Does C3.ai, Inc. have an economic moat?

Based on its FY2026 SEC filings, the Moat Index scores C3.ai, Inc. (AI) 43.0 out of 100 — a Shallow moat. The four filters behind that score (each 0–100): pricing power 77, returns on capital 0, balance-sheet safety 55, capital discipline 44.

How has AI's Moat Score changed over time?

The record logs 3 readings since Jul 17, 2026; the latest reads 43.0 out of 100 (shallow moat). No tier changes on record yet. The history is append-only — readings are only ever added, never rewritten.

The Moat Index

C3.ai, Inc.

AI · Technology · FY2026 filings · Shallow moat ·

Doesn't clear the bar

Shallow moat

The four filters

Pricing power77

Median gross margin 67.2% over 8y, variable.

Returns on capital0

Median ROIC -35.6%, above the 9% hurdle in 0% of years.

Balance-sheet safety55

Net cash position — no leverage risk.

Capital discipline44

Owner earnings trend unclear, share count n/a.

Margin of safety

Above valueOn sale

No price data

Owner earnings (normalized): —
Est. intrinsic value / share: —
Recent price: $8.82
Discount to value: No price data

Conservative model: 9% discount rate, 0% assumed growth (capped at 4%), maintenance capex ≈ min(capex, D&A).

9 years of fundamentals

The business, in plain English

C3.ai, Inc. booked $250.3M of revenue in FY2026 in the Technology sector and kept 30.9% of it as gross profit — a moderate-margin business by that measure. After every other cost, −187.9% of each revenue dollar reached the bottom line.

Across the filed record, revenue grew from $91.6M (FY2019) to $250.3M (FY2026) — about 15.4% a year compounded over 7 years.

It earned −67.0% on invested capital in FY2026, with a median of −35.6% across 6 filed years. The Returns on Capital filter above scores it 0/100.

AI's filings don't disclose total debt in a form the methodology can use, so leverage is treated as unmeasured — never assumed to be zero.

Put together: Pricing Power is the strongest of the four filters (77/100) and Returns on Capital the weakest (0/100), which is how AI lands at 43/100 — a Shallow moat.

This breakdown is generated from the filed numbers and sub-scores above — no outside narrative, no estimates. Where a filing doesn’t disclose an input, the sentence that would need it is omitted instead of guessed.

RevenueSales, as filed$250.3M FY2026

Gross marginRevenue kept after cost of goods30.9% FY2026

Return on invested capitalOperating profit on the capital employed−67.0% FY2026

Owner earningsCash an owner could take out−$458.7M FY2026

Gaps in a line mean that item isn’t in AI’s filings for that year — the series is never interpolated or estimated. The Table view lists every filed value, including operating and net margins, total debt, and share count.

Moat Score history

Moat Score over timeLast scored reading of each day, on the 0–100 scale43.0 / 100

Score history begins Jul 17, 2026 — the record builds from here and can’t be backfilled.

Tier changesSame-methodology crossings of the Wide / Narrow / Shallow bars

None yet — AI has read Shallow moat for every logged capture since Jul 17, 2026.

Scores are logged append-only and never overwritten — this record can’t be backfilled, which is exactly why it’s worth keeping.

Technology context

#279 of 532 scored Technology companies, ranked by Moat Score.

Nearest peers by Moat Score

#277U UNITY SOFTWARE INC.43.2 out of 100, Shallow moatShallow moat
#278OTEX OPEN TEXT CORP43.0 out of 100, Shallow moatShallow moat
#280QXL QUANTUM X LABS INC.42.9 out of 100, Shallow moatShallow moat
#281SDCH SideChannel, Inc.42.9 out of 100, Shallow moatShallow moat

Compare AI with its nearest peers →All Technology companies on the Index →

Common questions about AI

Does C3.ai, Inc. have an economic moat?: Based on its FY2026 SEC filings, the Moat Index scores C3.ai, Inc. (AI) 43.0 out of 100 — a Shallow moat. The four filters behind that score (each 0–100): pricing power 77, returns on capital 0, balance-sheet safety 55, capital discipline 44.
How has AI's Moat Score changed over time?: The record logs 3 readings since Jul 17, 2026; the latest reads 43.0 out of 100 (shallow moat). No tier changes on record yet. The history is append-only — readings are only ever added, never rewritten.

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Scored from primary SEC filings via the public methodology. Educational only — not a recommendation to buy or sell AI. See the disclaimer.