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Stem Inc (STEM)
NYSE:STEM

Stem Inc (STEM) AI Stock Analysis

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STEM

Stem Inc

(NYSE:STEM)

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Neutral 49 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:49Neutral
Price Target:
$12.00
▼(-0.91% Downside)
Action:ReiteratedDate:03/06/26
The score is held back primarily by weak financial performance and balance-sheet pressure (negative equity, inconsistent cash generation, and ongoing operating losses). Technicals also indicate a soft trend (below key longer-term moving averages with negative MACD). Offsetting factors are constructive 2026 guidance and improving software-led fundamentals, plus a low P/E and removal of a legal overhang, but these are not yet strong enough to outweigh the elevated financial risk.
Positive Factors
Recurring software & services revenue
A majority software-and-services mix with 25% YoY growth and >55% of revenue shifts Stem toward higher-margin, recurring streams. That improves revenue predictability, supports ARR expansion, and reduces exposure to capital-intensive hardware cycles, aiding durable cash generation over time.
Margin and EBITDA improvement
Sustained margin improvement and the first positive adjusted EBITDA and operating cash flow mark a structural inflection versus prior cash burn. Higher gross margins and permanent cost reductions increase the odds of self-funding growth and give management flexibility to invest in software and EMS scale.
Product launches & international utility traction
New PowerTrack products and an international 100 MWh utility engagement expand Stem’s addressable market and validate utility-scale product-market fit. Successful deployments abroad and AI-driven features create a durable pathway for larger, higher-value contracts as EMS bookings convert in future years.
Negative Factors
Negative equity and sizable debt
Persistent negative equity and meaningful debt strain financial flexibility and increase refinancing and covenant risk. With limited equity cushion, external capital needs or higher interest costs could dilute returns or constrain investments in product rollouts and international expansion over the medium term.
Revenue volatility and inconsistent profitability
An uneven revenue trajectory and historical operating losses make forecasting and scaling riskier. Periodic swings and reliance on non‑operating items for reported profits reduce earnings quality, complicate long-term planning, and raise execution risk as Stem pursues sustained software-led growth.
Dependence on opportunistic battery resales
Relying on opportunistic battery resales for revenue introduces margin and cash volatility and can mask core organic demand trends. If hardware resale becomes a recurring crutch, it undermines the software-led margin profile and risks swings in reported gross margin and cash flow from year to year.

Stem Inc (STEM) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Stem Inc Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionStem, Inc. operates as a digitally connected and intelligent energy storage network provider in the United States and internationally. It offers energy storage systems sourced from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). The company also provides Athena, an artificial intelligence platform, which offers battery hardware and software-enabled services to operate the energy storage systems. In addition, it offers system design and engineering services, supply chain management, energy storage value stream optimization, warranty and preventive maintenance plan management, operation and maintenance reporting, and program enrollment and incentive management services. The company serves commercial and industrial enterprises, independent power producers, renewable project developers, and utilities and grid operators. Stem, Inc. was incorporated in 2009 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.
How the Company Makes MoneyStem Inc generates revenue primarily through the sale and deployment of its energy storage systems and software solutions. The company earns money by providing energy storage hardware, which is often complemented by its proprietary software that enables clients to optimize energy consumption and storage. Additionally, Stem engages in power purchase agreements (PPAs) and long-term contracts with clients, ensuring a steady revenue stream from ongoing services. Significant partnerships with utility companies and other energy providers further enhance its revenue potential by facilitating access to broader markets and enabling collaborative projects that drive adoption of its technologies.

Stem Inc Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Storage AUM
Storage AUM
Measures the total assets under management in the storage sector, indicating the scale and growth potential of this business area.
Chart InsightsStem Inc.'s Storage AUM has shown robust growth, peaking in late 2024 before a slight dip. The latest earnings call highlights a strategic pivot towards high-margin software and services, which is crucial as hardware sales decline. Despite operational challenges and revenue setbacks, the focus on PowerTrack software, with its high gross margins, and cost reduction initiatives could stabilize financial performance. However, the company faces risks with NYSE compliance and backlog adjustments, necessitating careful navigation to maintain investor confidence.
Data provided by:The Fly

Stem Inc Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Mar 04, 2026
(Q4-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Apr 30, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call emphasized a successful transformation in 2025 with material improvements in profitability, margins, ARR and reduced operating expenses, along with product launches and international utility-scale traction. Key challenges include reliance on some one-time revenue items (DevCo and performance payouts), a sequential decline in CARR driven by a customer cancellation, continued battery hardware resale volatility that could pressure margins if opportunistically higher, and a longer sales cycle for newly launched PowerTrack EMS. On balance, operational discipline, positive adjusted EBITDA, cash generation and software-led revenue momentum outweigh the near-term risks described.
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Full Year Revenue Growth
Total revenue grew 8% year-over-year to $156 million for full year 2025, reflecting progress against strategic goals.
Software & Services Momentum
Core software, services and edge hardware revenue increased 25% year-over-year to $141 million, with over 55% of total revenue coming from software and services.
ARR Expansion
Year-end ARR grew 16% year-over-year to $61 million; total company ARR was up 1% sequentially to $61 million.
Profitability and Cash Flow Turnaround
Achieved first-ever full year positive adjusted EBITDA of $7 million and positive operating cash flow of $7 million; fourth quarter adjusted EBITDA was $5 million (a 30% improvement vs. Q4 2024).
Gross Margin Improvement
Record full year GAAP gross margin of 38% and non-GAAP gross margin of 46%; Q4 GAAP gross margin 49% and non-GAAP gross margin 45% driven by favorable revenue mix and improved edge hardware margins.
Cost Structure Discipline
Full year cash operating expenses declined 41% year-over-year, and Q4 cash operating expenses were down 50% year-over-year, reflecting permanent structural efficiency gains.
Product Launches and Early Traction
Launched PowerTrack EMS (utility-scale EMS) and PowerTrack Sage (AI assistant). PowerTrack Sage beta deployed to 80+ customers with GA planned; PowerTrack EMS secured a 100 MWh engagement in Germany with commercial operations expected in summer 2026.
Assets Under Management and PowerTrack ARR Growth
Added 6 GW of solar assets to reach 36 GW under management and added $7 million of PowerTrack ARR to reach $41 million.
Liquidity Position
Ended the year with $49 million in cash, up from $43 million at the end of Q3 2025, supporting 2026 plans.
Negative Updates
Dependence on One-Time DevCo and Performance Revenue
Q4 project and professional services growth was materially driven by approximately $11 million of one-time DevCo revenue; managed services growth in Q4 was partly driven by one-time performance-based revenue, creating some near-term revenue volatility.
Sequential CARR Decline and Customer Cancellation
CARR decreased $3 million sequentially to $67 million due to the cancellation of a managed services agreement; that cancellation also reduced ARR by $1 million and AUM by 0.1 GWh, highlighting product-market fit friction for certain non-roadmap requests.
Contracted Backlog Slight Softness
Contracted backlog declined 4% sequentially to $21 million (from $22 million); while end-of-year backlog was 2% higher than a year ago, hardware exclusion shows concentrated gains.
Battery Hardware Resale Volatility and Margin Risk
Battery resale revenue was deemphasized: full year battery resale was $15 million, but Q4 battery resale fell from $27 million to less than $1 million year-over-year. Guidance still contemplates up to $40 million of opportunistic battery resales in 2026, which could pressure gross margins toward the low end of the 40%-50% target.
Longer Sales Cycle for Utility-Scale EMS
PowerTrack EMS targets utility-scale projects with inherently long sales and commissioning cycles; management expects meaningful revenue scale in 2027, limiting near-term revenue impact.
Bookings Growth Modest
Q4 bookings were $33 million, only slightly higher sequentially, reflecting mixed momentum between higher software/service bookings and lower battery hardware bookings.
Company Guidance
Stem guided 2026 total revenue of $140–190 million, with $130–150 million coming from high‑margin software, services and edge hardware and up to $40 million opportunistically from battery hardware resales; non‑GAAP gross margins of 40–50% (noting higher battery resale mix would push margins toward the low end); adjusted EBITDA of $10–15 million (about 85% growth at the midpoint versus 2025’s ~$7 million); operating cash flow of $0–10 million; and ARR of $65–70 million (roughly 10% growth at the midpoint from 2025’s $61 million), while management expects PowerTrack EMS bookings to begin converting to revenue at the end of 2026 with more meaningful scale in 2027.

Stem Inc Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Financial profile remains high risk: revenue volatility and persistent operating losses outweigh improvements in 2025 gross margin recovery and the return to slightly positive operating/free cash flow. Balance-sheet strain (negative equity with sizable debt) limits flexibility and raises financing risk.
Income Statement
34
Negative
Results show meaningful volatility and an inconsistent path to sustainable profitability. Revenue declined in 2025 (-5.3%) after a sharp contraction from 2023 to 2024, pointing to an uneven demand/backlog conversion profile. Gross margin improved to ~38% in 2025 (from negative in 2024), but operating profitability remains weak with deeply negative EBITDA margins in most years. Net income swung to a large profit in 2025 (high net margin), but given the continued operating losses, the quality of earnings looks mixed and likely driven by non-operating items rather than core execution.
Balance Sheet
23
Negative
The balance sheet is pressured by negative equity in 2024 and 2025, which raises financial risk and limits flexibility. Total debt remains sizable (~$322M in 2025) and leverage metrics become less meaningful when equity is negative, but the setup still indicates a capital structure under strain. Assets have also stepped down sharply since 2022–2023 levels, suggesting a smaller operating base and less cushion against ongoing losses.
Cash Flow
28
Negative
Cash generation has been inconsistent and generally weak. Operating and free cash flow were materially negative from 2020–2024, then turned slightly positive in 2025 (~$6.9M), which is a constructive inflection but not yet strong enough to signal durable self-funding. The sharp decline in free cash flow growth in 2025 highlights volatility, and prior years show meaningful cash burn that would typically require external capital or balance-sheet capacity to sustain.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue156.27M144.58M461.51M362.98M127.37M
Gross Profit59.96M-11.06M3.67M33.09M1.25M
EBITDA-11.90M-790.40M-79.17M-87.68M-62.99M
Net Income137.76M-854.01M-140.41M-124.05M-101.21M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets308.89M437.36M1.36B1.42B1.19B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments48.91M56.30M113.59M249.98M920.79M
Total Debt368.63M542.02M537.04M463.05M346.93M
Total Liabilities557.95M835.19M930.30M869.73M524.00M
Stockholders Equity-249.06M-398.37M426.20M551.63M667.83M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow6.86M-48.42M-225.61M-110.13M-111.44M
Operating Cash Flow6.86M-36.65M-207.38M-106.03M-101.27M
Investing Cash Flow-6.76M-3.52M135.73M-543.83M-185.23M
Financing Cash Flow-7.41M-8.44M90.24M-9.81M1.03B

Stem Inc Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price12.11
Price Trends
50DMA
14.71
Negative
100DMA
16.84
Negative
200DMA
15.19
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-1.02
Negative
RSI
43.13
Neutral
STOCH
57.34
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For STEM, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 12.11 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 11.20, below the 50-day MA of 14.71, and below the 200-day MA of 15.19, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -1.02 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 43.13 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 57.34 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for STEM.

Stem Inc Risk Analysis

Stem Inc disclosed 58 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Stem Inc reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Stem Inc Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (66)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
77
Outperform
$5.96B15.1016.61%0.67%6.17%20.86%
66
Neutral
$17.65B18.105.60%3.62%6.62%11.55%
62
Neutral
$5.36B27.1118.25%20.97%226.98%
52
Neutral
$112.53M-4.91-93.10%312.20%
49
Neutral
$96.01M0.91-49.36%-35.61%
46
Neutral
$2.89B-14.43-12.87%-16.15%-324.40%
* Utilities Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
STEM
Stem Inc
11.27
3.27
40.87%
ENS
EnerSys
161.60
62.76
63.50%
ENPH
Enphase Energy
40.86
-22.46
-35.47%
FLNC
Fluence Energy
15.70
10.33
192.36%
ZENA
ZenaTech, Inc.
2.36
-0.31
-11.61%

Stem Inc Corporate Events

Financial DisclosuresRegulatory Filings and Compliance
Stem Inc Issues Form 8-K Regulation FD Disclosure
Neutral
Mar 4, 2026

On March 4, 2026, Stem Inc. announced that it had issued a press release and furnished it as an exhibit to a Form 8-K, specifying that the information is provided under Item 7.01 for Regulation FD disclosure purposes. The company clarified that, under applicable Exchange Act rules, the furnished information is not deemed filed and will not be automatically incorporated into Securities Act filings unless specifically referenced, and directed investors to separate disclosures on results of operations and financial condition.

This approach underscores Stem Inc.’s effort to manage how its disclosures are treated for liability and filing purposes, while still making information available to the market through the Form 8-K process. The delineation between furnished and filed information can affect how investors and other stakeholders assess the legal weight and formal status of the company’s communications about its financial condition and operations.

The most recent analyst rating on (STEM) stock is a Hold with a $19.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Stem Inc stock, see the STEM Stock Forecast page.

Legal Proceedings
Stem Inc. Securities Class Action Dismissed With Prejudice
Positive
Dec 19, 2025

On December 17, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California dismissed with prejudice all claims in a putative securities class action against Stem, Inc. and several of its former officers, directors and employees, ending the federal securities lawsuit captioned In re Stem, Inc. Sec. Litig., Case No. 23-CV-02329-MMC. The ruling closes a significant legal overhang for the company by preventing the plaintiffs from refiling these claims, potentially improving Stem’s risk profile and reducing prospective litigation-related costs and distractions for management and shareholders.

The most recent analyst rating on (STEM) stock is a Hold with a $22.50 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Stem Inc stock, see the STEM Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyExecutive/Board Changes
Stem Inc Announces New Chief Accounting Officer
Neutral
Dec 16, 2025

On December 11, 2025, Stem, Inc. announced that Chief Accounting Officer Mr. Rahul Shukla will step down on December 19, 2025, with a separation agreement being negotiated. The board has appointed Mr. Jeffrey Cabot as the new Chief Accounting Officer, effective January 5, 2026. Mr. Cabot, who has extensive experience in similar roles at Oak View Group, Air Methods Corporation, and Sonoco Products Company, will receive a comprehensive compensation package, including a base salary, equity awards, and incentive bonuses. This leadership change is expected to impact the company’s financial operations and strategic direction.

The most recent analyst rating on (STEM) stock is a Hold with a $22.50 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Stem Inc stock, see the STEM Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Mar 06, 2026