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CRNC Stock Analysis - Cerence Inc. AI Rating

CRNC Nasdaq Services-Prepackaged Software DE CIK: 0001768267
Recently Updated • Analysis: Mar 23, 2026 • SEC Data: 2025-12-31
AI Rating
HOLD
62% Confidence

📊 CRNC Key Takeaways

Revenue: $115.1M
Net Margin: -4.6%
Free Cash Flow: $35.6M
Current Ratio: 1.88x
Debt/Equity: 1.14x
EPS: $-0.12
AI Rating: HOLD with 62% confidence

Investment Thesis

Cerence demonstrates strong operational efficiency with 86.3% gross margins and solid free cash flow generation of $35.6M (31% FCF margin), indicating quality earnings. However, significant headwinds including 24% revenue decline YoY, negative net income of -$5.2M, and elevated leverage (1.14x debt-to-equity) raise concerns about sustainability and growth trajectory.

CRNC Strengths

  • + Exceptional gross margin of 86.3% demonstrates pricing power and operational efficiency in software services
  • + Strong free cash flow generation of $35.6M with 31% FCF margin shows business can fund operations and debt service
  • + Solid liquidity position with 1.88x current ratio providing adequate working capital buffer
  • + Operating margin of 25.5% indicates core business remains fundamentally profitable before non-operating items

CRNC Risks

  • ! Sharp 24% year-over-year revenue decline signals deteriorating market demand or loss of major customers
  • ! Negative net income of -$5.2M despite positive operating income suggests material non-operating charges or tax impacts
  • ! Elevated leverage with 1.14x debt-to-equity and $171.9M long-term debt relative to $150.4M equity creates financial vulnerability
  • ! Declining revenues combined with fixed cost base may compress margins further if downturn continues

Key Metrics to Watch

CRNC Financial Metrics

Revenue
$115.1M
Net Income
$-5.2M
EPS (Diluted)
$-0.12
Free Cash Flow
$35.6M
Total Assets
$602.0M
Cash Position
N/A

💡 AI Analyst Insight

The 31.0% free cash flow margin provides substantial flexibility for dividends, buybacks, and strategic investments.

CRNC Profitability Ratios

Gross Margin 86.3%
Operating Margin 25.5%
Net Margin -4.6%
ROE -3.5%
ROA -0.9%
FCF Margin 31.0%

CRNC vs Technology Sector

How Cerence Inc. compares to Technology sector averages

Net Margin
CRNC -4.6%
vs
Sector Avg 18.0%
CRNC Sector
ROE
CRNC -3.5%
vs
Sector Avg 22.0%
CRNC Sector
Current Ratio
CRNC 1.9x
vs
Sector Avg 2.5x
CRNC Sector
Debt/Equity
CRNC 1.1x
vs
Sector Avg 0.5x
CRNC Sector

Sector benchmarks are approximate industry averages. Actual sector performance may vary.

CRNC Balance Sheet & Liquidity

Current Ratio
1.88x
Quick Ratio
1.86x
Debt/Equity
1.14x
Debt/Assets
75.0%
Interest Coverage
4.80x
Long-term Debt
$171.9M

CRNC 5-Year Financial Trend

CRNC 5-year financial data: Year 2021: Revenue $387.2M, Net Income $100.3M, EPS $2.76. Year 2022: Revenue $387.2M, Net Income -$18.3M, EPS $-0.50. Year 2023: Revenue $387.2M, Net Income $45.9M, EPS $1.17. Year 2024: Revenue $331.5M, Net Income -$310.8M, EPS $-7.93. Year 2025: Revenue $331.5M, Net Income -$56.3M, EPS $-1.40.
Revenue
Net Income
EPS (right axis)

5-Year Trend Summary: Cerence Inc.'s revenue has declined by 14% over the 5-year period, indicating business contraction. The most recent EPS of $-1.40 indicates the company is currently unprofitable.

CRNC Growth Metrics (YoY)

Revenue Growth
N/A
Year-over-year
Net Income Growth
N/A
Year-over-year
EPS Growth
N/A
Earnings per share
FCF Margin
31.0%
Free cash flow / Revenue

CRNC Quarterly Performance

Quarterly financial performance data for Cerence Inc. including revenue, net income, and earnings per share.
Quarter Revenue Net Income EPS
Q1 2026 $50.9M -$5.2M $-0.12
Q3 2025 $62.2M -$2.7M $-0.06
Q2 2025 $67.8M -$2.6M $-0.06
Q1 2025 $50.9M $23.9M $0.53
Q3 2024 $61.7M -$16.5M $-0.41
Q2 2024 $67.8M -$26.1M $-0.65
Q1 2024 $83.7M -$2.2M $-0.05
Q3 2023 $61.7M -$16.5M $-0.41

Data sourced from SEC EDGAR 10-Q quarterly filings. Figures may represent quarterly or cumulative values.

CRNC Capital Allocation

Operating Cash Flow
$37.9M
Cash generated from operations
Stock Buybacks
$7.5M
Shares repurchased (TTM)
Capital Expenditures
$2.2M
Investment in assets
Dividends
None
No dividend program

CRNC SEC Filings

Access official SEC EDGAR filings for Cerence Inc. (CIK: 0001768267)

📋 Recent SEC Filings

Date Form Document Action
Feb 18, 2026 8-K crnc-20260212.htm View →
Feb 13, 2026 4 xslF345X05/wk-form4_1771027579.xml View →
Feb 13, 2026 4 xslF345X05/wk-form4_1771027481.xml View →
Feb 13, 2026 4 xslF345X05/wk-form4_1771027377.xml View →
Feb 13, 2026 4 xslF345X05/wk-form4_1771027276.xml View →

Frequently Asked Questions about CRNC

What is the AI rating for CRNC?

Cerence Inc. (CRNC) has an AI rating of HOLD with 62% confidence, based on fundamental analysis of SEC EDGAR filings.

What are CRNC's key strengths?

Exceptional gross margin of 86.3% demonstrates pricing power and operational efficiency in software services. Strong free cash flow generation of $35.6M with 31% FCF margin shows business can fund operations and debt service.

What are the risks of investing in CRNC?

Sharp 24% year-over-year revenue decline signals deteriorating market demand or loss of major customers. Negative net income of -$5.2M despite positive operating income suggests material non-operating charges or tax impacts.

What is CRNC's revenue and growth?

Cerence Inc. reported revenue of $115.1M.

Does CRNC pay dividends?

Cerence Inc. does not currently pay dividends.

Where can I find CRNC SEC filings?

Official SEC filings for Cerence Inc. (CIK: 0001768267) including 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K reports are available on SEC EDGAR.

What is CRNC's EPS?

Cerence Inc. has a diluted EPS of $-0.12.

How is the AI analysis conducted?

Our AI (Claude) analyzes publicly available SEC EDGAR filings including 10-K annual reports and 10-Q quarterly reports to evaluate financial health, profitability ratios, balance sheet strength, and growth metrics.

Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by Claude AI based on publicly available SEC EDGAR filings. It does not include stock price data and should not be considered financial advice. All fundamental data is sourced from SEC public domain filings. Always conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions.
Data Source: SEC EDGAR | Analysis Date: Mar 23, 2026 | Data as of: 2025-12-31 | Powered by Claude AI