SoundHound AI stock retreats as LivePerson acquisition and Q2 growth reshape risk profile

Published on 09/17/2026 at 17:09 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

SoundHound AI stock closed at USD 5.93 on September 16, 2026, down 3.6 percent and around 40 percent below its 1-year level. Second-quarter 2026 revenue rose 45 percent to USD 61.9 million as guidance was raised to USD 230-260 million.

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SoundHound AI, Inc. stock (ISIN US83614P1030) closed at USD 5.93 on Nasdaq on September 16, 2026, down 3.6 percent from the prior session and extending a roughly 40 percent decline over the past year. As MarketBeat data for September 16, 2026 show, the shares finished regular trading at USD 5.93 after a prior close of USD 6.15, while commentary from 24/7 Wall St notes a 3.58 percent decline on that day driven by broader selling in speculative software names.

Second-quarter 2026 results and guidance

Operationally, the most recent catalyst for SoundHound AI stock is the company’s second-quarter 2026 earnings release, which showed strong top-line growth and narrowing losses. According to Zacks via The Globe and Mail on September 17, 2026, SoundHound reported second-quarter 2026 revenue of USD 61.9 million, an increase of 45 percent year over year and around ten times the level recorded in second-quarter 2022 when it became a public company. The same analysis highlights that GAAP gross profit in the quarter grew 68 percent year over year, outpacing the 45 percent revenue increase and indicating that profitability is improving as the business scales.

Despite the growth, SoundHound remains loss-making, but the losses are narrowing. As Yahoo Finance reported on September 16, 2026, GAAP net loss fell to USD 42.8 million in second-quarter 2026 from USD 74.7 million a year earlier, meaning the quarterly loss was trimmed by roughly USD 31.9 million. Management paired the stronger metrics with a higher full-year outlook, raising 2026 revenue guidance to a range of USD 230 million to USD 260 million, compared with lower levels previously, according to the same Zacks-linked commentary.

Asia expansion and LivePerson acquisition reshape growth story

Beyond headline financials, SoundHound AI is leaning heavily on geographic and product expansion to support the raised guidance. In a separate note on September 16, 2026, Zacks highlighted that SoundHound’s automotive business in Asia has delivered substantial growth for five consecutive quarters, supported by major deals each quarter. In second-quarter 2026, the company secured a seven-figure agreement with a major Chinese automotive infotainment software partner and added an automotive maintenance and diagnostics customer, while also signing a six-figure unit expansion with Indian electric two-wheeler maker Ultraviolette.

Strategic moves also include inorganic growth. As Traders Union reported on September 16, 2026, SoundHound AI has finalized its acquisition of conversational AI firm LivePerson and appointed former LivePerson executive John Collins as its new chief financial officer. The same analysis notes that the stock fell about 3.57 percent in that session and is trading below its 20-day, 50-day and 200-day moving averages, underscoring that investors are still digesting the integration risk and reassessing the balance between growth potential and execution challenges.

Analyst sentiment, valuation and volatility

Analyst views on SoundHound AI stock reflect both the promise of its technology and the volatility of its share price. According to MarketBeat in an alert dated September 16, 2026, SoundHound AI shares traded as low as USD 5.83 and last at USD 5.93 during that session, with volume around 29.4 million shares, roughly 4 percent above the average. The same overview notes that research houses tracked by MarketBeat collectively assign the stock an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of USD 13.00, implying upside potential relative to the mid-single-digit share price.

Not all ratings are supportive. The MarketBeat summary cites a reiterated sell rating from Weiss Ratings and a move by Wall Street Zen to lift its view from strong sell to sell, underlining that some analysts still see significant risk. Meanwhile, valuation commentary from Zacks indicates that SoundHound trades at a forward price-to-sales multiple of about 10.4 times, slightly below the industry average, and that consensus loss-per-share estimates for 2026 and 2027 have narrowed over the past 60 days, suggesting gradual progress toward breakeven.

Stock under pressure despite raised outlook

The market reaction in mid-September 2026 has been negative, even as fundamentals improve and guidance has been raised. As 24/7 Wall St pointed out on September 16, 2026, SoundHound AI shares were down 3.58 percent that day, extending a 20.19 percent decline over the past month, with no new company announcement, filing, contract win or guidance change linked specifically to the session. The outlet interprets the move as part of a wider selloff in speculative software and AI names rather than a company-specific shock.

For retail investors, the combination of strong reported revenue growth, raised full-year guidance and expanding Asia partnerships on the one hand and ongoing net losses, integration of the LivePerson acquisition and sharp share-price swings on the other hand creates a nuanced picture. Figures from Zacks show that the stock has fallen about 40.2 percent year to date as of mid-September 2026, underperforming the broader industry, even as its Asia automotive business has registered five consecutive quarters of substantial growth.

Price level and trading context

At the September 16, 2026 close of USD 5.93 on Nasdaq, SoundHound AI stock trades well below the average analyst target of USD 13.00 cited by MarketBeat, and remains pressured by recent selling that has pushed it beneath key moving averages referenced by Traders Union. The combination of high trading volume, elevated implied volatility flagged in a September 17, 2026 options report from Market Rebellion and sharp recent drawdowns underscores that the stock remains a volatile AI play where new contracts, integration progress and profit metrics will be closely watched.