Palantir lifts forecast, but shares sink as earnings disappoint high expectations

Published 05/05/2025, 22:56
Updated 06/05/2025, 09:26
© Reuters

Investing.com - Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ:PLTR) lifted its annual sales guidance, but shares in the artificial intelligence-focused data firm sank by more than 8% in premarket U.S. trading on quarterly numbers that disappointed heightened market expectations.

The company, whose offerings include services to government clients, has been a major beneficiary of enthusiasm around AI-powered businesses. The stock has jumped by more than 60% so far this year, with investors hoping that AI will underpin an increase in government spending on defense-related tech.

Analysts had noted heading into the results that the surge in Palantir’s share price was a likely indication that expectations for the figures were high.

Adjusted per-share profit came in at $0.13 for the first quarter, meeting projections, according to LSEG data cited by Reuters. Revenue of $883.9 million was also slightly above estimates of $862.8 million.

"The rush towards large language models, as well as the foundational software architecture that is capable of making them valuable to large organizations, has turned into a stampede," said CEO Alex Karp in a letter to shareholders.

"What was once a relatively orderly process of assessment and evaluation of these novel technologies has evolved into a ravenous whirlwind of adoption as an increasing number of institutions grasp the magnitude of the shift that is washing over industry and government."

Colorado-based Palantir, which was co-founded by tech billionaire Peter Thiel, now sees sales for the full year at $3.89 billion to $3.90 billion, compared with a previous forecast of $3.74 billion and $3.76 billion.

For the current quarter, adusted income from operations is tipped to be between $401 million and $405 million on revenue of $934 million to $938 million.

Writing in a note to clients, analysts at Jefferies argued that while Palantir’s financial "fundamentals have strengthened in recent quarters", the company’s valuation of 56 times estimated calendar year 2026 revenue has "risen to unprecented levels."

"Even if Palantir can accelerate growth to a 50% four-year compound annual growth rate, it would have to trade at a 19 times estimated calendar year 2028 revenue multiple just for the stock to hold its current price," the brokerage said.

(Yasin Ebrahim contributed reporting.)

 

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers
© 2007-2025 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.