Insider Trading May 19, 2026 06:52 PM

C3.ai CEO Thomas M Siebel Executes Stock Transactions Under 10b5-1 Plan Amid Market Volatility

Analysis of recent insider selling and purchasing activity provides context alongside company performance metrics and new product launches.

By Ajmal Hussain AI

Thomas M. Siebel, the CEO and Chairman of C3.ai, Inc., recently reported significant transactions involving the sale and acquisition of Class A Common Stock. These activities were executed under a pre-established Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. The report details multiple instances where Mr. Siebel exercised stock options and subsequently sold shares, totaling a transaction value of $4.19 million.

C3.ai CEO Thomas M Siebel Executes Stock Transactions Under 10b5-1 Plan Amid Market Volatility
AI

Key Points

  • The CEO's transaction pattern (exercising options and selling shares) was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan, providing structure to the sales.
  • C3.ai reported preliminary Q4 fiscal 2026 revenue of $51.6 million, which exceeded consensus expectations despite being down 53% year-over-year.
  • The company launched C3 Code, a new platform aimed at automating and streamlining the development lifecycle for enterprise AI applications using natural language inputs.

Thomas M. Siebel, who serves as both the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of C3.ai, Inc., recently filed reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission detailing transactions involving the company's Class A Common Stock. These reported activities take place against a backdrop of market fluctuations for the stock, which is currently trading at $8.82. It is noted that the stock has experienced a decline of 62% over the past year, leaving the company with a current market capitalization of $1.29 billion.

The transactions reported took place on May 15 and May 18, 2026. These sales and option exercises were structured to comply with a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan that had been established previously on September 20, 2024. The activity involved both the exercise of existing stock options and the subsequent sale of the acquired shares.

Details of the Transactions

On May 15, Mr. Siebel exercised his options to acquire a total of 369,624 shares of Class A Common Stock. The exercise price for these options was fixed at $2.04 per share, and all associated options were reported as fully vested. On the same day, he sold the entire block of 369,624 shares. The weighted-average selling price for this first batch of sales was $8.72 per share, although individual sale prices varied between $8.62 and $8.93.

A second set of transactions occurred on May 18. Mr. Siebel exercised options to obtain an additional 112,014 shares of Class A Common Stock, again utilizing the exercise price of $2.04 per share; these options were also fully vested. He subsequently sold these 112,014 shares at a weighted-average price of $8.65 per share. The individual sale prices for this second group ranged from $8.34 to $8.81.

Aggregating these two periods, Mr. Siebel acquired a total of 481,638 shares through the option exercises, amounting to an aggregate value of $982,541. He then disposed of all 481,638 shares, realizing a total proceeds of $4,192,042. The sale prices for these combined transactions ranged from a low of $8.34 per share to a high of $8.93 per share.

Current Holdings and Company Updates

Following the completion of these sales, Mr. Siebel's direct holdings in C3.ai Class A Common Stock stand at 722,362 shares. His total indirect ownership remains substantial, comprising multiple holdings through various entities: The Siebel Living Trust holds 720,103 shares; First Virtual Holdings, LLC holds 9,216 shares; Siebel Asset Management, L.P., accounts for 170,294 shares; Siebel Asset Management III, L.P., holds 72,695 shares; and The Siebel 2011 Irrevocable Children’s Trust maintains 1,237,115 shares.

Beyond the insider trading activity, C3.ai recently provided several operational updates. For preliminary fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 revenue, the company reported $51.6 million. This figure represents a notable decline of 53% compared to the same period in the previous year. Despite this significant drop, the reported revenue slightly surpassed the consensus estimate of $50.4 million and remained within the upper bound of the company's stated guidance range of $48 million to $52 million.

Regarding profitability metrics, the company posted a non-GAAP operating loss totaling $54.4 million. This reported loss was better than both the initial company guidance and the consensus estimate for that metric.

In corporate leadership news, Thomas M. Siebel has resumed his role as Chief Executive Officer. This return has generated varied reactions among financial analysts. Canaccord Genuity revised its price target for C3.ai upward to $8.00 from a previous $7.00, while maintaining a 'Hold' rating on the shares due to Mr. Siebel’s recommitment as CEO. Conversely, D.A. Davidson issued an 'Underperform' rating and maintained a price target of $7.00, citing concerns related to weak bookings.

Operationally, C3.ai also announced the launch of C3 Code, a newly developed platform. This tool is designed specifically to facilitate autonomous application development by utilizing natural language descriptions. The stated goal of this new platform is to streamline the creation of enterprise AI applications through the automation of key processes, including design, configuration, testing, and deployment.

Market Context and Outlook

From an analytical perspective, C3.ai currently appears undervalued based on an InvestingPro analysis. Furthermore, the stock exhibits a high degree of volatility, indicated by a beta of 1.99. The company is scheduled to report its earnings on June 3, which is approximately 15 days from the date of this report. Investors interested in gaining deeper insights into C3.ai and other US equities have access to comprehensive Pro Research Reports.

Risks

  • Market Volatility: The stock has demonstrated high volatility (beta of 1.99), which introduces potential risk to investors.
  • Revenue Decline: Preliminary fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 revenue showed a significant 53% decline compared to the prior year, signaling operational challenges.
  • Analyst Divergence: Financial institutions have issued mixed ratings (e.g., Canaccord Genuity's 'Hold' vs. D.A. Davidson's 'Underperform'), reflecting uncertainty regarding future performance and bookings.

More from Insider Trading

Medalist Diversified CFO Buys Shares of Company Stock May 19, 2026 Insider Activity and Corporate Developments at LivePerson Signal Mixed Signals May 19, 2026 Linked Entities Increase Stake in Lifeway Foods Through Recent Acquisitions May 19, 2026 Ciena CEO Sells Stock Despite Analyst Upgrades Amid Infrastructure Focus May 19, 2026 Venture Global CFO Sells Millions in Shares Following Options Exercise May 19, 2026