Cast vs IBM Planning Analytics

Cast is a web-based modeling tool for private equity, credit, FP&A, and other finance teams. It checks covenants and presents each rule as pass or fail with the margin for each case. Color-coded sensitivity grids let users explore assumptions and load a cell as a scenario. Cast compares assumptions with NYU Stern Damodaran industry data adjusted for deal EBITDA size, and its Monte Carlo analysis runs 10,000 trials with P10, P50, and P90 outcomes. AI tools can create models from natural-language descriptions, edit existing ones, and validate generated code before showing results. Excel exports are.xlsx files with live formulas, sections, scenarios, and formatting. OAuth connections to QuickBooks, Xero, and FreshBooks can pull invoices, contacts, transactions, and payments; custom connectors can use public REST APIs. Shared stakeholders can change inputs in the Results pane while formulas remain untouched. The Free plan includes 60 AI credits per month and three saved models; Pro costs $15 per month. Cast says subscriptions can be canceled anytime and customers retain ownership of their models.

IBM Planning Analytics has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.