Investors are bracing themselves for a potentially chaotic market, thanks to the ongoing economic uncertainty caused by the tariff-fueled trade war. However, the good news is that the stock market sell-off has brought the valuations of some fast-growing companies down to attractive levels, making it a perfect time to look for growth stocks that can capitalize on the current market conditions.

Why C3.ai is a Solid Choice

• C3.ai is an enterprise artificial intelligence (AI) software provider that has witnessed a substantial pullback of 44% in its stock price this year, trading at just under $20.
• Despite the decline, C3.ai remains in a solid position to make the most of the enterprise AI software market in the long run.
• The company has been growing at a nice clip, adding new customers and landing bigger deals with existing ones.

C3.ai’s accelerating growth is here to stay, driven by the increasing demand for enterprise AI software. In the third quarter of fiscal 2025, the company reported a 26% year-over-year jump in revenue to $99 million, higher than the 18% revenue growth it reported in the prior-year period. This growth is a testament to the company’s ability to attract new customers and land bigger deals.

Key Growth Drivers

1. C3.ai’s enterprise AI applications serve multiple verticals, such as customer relationship management (CRM), financial services, defense and intelligence, and supply-chain management, among others.
2. The company offers an agentic AI platform in which customers can build, deploy, and operate AI agents.
3. C3.ai’s customer list is likely to get longer as the company has been signing more agreements and conducting pilot projects with potential clients.

According to C3.ai’s February earnings release, the company’s AI software tools are being deployed by multiple businesses and government organizations, including Sanofi, ExxonMobil, Nucor, the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Air Force, and multiple state government agencies. This is a significant milestone for the company, as it demonstrates its ability to deliver value to its customers.

Partnerships with Cloud Service Providers

C3.ai has adopted a smart strategy of partnering with major cloud service providers, such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Alphabet’s Google, to offer its AI software tools on their platforms. This move has allowed the company to expand its reach and attract new customers.

Valuation and Growth Potential

C3.ai is now trading at just 6.7 times sales, which is significantly lower than its price-to-sales ratio of 11.2 at the end of 2024. This makes the stock an attractive buy considering the potential growth on offer.

C3.ai’s revenue is expected to grow 20% in fiscal 2026 and 18% in fiscal 2027. While this is lower than the 25% growth that the company is expected to deliver in the current fiscal year, the expanding sales pipeline, the lucrative addressable opportunity in AI software, and a smart go-to-market strategy could help the company exceed consensus expectations in the future.

A Solid Balance Sheet and Valuation

C3.ai has a solid balance sheet with just $4.5 million in debt and $724 million in cash. This gives the company the ability to aggressively invest in product development and sales and marketing to make the most of the end-market opportunity on offer.

Additionally, C3.ai’s cash position should allow it to make acquisitions to strengthen its presence in the AI software market. This could help the company expand its customer base and increase its revenue growth potential.

A Smart Growth Stock to Buy

C3.ai is an attractive AI stock to buy with $20 right now, especially considering that its one-year price target of $29 points toward potential gains of over 50% from current levels. With its solid balance sheet, smart valuation, and growing revenue, C3.ai is a smart growth stock to buy for investors looking to capitalize on the current market conditions.

“I would recommend C3.ai to investors looking for a smart growth stock to buy with $20.