Shares of CCC Intelligent Solutions jumped Friday following a report that said the software provider was mulling a potential sale. Wall Street believes that if the company is sold the transaction price would be at a premium compared to current trading levels.
The stock rose 6.4% to $5.73 on Friday after Reuters reported late Thursday that CCC Intelligent Solutions is exploring a potential sale and that it has contacted possible interested parties, including private-equity firms.
CCC Intelligent Solutions didn't immediately respond to request for comment from Barron's.
Shares of the company, which provides cloud-based software that connects the auto insurance and collision repair industries across the U.S. and China, have struggled over the past year.
It's been a tough stretch for many software stocks, which have been plagued by the investor view that artificial intelligence will disrupt the sector.
CCC Intelligent Solutions has tried to mitigate that threat and has started using AI to automate vehicle damage estimates, manage claims workflows, and streamline parts ordering.
However, the stock remains down 28% this year and has declined 40% over the past 12 months. Shares are also down 61% from their record closing high of $14.70 from Jan. 25, 2021, according to Dow Jones Market Data.
CCC Intelligent Solutions' current market value is around $3.38 billion, down from $6.43 billion a year ago.
"Given inconsistent results in recent years, the depressed valuation, and the company's history, we would not be surprised by a deal," a Jefferies analyst team led by Samad Samana wrote Friday.
"While investor sentiment has been dampened by slowing growth, weaker claims volumes, and slower adoption of newer products, the consequent de-rating in the stock has created a more attractive entry point for a potential buyer," Samana added.
However, Jefferies still believes that if the company is sold the price will be at a premium from Thursday's closing price of $5.38. Jefferies has a Buy rating on CCC with a price target of $8.
"CCC remains a category leader with a durable network effect, extensive industry data assets, and increasing AI monetization opportunities," Samana wrote.
The Reuters article Thursday isn't the first time there's been smoke around CCC. Reuters also reported in 2023 that the company was considering strategic options for the business.
Stifel analyst Shlomo Rosenbaum on July 1 also wrote that the company should go private.
Rosenbaum wrote that the market has a lack of appreciation of CCC's "moat, network affect, AI tailwind" at the current "low valuation."
The share pullback on AI disruption risk has created an opportunity for the CEO to potentially take the business private, according to Stifel. The firm has a Buy rating on the shares with a $9 price target.
Write to Kit Norton at kit.norton@barrons.com
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July 10, 2026 10:31 ET (14:31 GMT)
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