know what they have a lot of stuff that really doesn't do anything. How about that Texas Instruments? And it's a nice renaissance.' While we acknowledge the potential of CRM as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an extremely cheap AI stock that is also a major beneficiary of Trump tariffs and onshoring, see our free report on the . READ NEXT: 30 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 11 Hidden AI Stocks to Buy Right Now. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Orion deploys Temenos digital banking platform for BNI Madagascar
Orion Innovation, an accredited partner of Temenos, has deployed a customised digital banking platform for BNI Madagascar. This initiative aims to provide customers with an advanced, user-focused banking experience that goes beyond the standard Temenos Digital offering. BNI Madagascar sought to create a unique mobile application featuring a bespoke user interface designed for seamless and intuitive interactions, according to the company. BNI Madagascar digital head Thibault Huvelle said: 'Orion's partnership has elevated our digital capabilities and allowed us to better serve our customers with convenience and efficiency.' Orion noted that it collaborated closely with the bank to align the platform with its strategic objectives and design preferences. The result is a 'modern' and 'scalable' platform that enhances customer engagement, improves operational efficiency, and accelerates the launch of new services, stated Orion. BNI Madagascar has reported strong user adoption and positive feedback, particularly praising the mobile app's design, usability, and customer-centric approach, said Orion. Temenos MEA managing director Santhosh Rao said: 'Congratulations to the team at BNI Madagascar on a successful go-live with Temenos Digital. This milestone empowers the bank to enhance customer experiences and deliver smarter, faster banking services. 'It also highlights the strength of our digital banking solutions for banks in Africa to accelerate innovation and digital transformation.' In May this year, EastWest Banking in the Philippines selected Temenos Software as a Service (SaaS) to expedite its core banking upgrade, aiming for a secure experience across its retail, SME, and corporate divisions. "Orion deploys Temenos digital banking platform for BNI Madagascar" was originally created and published by Retail Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Jim Cramer on CrowdStrike: 'One of the Greatest Comebacks in Business History'
CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRWD) is one of the 13 stocks recently discussed by Jim Cramer. Discussing its recent valuation downgrade, Cramer emphasized that the company is doing well despite the massive worldwide outage it caused in July 2024. 'How about CrowdStrike, the cybersecurity play that we own for CNBC Investing Club. This morning, Piper Sandler downgraded the stock. The analyst says he can't foresee anything near term that would 'meaningfully increase numbers or our terminal multiple, already the highest across our coverage universe.' Okay, so CrowdStrike's gone up a lot and it's certainly expensive, but then get this, 'Yes, this is a valuation goal again. There is a sense of deja vu as it was July of last year when we lowered our opinion on valuation.' Security personnel at their consoles, monitoring a global network of threats in real-time. CrowdStrike (NASDAQ:CRWD) delivers cybersecurity solutions through a subscription-based SaaS model, and focuses on endpoint and cloud workload protection, identity security, data protection, threat intelligence, and AI-driven security automation. While we acknowledge the potential of CRWD as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 30 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 11 Hidden AI Stocks to Buy Right Now. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
Forbes
2 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Community Capital: Building Founder-Funder Ecosystems—Part Two
Nate Williams is Managing Partner of Union Labs VC, a seasoned investor and operator focused on the convergence of SaaS & DeepTech. In Part One, "Community Capital: How Networks Drive Deep Tech," I made the case that in deep tech, community is foundational. The complexity of building at the intersection of science, hardware and software requires something more resilient than a spreadsheet or pitch deck. It requires trust. And trust is built inside community. Now let's talk about the 'how.' While there's no one-size-fits-all approach to building effective founder-funder ecosystems, I've found there are core principles that consistently generate high net promoter score (NPS) outcomes: intentionality, authenticity and alignment. Here's how to design and scale communities that matter—and that drive results. 1. Start with shared curiosity, not a calendar invite. In my experience, the best communities don't start with logistics. They start with a question: "What are we collectively trying to figure out that we can't solve alone?" From AI applications in precision manufacturing to unlocking public-private partnerships in defense tech, your community must orbit a real frontier. For example, the early days of one of my company's event series weren't driven by volume—they were driven by shared intent. A handful of deep tech investors realized we needed a safe space to cross-reference market insights, learn from missed opportunities and calibrate around new and novel technical developments. That curiosity turned into a consistent monthly ritual and now includes up to a dozen firms with collective expertise across artificial intelligence, autonomy, semiconductors, defense and more. 2. Design for depth, not just scale. Many founder-funder events chase scale—bigger guest lists, larger venues, more sponsors. But in my experience, true community capital is commonly forged in smaller, trust-rich spaces. Instead of headcount, curate for chemistry. Invite individuals who are at similar inflection points with their startups, careers or networks and who are wrestling with industry challenges. Pair ambitious operators with experienced startup founders for a chat. Look for people who aren't just interesting on paper but interested in building something that matters—and doing so collaboratively. When thoughtfully constructed, small gatherings can become industry catalysts, especially in venture capital. Done right, they can spark collaborations that outlive the events—sometimes even leading to cofounding relationships, early customer pilots or downstream investment. For example, one of our community series works precisely because it strips away hierarchy and replaces it with shared outdoor experiences. No stages. No panelists. Just climate and deep tech entrepreneurs and investors tackling real hills—literally and metaphorically—while cycling and sharing what's hard, what's working and what's next in our industry. 3. Build structure around informal signals. Too many communities seek to remain informal forever. But I've found that the most impactful ones evolve—gently—into systems. One best practice I recommend: Lightly track the outcomes of your connections. Which introductions led to new hires, early customers or co-investments? You don't need detailed customer relationship management (CRM) dashboards, but you should allocate time for reflection. Which rituals are worth repeating? What's missing? Is there return on investment (ROI) to keep this community event going, or is it time for a pivot? The goal isn't bureaucracy, but awareness. I've found that community capital becomes more effective when it's not just vibrant, but intentional. 4. Let the community shape itself. One of the biggest community-building myths I've encountered is that the host must control everything. As a recovering micromanager, I do understand this. But I've learned that the best founder-funder ecosystems become co-owned. They evolve organically, shaped by the needs of their members via their output through the events. Make it easy for others to step in and lead. Rotate moderators. Change venues. Open the agenda. Encourage shared ownership of events, conversations and outreach. When your community becomes a platform for others to build upon, it can become more resilient—and more scalable. 5. Design for emotional ROI. Yes, community leads to deal flow, diligence acceleration and talent acquisition. But perhaps the most undervalued return is emotional endurance. Deep tech and physical AI are hard. Venture capital is hard. Startups can be close to impossible. They can be stressful, both slow and chaotic, and oftentimes uncertain. Founders and funders alike need environments that remind them why they're doing this work—who else is 'in the arena'—and that the struggle is shared. When you get it right, a founder walks away not just with advice but with renewed zeal. A GP finds renewed conviction in a thesis iteration they've been questioning. A Fortune 500 exec realizes they're not the only one betting their career arc on physical world AI. That's real capital. Want community? Be a node, not a gatekeeper! If Part One was about recognizing the value of community capital, Part Two is your permission slip to go build it. You don't need to wait for someone to 'launch' the group. Start with a dinner meetup. A shared doc with relevant articles and research. A bike ride or poker night. A WhatsApp thread. Build it around a topic that matters and people who care. In early-stage venture capital—especially in deep tech—I've found that the firms with the most effective communities often see the best signals, the best ideas and the best people first. And in this game, timing is everything. So go be a node. Invite others in. Help more people do the hard thing well. I'll see you on the ride! Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
