C3.ai Inc vs A O Smith Corp — how do they compare? C3.ai Inc trades at $10.27 (market cap $1.65B), while A O Smith Corp trades at $62.58 (market cap $8.65B). The key difference: A O Smith Corp is far larger — about 5.2× C3.ai Inc's market cap, and A O Smith Corp pays a 2.26% dividend while C3.ai Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AI | AOS | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $1.65B | $8.65B |
Sector | Technology | Industrials |
52-Week High | $19.66 | $80.47 |
52-Week Low | $7.76 | $55.78 |
Enterprise Value | $1.08B | $9.15B |
Dividend Yield | — | 2.26% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
C3.ai (AI) trades at $10.40, up 1.76% with a bullish technical signal despite negative profitability metrics. The company reported Q1 2026 earnings beat but maintains negative net margins of -187.95%. Recent news highlights C3.ai being named a leader in AI platforms by Forrester Research, while technical indicators show RSI levels near 90 suggesting overbought conditions.
The stock faces significant fundamental challenges with persistent losses and negative cash flow, though revenue growth and leadership positioning in enterprise AI provide long-term potential. Analyst consensus is mixed with a $10.20 price target, indicating cautious optimism amid execution risks and competitive pressures in the AI software market.
AOS trades at $62.41, down 2.45% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and key support at $60. The company reported Q2 2026 EPS of $1.03, beating estimates, driven by North America strength. Revenue remains stable at $3.83B for 2025, with strong profitability margins including a 38.59% gross margin and 14.26% net income margin. Recent leadership transition saw Kevin Wheeler retire as Executive Chairman, with Stephen Shafer taking over.
The stock offers a 7.8% upside to the $67.25 consensus price target, supported by solid cash flow and a dividend yield. Risks include exposure to input cost pressures and weaker China demand, as noted in Q2 results. Analyst sentiment is mixed with 33% buy ratings, but institutional selling by Amundi in Q1 2026 warrants monitoring for momentum shifts.
Trailing returns across standard periods
C3.ai Inc is an enterprise artificial intelligence company. The company provides software-as-a-service applications that enable customers to rapidly develop, deploy, and operate large-scale Enterprise AI applications across any infrastructure. It provides solutions under three divisions namely, The C3 AI Suite, is a comprehensive application development and runtime environment that is designed to allow customers to rapidly design, develop, and deploy Enterprise AI applications of any type
Read more on AI →A.O. Smith Corporation manufactures and markets comprehensive lines of residential and commercial gas, gas tankless, and electric water heaters. Supplementary products include water heating equipment, condensing and noncondensing boilers, and water system tanks. The company's two operating segments are by geographic region: North America (majority of total revenue) and the Rest of the World. A material portion of sales in North America derive from replacing existing products, and the company utilizes a wholesale distribution channel and multiple selling locations. The Rest of the World segment sells primarily to Asian countries and operates sales offices to expand distribution and market its product portfolio.
Read more on AOS →