Is Shipyard AI BigBear's Next Growth Driver Amid OB3 Shipbuilding Push?

BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc. BBAI is positioning itself at the intersection of artificial intelligence and defense modernization, with Shipyard AI emerging as a potential growth catalyst. The timing is critical. The recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill (“OB3”) earmarks $29 billion for domestic shipbuilding, an allocation that aligns directly with BigBear.ai’s AI-driven supply chain and logistics platform.Shipyard AI is designed to optimize industrial base operations, bringing predictive analytics and process automation to a sector historically challenged by inefficiency and cost overruns. By integrating AI into shipbuilding, BigBear.ai aims to reduce bottlenecks, improve resource allocation, and enhance collaboration across contractors and suppliers. Such capabilities could make Shipyard AI indispensable as OB3 accelerates procurement and expands naval infrastructure.Financially, BigBear.ai is still contending with near-term headwinds. The second-quarter 2025 revenues fell to $32.5 million, down $7.3 million year over year, while adjusted EBITDA slipped to negative $8.5 million. Contract disruptions with the U.S. Army also pressured guidance, now lowered to $125-$140 million in revenues for the year. Yet, management emphasizes a record $391 million cash balance, giving the company the flexibility to scale organically and through targeted M&A.The question for investors is whether Shipyard AI can seize OB3-backed opportunities quickly enough to offset revenue volatility. With strong alignment to federal priorities and early proof of concept, Shipyard AI could help reposition BigBear.ai as a beneficiary of generational defense investment, though execution risk remains high.Competing Against AI Defense PeersWhile BigBear.ai is advancing Shipyard AI to capture OB3 shipbuilding opportunities, it faces stiff competition from C3.ai AI and Palantir Technologies PLTR. Both players have already established themselves in AI-driven defense and logistics applications.C3.ai brings scale with its enterprise AI suite, which supports predictive maintenance, fleet readiness and energy optimization — capabilities directly relevant to shipbuilding modernization. Investors view C3.ai as a formidable peer, especially given its broad government contracts and relationships across defense agencies.Palantir leverages its Foundry and Gotham platforms to provide data integration and real-time analytics. Palantir has deep ties with the Department of Defense and Navy, putting it in strong contention for OB3-related shipbuilding projects. Palantir also benefits from consistent revenue visibility through multi-year government agreements.Against such entrenched rivals, BigBear.ai’s challenge is differentiation. Shipyard AI’s specialized logistics focus may give BBAI an edge, but C3.ai and Palantir remain formidable benchmarks.BBAI’s Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesShares of the company have gained 57% in the past three months, outperforming the Zacks Computers - IT Services industry, the Zacks Computer and Technology sector and the S&P 500 Index. A key driver of the rally is BigBear.ai’s expanding footprint in U.S. defense and homeland security.BBAI Price PerformanceImage Source: Zacks Investment ResearchIn terms of its forward 12-month price-to-sales ratio, BBAI stock is trading at 14.63, down from the industry’s 17.29. The stock trades at a discount relative to its long-term potential, supported by unmatched cash reserves, direct exposure to historic AI and defense spending, and strengthening international partnerships.BBAI’s P/S Ratio (Forward 12-Month) vs. IndustryImage Source: Zacks Investment ResearchOver the past 60 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for BBAI’s 2025 loss per share has widened to $1.10 from 41 cents. The company had reported the same in the year-ago period.  Image Source: Zacks Investment ResearchBBAI stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.Higher. Faster. Sooner. Buy These Stocks NowA small number of stocks are primed for a breakout, and you have a chance to get in before they take off.At any given time, there are only 220 Zacks Rank #1 Strong Buys. On average, this list more than doubles the S&P 500. We’ve combed through the latest Strong Buys and selected 7 compelling companies likely to jump sooner and climb higher than any other stock you could buy this month.You'll learn everything you need to know about these exciting trades in our brand-new Special Report, 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days.Download the report free now >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report C3.ai, Inc. (AI): Free Stock Analysis Report Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR): Free Stock Analysis Report BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc. (BBAI): Free Stock Analysis ReportThis article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).Zacks Investment ResearchWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks