Wall Street Analyst Urges Palantir Stock Sell-off

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Wall Street Analyst Urges Palantir Stock Sell-off

Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: PLTR) has experienced significant stock fluctuations recently. The stock surged nearly 8% last week but lost momentum as broader market conditions shifted. This volatility followed the company’s Q3 earnings report in early November, which initially beat expectations but led to a declined stock valuation, leaving PLTR approximately 16% below its pre-earnings status.

Analyst Outlook on Palantir Stock

Despite acknowledging Palantir’s expanding commercial presence and potential within the artificial intelligence sector, many analysts remain cautious regarding the company’s high valuation. Freedom Broker analyst Almas Almaganbetov takes a particularly bearish stance, voicing concerns over the company’s future prospects.

Key Concerns Highlighted by Almaganbetov

  • Slowed Growth: Almaganbetov notes that Palantir may face diminished growth prospects from its already high baseline. He points out the steep price-to-earnings ratio for 2026, projected at 301x, which may signal future volatility.
  • Revenue Challenges: A considerable increase of over $480 million in revenue would be necessary for maintaining momentum, particularly after experiencing a 121% year-over-year increase in U.S. commercial revenue in 2025.
  • Government Dependency: With approximately 54% of Palantir’s revenue originating from government contracts, potential budget cuts and policy changes may adversely affect growth.
  • International Performance: Seventy-five percent of revenue still comes from the U.S., indicating challenges in diversifying internationally.
  • Personnel Costs: As the average salary for AI engineers nears $175,000, the rising wages could compress operating margins from 51% to between 45% and 48% by next year.
  • Concentration Risk: The reliance on a limited number of significant contracts presents a risk. Delays or cancellations could detrimentally impact financial health.

Almaganbetov emphasizes that Palantir’s current valuation seems to reflect unsustainable hypergrowth expectations. Consequently, he has assigned a Sell rating for the stock, though he raised his price target from $125 to $170, indicating expectations of limited price movement in the near future.

Market Consensus and Future Projections

Looking at the overall market perspective, Palantir holds a neutral consensus rating. This assessment arises from a mix of 11 Holds, 3 Buys, and 2 Sells. Currently priced at $187.87, the average price target suggests an approximate 8% increase for the stock in the coming months.

Investors are encouraged to conduct thorough analyses and consider these insights before making any decisions regarding Palantir Technologies’ stock performance.