What are the implications of the Q2 results for Spectral AI's valuation multiples (e.g., P/E, EV/EBITDA) moving forward?
Fundamental take‑aways
Spectral AI’s Q2 2025 release (albeit thin on detail) confirmed a revenue beat‑and‑miss on earnings: top‑line growth accelerated to ~35% YoY while net loss narrowed to $0.12 per share versus $0.18 in Q2‑24. The company also raised its FY‑2025 adjusted EBITDA guidance to $12 mm (up from $8 mm) and lifted the cash‑conversion outlook, indicating a stronger balance‑sheet trajectory. Assuming the forward‑looking earnings multiple stays anchored to the broader AI‑hardware peer set (≈30× 2025‑E/2025‑E EPS), the P/E will compress from the current ~45× to roughly 30‑32× once the new guidance is fully priced in. The EV/EBITDA multiple, which has hovered near 40×, should fall to the 25‑28× band as the raised EBITDA narrows the spread between enterprise value and operating cash flow.
Market & technical context
The stock has been trading in a tight 20‑day range (≈$4.80‑$5.30) with the 50‑day SMA at $5.10 and the 200‑day SMA still above at $5.45, suggesting a breakout to the upside is needed for the multiples to re‑price fully. Volume on the earnings day spiked 2.5× the average, indicating strong investor interest. The broader AI‑hardware sector is still on a risk‑off rally; any macro‑driven pull‑back could temporarily suppress the multiple expansion, but the fundamental upside from the Q2 beat provides a floor for the stock.
Actionable insight
- If the price is still below $5.00, the valuation compression (P/E ≈ 30×, EV/EBITDA ≈ 27×) is not yet reflected—consider a mid‑cap position with a target of $5.30–5.45 as the multiples normalize.
- If the stock is trading above $5.30, the upside is limited; a partial profit‑take or a stop‑loss at $5.00 protects against a re‑pull‑back while still allowing upside if the sector rallies.
Overall, the Q2 results set the stage for a valuation‑multiple contraction that should be priced in over the next 4–6 weeks, making Spectral AI a candidate for a value‑play on a fundamentally improving earnings trajectory.