C3.ai vs. SentinelOne: Falling Revenue vs. Steady Sales Growth
Key Points
SentinelOne currently looks stronger on revenue due to its consistent upward trajectory across recent quarters, contrasting sharply with the consecutive drop-offs observed at C3.ai over the same period.
SentinelOne delivered steady quarter-over-quarter revenue increases throughout the last two years, while C3.ai experienced significant quarter-over-quarter declines before eventually flattening out at a lower baseline level.
Investors should monitor whether the substantial revenue gap between the two companies continues to widen, or if the trend eventually stabilizes in upcoming reporting periods.
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C3.ai: Grappling With Declining Revenue
C3.ai (NYSE:AI) primarily earns its revenue by selling enterprise software applications designed for various commercial and government clients across industries like utilities, manufacturing, defense, and financial services.
It recently introduced a new software application development environment to accelerate workflows and appointed a new general counsel, while also navigating an ongoing class action securities fraud lawsuit concerning past disclosures.
SentinelOne: Delivering Consistent Upward Revenue Growth
SentinelOne (NYSE:S) generates its revenue by providing centralized cybersecurity software that integrates endpoint protection, cloud workload defense, and connected device security to protect digital environments from threats.
It introduced new autonomous security operations software for early access, expanded its collaborative integration agreement with Lenovo, and executed a major convertible debt private placement offering for institutional buyers.
Why Revenue Matters for Investors
Revenue shows investors the total money flowing into a business from its core commercial activities. Closely tracking this top-line financial figure helps investors understand the total scale and growth trajectory of a business.
C3.ai vs. SentinelOne Revenue over the last 8 quarters.
Quarterly Revenue for C3.ai and SentinelOne
| Calendar quarter | C3.ai Revenue | SentinelOne Revenue |
|---|---|---|
| Q3 2024 | $94.3 million (quarter ended Oct. 31, 2024) | $210.6 million (quarter ended Oct. 31, 2024) |
| Q4 2024 | $98.8 million (quarter ended Jan. 31, 2025) | $225.5 million (quarter ended Jan. 31, 2025) |
| Q1 2025 | $108.7 million (quarter ended April 30, 2025) | $229.0 million (quarter ended April 30, 2025) |
| Q2 2025 | $70.3 million (quarter ended July 31, 2025) | $242.2 million (quarter ended July 31, 2025) |
| Q3 2025 | $75.1 million (quarter ended Oct. 31, 2025) | $258.9 million (quarter ended Oct. 31, 2025) |
| Q4 2025 | $53.3 million (quarter ended Jan. 31, 2026) | $271.2 million (quarter ended Jan. 31, 2026) |
| Q1 2026 | $51.6 million (quarter ended April 30, 2026) | $276.7 million (quarter ended April 30, 2026) |
| Q2 2026 | $52.4 million (quarter ended July 31, 2026) | $292.0 million (quarter ended July 31, 2026) |
Data source: Financial Modeling Prep. Data as of Nov. 2, 2026.
Foolish Take
A look at the revenue trends between C3.ai and SentinelOne immediately reveals which company is struggling and which is soaring. SentinelOne's sales have consistently experienced quarter-over-quarter expansion stretching back the past two years. This performance illustrates the growing demand among organizations for cybersecurity. The need is particularly pressing amid the rise of artificial intelligence, as the tech can execute lightning-fast hacks with efficiency and at unprecedented scale.
Due to AI’s arrival, I expect SentinelOne's revenue trajectory to continue climbing. In fact, the company forecasted its fiscal third quarter sales to come in between $309 million and $311 million.
C3.ai was doing well two years ago, with revenue growing every quarter until Q2 of 2025. CEO Thomas Siebel had to resign from the position due to health issues last year, and that was when sales nosedived. The company announced his return in June, but it will take time for Siebel to undo the damage from his absence.
C3.ai's $52.4 million in Q2 of this year suggests the possibility of a return to quarterly sales growth. Not only was Q2's top-line figure an improvement over Q1, the company reported a 73% quarter-over-quarter increase in customer bookings. This suggests C3.ai is signing up clients at a solid clip. Subsequent quarters will show if that performance translates into revenue growth.
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Robert Izquierdo has positions in C3.ai and SentinelOne. The Motley Fool recommends C3.ai. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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