Cerence Inc logo

Cerence Inc(CRNC)

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EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL RECENCY
1-STAR RATING
WEAK BUY
BUY for 12 days
PROFIT SINCE LAST BUY
-11.78% ▼
LAST CLOSE
$8.09
10/30/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
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  • 1Y
  • 1M
  • 1W
  • BUY Advisory
  • SELL Advisory (Profit)
  • SELL Advisory (Loss)
  • Profit
  • Loss
  • PASS (Skip)
Upturn Stock price based on last close iconStock price based on last close
Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Upturn Advisory & Investor View for CRNC

10/30/2026: CRNC (1-star) has a low Upturn Star Rating. Not recommended to BUY.

Cerence Inc is a specialized software provider focused on artificial intelligence and conversational voice interfaces for the global automotive market. The company benefits from a deep-rooted position within vehicle cockpit production and a specialized focus that generic tech platforms sometimes lack. Its primary growth opportunity lies in successfully shifting its business model toward recurring cloud-based subscriptions and integrating generative AI into new vehicle designs. However, the company faces significant competition from large technology firms, cyclical automotive industry headwinds, and the execution risk associated with its business transformation. It may suit investors looking for exposure to automotive-tech growth who can tolerate volatility and follow technological adoption cycles closely.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorMixed fitThe company offers exposure to automotive AI growth, but the transition in business model introduces uncertainty.
Momentum investorWeak fitMomentum is often absent during company-wide strategic pivots and business model restructuring.
Value investorMixed fitValuation may appear attractive following significant pullbacks, but business quality consistency remains a concern.
Dividend investorWeak fitCerence does not pay a dividend and focuses capital on growth and R&D.
Low-risk investorWeak fitHigh exposure to automotive production cycles and competitive pressure creates elevated volatility.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityHighThe stock is highly sensitive to automotive industry sentiment and quarterly earnings performance.
Valuation riskMediumDetermining value during a structural business model transition is inherently difficult for investors.
Competition risk (AI competition)HighLarge tech incumbents provide powerful, integrated alternatives that threaten Cerence's market share.
Business qualityMediumThe reliance on OEM sales cycles limits the ability to achieve high, predictable SaaS-like margins.
Dividend incomeLow / noneThe company does not provide income through dividends.
Execution riskHighThe company must successfully transition to recurring revenue while simultaneously upgrading technology to stay competitive.

Price Behavior

Steady Uptrend
PRICE PATH

Steady Uptrend

The stock demonstrates consistent and steady upward price momentum.

Highly Choppy
PRICE STABILITY

Highly Choppy

The stock has experienced frequent, large price swings that make its near-term movement less predictable.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit 19.27%
Avg. Invested days 28
Today’s Advisory WEAK BUY
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 1.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 2.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 10/30/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
CRNC receives a 3-star rating, supported by solid company fundamentals. The rating is constrained by weak price momentum.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
CRNC has solid overall fundamentals (4 stars), with moderate financial health, solid growth momentum, and solid ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, strong earnings growth (+96.8%) and strong cash generation (FCF margin 18.6%) are partially offset by negative revenue growth (-24.0%), weak profitability (net margin -7.4%), modest insider ownership of 2.44%.

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
CRNC's financial health is supported by solid liquidity, including working-capital and asset support (WC/assets 14.2%). Profitability is soft (2 stars), which helps explain the 3-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Free-cash-flow growth is CRNC's strongest growth driver at +283.7% FY2025 versus FY2024 (strong, 5 stars). By comparison, earnings growth (+96.8%, strong) is also strong, while revenue growth (-24.0%, negative) holds the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 83.8% and approximately 96.4% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership of 2.44% provides only moderate management-shareholder alignment.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

BlackRock Inc 10.04%
Paradigm Capital Management, Inc. 5.55%
American Capital Management Inc 5.32%
Vanguard Capital Management, LLC 4.06%
Vanguard Portfolio Management, LLC 3.65%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
CRNC generates approximately $721 of gross profit, $52 of operating income, and $186 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Solid margins and weak cash conversion support a 3-star rating, while capital efficiency is soft.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: -112.15% (Tax Credit)

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
CRNC has a liquid profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback, while elevated volatility.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Value-OrientedHigh VolatilitySmall / Mid Cap RiskShort Squeeze RiskHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

Key Highlights

Company Size Small-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 365.91M USD
Price to earnings Ratio -
1Y Target Price 10.75
Price to earnings Ratio -
1Y Target Price 10.75
Volume (30-day avg) 676.1K shares
Beta 3.05
52 Weeks Range 5.85 - 13.28
Updated Date 11/01/2026
52 Weeks Range 5.85 - 13.28
Updated Date 11/01/2026
Dividends yield (FY) -
Basic EPS (TTM) -0.36

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
License FeesUpfront per-vehicle software delivery fees for Cerence Drive.These are one-time payments from auto manufacturers when they ship a car.
Connected ServicesSubscription-based cloud features for navigation and voice assistants.This is the recurring revenue portion that investors want to see grow.
Professional ServicesCustom engineering to integrate software into OEM hardware.This covers project-based work that supports the core software implementation.

Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth

Revenue by Products

Product revenue - Year on Year

Revenue by Geography

Geography revenue - Year on Year

Valuation

Trailing PE -
Forward PE 44.25
Enterprise Value 425.36M
Price to Sales(TTM) 1.18
Enterprise Value 425.36M
Price to Sales(TTM) 1.18
Enterprise Value to Revenue 1.37
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 10.82
Shares Outstanding 45.23M
Shares Floating 43.59M
Shares Outstanding 45.23M
Shares Floating 43.59M
Percent Insiders 2.44
Percent Institutions 83.82

Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

Form CRS provides a relationship summary of our automated advisory services, flat subscription fees, and conflicts of interest. Form ADV Part 2A brochure contains complete details on services, billing, and disclosures. If any summary differs from our current regulatory filings, the filed Form ADV controls.