Palantir Soars 25% to Record High as AI Drives Strong Earnings and Growth

Key Points:
– Palantir stock surged 25% to a record high following better-than-expected fourth-quarter results and strong guidance.
– The company’s U.S. commercial revenue grew 64% year over year, while U.S. government revenues rose 45%.
– CEO Alex Karp emphasized Palantir’s pivotal role in AI and national security, predicting sustained momentum over the next three to five years.

Palantir Technologies saw its stock price soar by 25% on Tuesday, hitting a record high after delivering robust fourth-quarter earnings and an optimistic outlook fueled by artificial intelligence (AI) advancements. The Denver-based software company reported adjusted earnings of 14 cents per share on revenue of $828 million, surpassing analysts’ expectations of 11 cents per share and $776 million in revenue.

The company also provided strong guidance for the first quarter of 2025, forecasting revenue between $858 million and $862 million—well above the $799 million analysts had anticipated. For the full year, Palantir expects revenue between $3.74 billion and $3.76 billion, again exceeding estimates of $3.52 billion. This impressive performance has driven Palantir’s stock up 36% year-to-date, continuing its explosive 340% growth throughout 2024 as AI adoption accelerates.

CEO and co-founder Alex Karp attributed the company’s momentum to the increasing adoption of its AI-powered platforms across both commercial and government sectors. Palantir’s U.S. commercial revenue surged 64% year over year, while its U.S. government revenue climbed 45%. Karp described the company’s trajectory as “unlike anything that has come before,” reinforcing its dominance in AI and data analytics.

Palantir, long recognized for its work with U.S. defense and intelligence agencies, has also seen rising demand for its AI-driven commercial software solutions. The company expects U.S. commercial sales to grow by 54% in 2025, reflecting broader enthusiasm for AI-driven business intelligence and operational efficiency.

“We are at the very beginning of our trajectory and the AI revolution,” Karp said in his letter to shareholders. “We plan to be a cornerstone—if not the cornerstone—company driving this transformation in the U.S. over the next three to five years.”

Karp also emphasized Palantir’s commitment to national security, stating that the company is “very long America” and aims to enhance U.S. military capabilities to deter potential adversaries. His comments come amid rising competition in AI, particularly following China’s DeepSeek AI breakthroughs, which have raised concerns over technological supremacy and national security implications.

The strong earnings report prompted several Wall Street firms to raise their price targets for Palantir’s stock. Bank of America analyst Mariana Perez Mora called Palantir an AI “value adder” and increased her price target, while Morgan Stanley upgraded the stock from underweight to equal weight. Analyst Sanjit Singh admitted that concerns over slowing growth had been overstated, saying, “Given the strength of the outlook, we acknowledge that we were wrong about our core fundamental catalyst of slowing growth below the 30% level.”

With AI adoption showing no signs of slowing, Palantir’s strong financial results and forward-looking guidance have solidified its status as a key player in the evolving AI landscape. Investors remain highly optimistic about the company’s future, as it continues to expand its AI-powered solutions across both public and private sectors.

Palantir Shares Rocket on Strong Q4 Earnings Driven by AI Demand

Shares of data analytics company Palantir Technologies soared over 25% on Tuesday after the company reported fourth-quarter results that beat expectations, driven by strong demand for its artificial intelligence capabilities.

Palantir said revenue in the fourth quarter increased 20% year-over-year to $608.4 million, surpassing Wall Street estimates of $602.4 million. The revenue growth was led by the company’s commercial business, especially in the U.S., where Palantir has been rapidly building out its AI platform known as AIP.

In a letter to shareholders, Palantir CEO Alex Karp provided color on the ongoing demand for AI capabilities, stating that appetite for large language models in the U.S. “continues to be unrelenting.” Karp noted that Palantir conducted nearly 600 pilots of its AIP platform with customers last year.

The AI platform allows Palantir customers to build their own AI models specific to their business using the company’s robust data management and analytics capabilities. This enables tailored AI applications across a variety of industries and use cases, from risk modeling in financial services to supply chain optimization and more.

Analyst Commentary on AI Momentum

Multiple analysts upgraded Palantir stock and raised price targets following the strong quarterly showing, which provided tangible evidence of the company’s AI platform gaining traction with customers.

Citi analysts upgraded Palarntir to a Neutral rating from Sell, saying the results demonstrated “breakthrough momentum” for the commercial business driven by AI adoption. They see the momentum in AIP balancing out risks related to guidance for the non-U.S. commercial business.

Meanwhile, Jefferies analysts admitted they were previously wrong to downplay the impact AI could have for Palantir. They now believe the company is at an “inflection point” as the AIP platform ramps faster than their initial expectations.

Bank of America also noted that while still early, AIP is already having a meaningful impact on Palantir’s growth. They expect the AI momentum to continue and see significant opportunities in the U.S. government sector as well.

Concerns Around Valuation Remain

Despite the more constructive view on AI traction, some analysts still harbor concerns around Palantir’s valuation. Jefferies pointed out the stock trades at a 23% premium to large cap peers, leading them to remain sidelined for now despite the growth signals.

Citi also raised its target to $20, which offers upside from current levels but is likely still conservative relative to more bullish Street views. The premium multiple encapsulates the potential rewards and risks at this stage of Palantir’s expansion within AI.

Path Forward for AI Business

The fourth quarter results provided promising evidence that Palantir’s investments in AI and its unified data platform are allowing it to capitalize on the surging demand. But the company will likely need to maintain the commercial momentum and continue gaining AI adoption to justify a higher valuation.

If Palantir can consistently grow revenue, especially within the U.S. commercial landscape, while expanding AIP pilots into long-term customers, it could support a durable growth trajectory. Government work also offers a steady revenue stream to complement the more volatile commercial business over time.

Overall, Palantir’s latest quarter showcased its potential as an AI leader. But realizing the full upside will depend on smart and consistent execution across geographies and industries. The positive analyst reactions and stock move indicate investors are gaining confidence in Palantir’s ability to capture the AI opportunity.