C3 AI Announces Third Quarter Fiscal 2021 Results

Rhea-AI Summary

C3.ai, a leader in enterprise AI applications, reported fiscal Q3 2021 results with total revenue of $49.1 million, up 19% year-over-year. Subscription revenue increased 23% to $42.7 million, now comprising 87% of total revenue. Professional services revenue saw a 4% decline to $6.4 million. Gross margin improved to 75%, while loss from operations rose to $18.5 million. The company expanded its partnerships and product offerings, enhancing its market position in AI software. For Q4, it anticipates revenue between $50.0 million and $51.0 million.

Positive

• Total revenue increased to $49.1 million, a 19% year-over-year growth.
• Subscription revenue rose to $42.7 million, up 23% year-over-year.
• Gross margin improved to 75%, a 22% increase from the previous year.
• Expanded partnerships with major firms like Microsoft and Shell.

Negative

• Loss from operations increased to $18.5 million, up from $10.4 million year-over-year.
• Professional services revenue decreased by 4%, indicating potential challenges in that segment.

C3.ai, Inc. (NYSE: AI), a leading provider of enterprise AI applications software today announced results for its fiscal third quarter ended January 31, 2021.

“We continue to establish our leadership as the only enterprise AI software pure play," said CEO Thomas M. Siebel. “This is a large and rapidly growing market; we continue to innovate; we continue to expand our market-partner ecosystem and associated distribution capacity; and we continue to demonstrate technology leadership. I believe that we are increasingly well-positioned to establish a global market leadership position in enterprise AI software.”

Third Quarter Financial Highlights

• Revenue: Total revenue for the quarter was $49.1 million, up from $41.3 million one year ago, an increase of 19% year over year.
• Subscription revenue: Subscription revenue for the quarter was $42.7 million, up from $34.6 million one year ago, an increase of 23% year over year. Subscription revenue increased to 87% of total revenue, up from 84% of total revenue one year ago.
• Professional Services revenue: Professional Services revenue for the quarter was $6.4 million compared to $6.7 million one year ago, a 4% decrease. Year over year, professional services revenue decreased from 16% to 13% of total revenue.
• Gross Margin and non-GAAP Gross Margin: Gross margin for the quarter was $36.9 million, or 75%, compared to $30.4 million, or 74% one year ago, an increase of 22% year over year. Non-GAAP gross margin was $37.3 million, or 76%, an increase from $30.5 million, or 74% one year ago, an increase of 22% year over year.
• Loss from Operations and Non-GAAP Loss from Operations: Loss from operations for the quarter was $18.5 million, compared to $10.4 million one year ago. Non-GAAP operating loss for the third quarter was $11.9 million, compared to $8.4 million one year ago.

Recent Business Highlights

• The C3 AI Digital Transformation footprint in Oil & Gas, Manufacturing, Financial Services, Aerospace, Utilities, and Energy Sustainability continues to expand with new enterprise production deployments at Shell, the US Air Force, US Army, New York Power Authority, ConEd, Bank of America, and Johnson Controls.
• C3 AI significantly expanded its market-partner ecosystem to broaden its distribution and service network globally. In addition to expanding its market partnership activities with Microsoft, Baker Hughes, and ENGIE, C3 AI extended our relationship with Raytheon to serve the defense and intelligence communities; with FIS, a global financial services software company, to serve the banking and financial services industries; and with Infor to serve the global ERP market.
• C3 AI demonstrated continued product leadership in enterprise AI. In the third quarter, the company released C3 AI v7.17, offering significant functional enhancements, performance improvements, and a new Integrated Development Suite (IDS) to accelerate AI application development. In partnership with Microsoft and Adobe, C3 AI announced the availability of C3 AI CRM, a family of industry-specific AI-enabled CRM applications. In addition, C3 AI released C3 AI Ex Machina, a mass-market, cloud-native, low-code/no-code application that enables the democratization of data science.
• The US Patent Office awarded C3 AI an important patent titled, “Systems, methods, and devices for an enterprise AI application development platform” (No.10,817,530). This patent secures the fundamental concepts of applying a model-driven software architecture for enterprise AI applications as C3 AI intellectual property.
• C3 AI expanded its investments and market penetration in the increasingly critical climate and energy sustainability market. In partnership with Shell, Microsoft, and Baker Hughes, C3 AI formed the Open Energy AI Initiative, an open marketplace for C3 AI energy applications. C3 AI increased its investment in the C3.ai Digital Transformation Institute (DTI), funding seminal AI COVID research and issuing a new call for papers to fund innovative research in applying AI and digital transformation to energy and climate security.
• C3 AI expanded the company’s leadership with the addition of Jim Snabe, former co-CEO of SAP, to its Board of Directors. In addition, C3 AI enhanced its global advisory board with the additions of Sajid Javid, Member of Parliament and former Home Secretary and former Chancellor of the Exchequer in the UK; former U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Admiral Dennis McGinn; former Deputy Director of the NSA, Rick Ledgett; former President of SAP, Franck Cohen and former President and COO of Alteryx, George Mathew.

Financial Outlook:

Our guidance includes GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures.

The following table summarizes our guidance for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021 and full-year fiscal 2021:

(in millions)	Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2021 Guidance		Full Year Fiscal 2021 Guidance
Total revenue	$50.0 - $51.0		$180.9 - $181.9
Non-GAAP loss from operations	($28.0) - ($27.0)		($50.1) - ($49.1)

Historically, the difference between GAAP and non-GAAP measures has been limited to stock-based compensation expense. Beginning with guidance for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021 and full-year fiscal 2021, and in future periods, the difference between GAAP and non-GAAP measures will include stock-based compensation and employer payroll tax expense related to employee stock-based compensation.

A reconciliation of non-GAAP guidance measures to corresponding GAAP measures is not available on a forward-looking basis without unreasonable effort due to the uncertainty regarding, and the potential variability of, expenses that may be incurred in the future. Stock-based compensation expense-related charges, including employer payroll tax-related items on employee stock transactions, are impacted by the timing of employee stock transactions, the future fair market value of our common stock, and our future hiring and retention needs, all of which are difficult to predict and subject to constant change. We have provided a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures in the financial statement tables for our historical non-GAAP results included in this press release. Our fiscal year ends April 30, and numbers are rounded for presentation purposes.

Conference Call Details

What:		C3 AI Third Quarter Fiscal 2021 Financial Results Conference Call
When:		Monday, March 1, 2021
Time:		2:00 p.m. PT / 5:00 p.m. ET
Live Call:		(833) 979-2768, Domestic
		(236) 714-2883, International
		Conference ID: 4668908
Webcast:		https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/3015157/885F1E2FD850F2DBC977CC64443C1836 (live and replay)

Investor Presentation Details

An investor presentation providing additional information and analysis can be found at our investor relations page at ir.c3.ai.

Statement Regarding Use of non-GAAP Financial Measures

We report the following non-GAAP financial measures, which have not been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP), in addition to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP.

• Non-GAAP gross profit, non-GAAP gross margin, and non-GAAP loss from operations. Our non-GAAP gross profit, non-GAAP gross margin, and non-GAAP loss from operations measures exclude the effect of stock-based compensation expense-related charges. We believe the presentation of operating results that exclude these non-cash items provides useful supplemental information to investors and facilitates the analysis of our operating results and comparison of operating results across reporting periods.

We use these non-GAAP financial measures internally for financial and operational decision-making purposes and as a means to evaluate period-to-period comparisons. Non-GAAP financial measures are not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for comparable GAAP financial measures and should be read only in conjunction with our condensed consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. Our presentation of non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies. We encourage investors to carefully consider our results under GAAP, as well as our supplemental non-GAAP information and the reconciliation between these presentations, to more fully understand our business. Please see the tables included at the end of this release for the reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results.

Use of Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical facts, including our market leadership position, plans to license certain technologies, financial outlook, our business strategies, plans, and objectives for future operations, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “will” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, short-term and long-term business operations and objectives, and financial needs. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Some of these risks are described in greater detail in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including our final prospectus filed on December 9, 2020, although new and unanticipated risks may arise. The future events and trends discussed in this press release may not occur and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance, achievements, or events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will occur. Except to the extent required by law, we do not undertake to update any of these forward-looking statements after the date of this press release to conform these statements to actual results or revised expectations.

About C3.ai, Inc.

C3.ai, Inc. (NYSE:AI) is a leading provider of enterprise AI software for accelerating digital transformation. C3 AI delivers a family of fully integrated products: C3 AI^® Suite, an end-to-end platform for developing, deploying, and operating large-scale AI applications; C3 AI Applications, a portfolio of industry-specific SaaS AI applications; C3 AI CRM, a suite of industry-specific CRM applications designed for AI and machine learning; and C3 AI Ex Machina, a no-code AI solution to apply data science to everyday business problems. The core of the C3 AI offering is an open, model-driven AI architecture that dramatically simplifies data science and application development. Learn more at: www.c3.ai.

Source: C3.ai, Inc.

C3.AI, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (In thousands, except per share data) (unaudited)
		Three Months Ended January 31,								Nine Months Ended January 31,
		2021				2020				2021				2020
Revenue
Subscription(1)		$	42,699			$	34,629			$	114,248			$	98,627
Professional services(2)			6,410				6,654				16,685				16,421
Total revenue			49,109				41,283				130,933				115,048
Cost of revenue
Subscription			7,023				8,862				22,694				23,493
Professional services			5,203				2,069				10,113				5,785
Total cost of revenue			12,226				10,931				32,807				29,278
Gross profit			36,883				30,352				98,126				85,770
Operating expenses
Sales and marketing			28,450				23,162				64,898				60,385
Research and development			18,748				12,331				48,145				47,122
General and administrative			8,184				5,291				21,433				19,541
Total operating expenses			55,382				40,784				134,476				127,048
Loss from operations			(18,499	)			(10,432	)			(36,350	)			(41,278	)
Interest income			129				1,136				997				3,115
Other (expense) income, net			1,721				(402	)			4,163				(498	)
Net loss before provision for income taxes			(16,649	)			(9,698	)			(31,190	)			(38,661	)
Provision for income taxes			203				98				456				283
Net loss		$	(16,852	)		$	(9,796	)		$	(31,646	)		$	(38,944	)
Net loss attributable to Class A common shareholders, basic and diluted		$	(0.23	)		$	(0.27	)		$	(0.64	)		$	(1.11	)
Net loss attributable to Class A-1 common shareholders, basic and diluted		$	(0.10	)		$	(0.27	)		$	(0.52	)		$	(1.11	)
Net loss attributable to Class B common shareholders, basic and diluted		$	(0.13	)		$	—			$	(0.12	)		$	—
Weighted-average shares used in computing net loss per share attributable to Class A common stockholders, basic and diluted			68,648,229				30,132,463				43,480,533				28,478,395
Weighted-average shares used in computing net loss per share attributable to Class A-1 common stockholders, basic and diluted			6,666,665				6,666,666				6,666,665				6,666,666
Weighted-average shares used in computing net loss per share attributable to Class B common stockholders, basic and diluted			3,499,992				—				3,499,992				—
(1) Including related party revenue of $7,951, $9,865, $21,571 and $30,560 for the three and nine months ended January 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
(2) Including related party revenue of $0, $112, $0 and $210 for the three and nine months ended January 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

C3.AI, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands, except for share and per share data) (unaudited)
		January 31,				April 30,
		2021				2020
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$	960,122			$	33,104
Short-term investments			162,880				211,874
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $762 and $755 as of January 31, 2021 and April 30, 2020, respectively(1)			30,231				30,827
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			13,503				5,400
Total current assets			1,166,736				281,205
Property and equipment, net			6,844				8,723
Goodwill			625				625
Long-term investments			—				725
Other assets, non-current			10,369				13,830
Total assets		$	1,184,574			$	305,108
Liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred stock, redeemable convertible Class A-1 common stock and stockholders’ (deficit) equity
Current liabilities
Accounts payable		$	12,608			$	4,726
Accrued compensation and employee benefits			17,996				13,693
Deferred revenue, current(2)			59,950				53,537
Accrued and other current liabilities			13,544				9,083
Total current liabilities			104,098				81,039
Deferred revenue, non-current			2,360				6,758
Other long-term liabilities			4,004				6,001
Total liabilities			110,462				93,798
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable convertible preferred stock, $0.001 par value. No shares and 233,107,379 shares authorized as of January 31, 2021 and April 30, 2020, respectively; no shares and 37,128,768 shares issued and outstanding as of January 31, 2021 and April 30, 2020, respectively; Liquidation preference of $376,178 as of April 30, 2020			—				375,207
Redeemable convertible class A-1 common stock, $0.001 par value. No shares and 6,666,667 shares authorized as of January 31, 2021 and April 30, 2020, respectively; no shares and 6,666,665 shares issued and outstanding as of January 31, 2021 and April 30, 2020, respectively; Liquidation preference of $18,800 as of April 30, 2020			—				18,800
Stockholders’ (deficit) equity
Class A common stock, $0.001 par value. 1,000,000,000 and 390,000,000 shares authorized as of January 31, 2021 and April 30, 2020, respectively; 97,431,675 and 31,210,159 shares issued and outstanding as of January 31, 2021 and April 30, 2020 respectively			98				31
Class B common stock, $0.001 par value; 3,500,000 and 21,000,000 shares authorized as of January 31, 2021 and April 30, 2020, respectively; 3,499,992 and no shares issued and outstanding as of January 31, 2021 and April 30, 2020, respectively			3				—
Additional paid-in capital			1,399,281				110,485
Accumulated other comprehensive income			13				424
Accumulated deficit			(325,283	)			(293,637	)
Total stockholders’ (deficit) equity			1,074,112				(182,697	)
Total liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred stock, redeemable convertible Class A-1 common stock and stockholders’ (deficit) equity		$	1,184,574			$	305,108
(1) Including amounts from a related party of $1,030 and $250 as of January 31, 2021 and April 30, 2020, respectively.
(2) Including amounts from a related party of $9,358 and $1,499 as of January 31, 2021 and April 30, 2020, respectively.

C3.AI, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In thousands) (unaudited)
		Nine Months Ended January 31,
		2021				2020
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss		$	(31,646	)		$	(38,944	)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities
Depreciation and amortization			3,189				566
Non-cash operating lease cost			2,474				2,267
Stock-based compensation expense			14,270				5,424
Other			(115	)			(324	)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Accounts receivable(1)			588				33,744
Prepaid expenses, other current assets and other assets			(6,931	)			(6,928	)
Accounts payable			7,447				(917	)
Accrued compensation and employee benefits			4,303				1,081
Lease liability			(2,636	)			(2,344	)
Other liabilities			1,213				(397	)
Deferred revenue(2)			2,016				(20,335	)
Net cash used in operating activities			(5,828	)			(27,107	)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment			(1,166	)			(1,629	)
Capitalized software development costs			—				(581	)
Proceeds from sale of non-marketable equity security			725				—
Purchase of investments			(232,287	)			(197,067	)
Maturity and sale of investments			280,997				58,625
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities			48,269				(140,652	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from initial public offering and private placements, net of underwriting discounts			851,859				—
Proceeds from repayment of shareholder loan			26,003				—
Proceeds from issuance of Series G, net of issuance costs			—				25,333
Proceeds from issuance of Series H, net of issuance costs			—				49,836
Repurchase of common stock and options in tender offer			—				(3,548	)
Payment of deferred offering costs			(6,710	)			—
Proceeds from issuance of common stock			—				44,028
Proceeds from exercise of Class A common stock options			13,825				3,846
Net cash provided by financing activities			884,977				119,495
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash			927,418				(48,264	)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period			33,604				99,107
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period		$	961,022			$	50,843
Cash and cash equivalents		$	960,122			$	50,343
Restricted cash included in other assets			900				500
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		$	961,022			$	50,843
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information—cash paid for income taxes		$	435			$	541
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities		$	349			$	—
Deferred offering costs included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities		$	503			$	—
Vesting of early exercised stock options		$	2,073			$	427
(1) Including changes in related party balances of $(780) and $19,826 for the nine months ended January 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
(2) Including changes in related party balances of $7,859 and $(8,596) for the nine months ended January 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

C3.AI, INC. RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (In thousands, except percentages) (unaudited)
		Three Months Ended January 31,								Nine Months Ended January 31,
		2021				2020				2021				2020
Gross profit on a GAAP basis		$	36,883			$	30,352			$	98,126			$	85,770
Stock-based compensation expense(1)			378				134				858				339
Gross profit on a NON-GAAP basis		$	37,261			$	30,486			$	98,984			$	86,109
Gross margin on a GAAP basis			75	%			74	%			75	%			75	%
Gross margin on a NON-GAAP basis			76	%			74	%			76	%			75	%
Loss from operations on a GAAP basis		$	(18,499	)		$	(10,432	)		$	(36,350	)		$	(41,278	)
Stock-based compensation expense(1)			6,589				2,061				14,270				5,424
Loss from operations on a NON-GAAP basis		$	(11,910	)		$	(8,371	)		$	(22,080	)		$	(35,854	)
(1) Stock-based compensation expense for gross profits and gross margin includes costs of subscription and cost of professional services as follows. Stock-based compensation expense for loss from operations includes total stock-based compensation expense as follows:
		Three Months Ended January 31,								Nine Months Ended January 31,
		2021				2020				2021				2020
Cost of subscription		$	214			$	104			$	557			$	246
Cost of professional services			164				30				301				93
Sales and marketing			2,790				613				5,835				1,894
Research and development			846				308				1,952				910
General and administrative			2,575				1,006				5,625				2,281
Total stock-based compensation expense		$	6,589			$	2,061			$	14,270			$	5,424

 

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FAQ

What are C3.ai's fiscal Q3 2021 revenue figures?

C3.ai reported total revenue of $49.1 million for fiscal Q3 2021, a 19% increase year-over-year.

How much did C3.ai's subscription revenue grow in Q3 2021?

Subscription revenue grew by 23% to $42.7 million in Q3 2021.

What was C3.ai's loss from operations in Q3 2021?

C3.ai recorded a loss from operations of $18.5 million in Q3 2021.

What is C3.ai's revenue guidance for Q4 2021?

C3.ai expects total revenue between $50.0 million and $51.0 million for Q4 2021.