The market, you see, is a most peculiar beast. It promises riches, yet delivers, more often than not, a slow, creeping disillusionment. One observes the hopeful ascents, the momentary glories…and then, inevitably, the falls. There are those who rush in where angels fear to tread, attempting to catch a falling knife. Fools, mostly. Today, we examine two such knives, glinting menacingly in the dim light of recent performance. One does not suggest outright avoidance—the market is, after all, a theater of the absurd—but a cautious detachment is, perhaps, advisable.
The first, C3.ai (AI 6.63%), is a curious case. Artificial intelligence, they proclaim! The future is now! And yet, the results resemble less a triumphant march toward innovation and more a bewildered retreat. A change in leadership, you see, is often a symptom, not a cure. Stephen Ehikian now holds the reins, succeeding the venerable Thomas Siebel. One wonders if he inherited a stable of thoroughbreds or a collection of particularly stubborn donkeys.
The figures, alas, do not inspire confidence. Revenue, over the past six months, has declined by a rather unsettling 20%, landing at $145.4 million. And the losses…ah, the losses! They have swelled, grown plump and comfortable, reaching a grand total of $221.4 million. One pictures a monstrous ledger, overflowing with red ink. They offer over 130 “turnkey enterprise AI solutions,” they claim. One suspects, however, that many of these keys open doors to empty rooms.
C3.ai, in short, has much to prove. Until it does, one might consider allocating capital elsewhere. Perhaps to a purveyor of fine porcelain. At least porcelain doesn’t promise to revolutionize the world and then deliver…well, less than that.
The Trade Desk
And now, we turn our attention to The Trade Desk (TTD 1.88%). A more precipitous decline, even, than that of C3.ai. A staggering 72% fall. One feels a certain sympathy, not for the investors, naturally, but for the stock itself. It appears to be actively attempting to burrow into the earth. The realm of adtech is, admittedly, a brutal one. A constant struggle for dominance, a relentless pursuit of clicks and impressions. And in times of economic uncertainty, the advertising budgets are, shall we say, the first to feel the pinch.
The management, too, has experienced a degree of…turbulence. Tahnil Davis stepped in as interim CFO on January 26th, following the appointment of Alex Kayyal in August. Laura Schenkein departed before him. It’s enough to give one a headache. Such instability, naturally, does not inspire confidence. The market, you see, despises uncertainty. It prefers a steady hand on the tiller, even if that hand belongs to a madman.
The growth rate, too, is slowing. From 27% to a mere 18% in the most recent quarter. A significant deceleration. And the valuation…ah, the valuation! Close to 40 times trailing earnings. A rather extravagant price to pay for a company facing such headwinds. One suspects that the market has already factored in a generous helping of optimism. A dangerous game, to be sure.
The recent managerial shuffle simply reinforces the need for caution. While the stock may appear tempting, given its decline, there is no guarantee that it cannot fall even further. One might consider observing from a safe distance, perhaps with a glass of something strong in hand. The market, after all, is a cruel mistress. And sometimes, the wisest course of action is simply to turn away.
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2026-01-30 03:22