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Palantir Stock Is Down 37% From Its Peak: Here's What Could Happen Next
PLTRPalantir Technologies(PLTR) The Motley Fool·2025-03-16 08:05

Core Insights - Palantir's stock price has decreased by 37% from its all-time high of approximately 125reachedonFebruary18,raisingconcernsaboutitsvolatilityandfutureperformance[1]CompanyOverviewPalantir,whichwentpublicinOctober2020,hasahistoryofstronggovernmentandmilitaryclientrelationships,notablyassistingintheWaronTerror[2]Thecompanyhasexperiencedsignificanthypecycles,particularlyrelatedtogenerativeAIandpoliticalevents,whichhaveinfluenceditsstockperformance[3][8]FinancialPerformanceDespitesynergieswithgenerativeAI,Palantirsrevenuegrowthhasslowedfrom47125 reached on February 18, raising concerns about its volatility and future performance [1] Company Overview - Palantir, which went public in October 2020, has a history of strong government and military client relationships, notably assisting in the War on Terror [2] - The company has experienced significant hype cycles, particularly related to generative AI and political events, which have influenced its stock performance [3][8] Financial Performance - Despite synergies with generative AI, Palantir's revenue growth has slowed from 47% in 2020 to 29% in 2024, indicating that the new technology has not significantly impacted growth [5] - Over the past five years, Palantir's stock price increased by 722%, slightly surpassing Nvidia's 704%, highlighting the extent of hype in its valuation [6] - The company's adjusted EBITDA stands at 379.5 million, but this figure includes $281.8 million in stock-based compensation, which can dilute existing shareholders' equity [7] Market Challenges - The election of Donald Trump initially boosted Palantir's stock, but his administration's plans to reduce federal spending could negatively impact the company's revenue, particularly from U.S. government clients, which accounted for 42% of its revenue in 2024 [8][9] - The Pentagon's projected budget cuts of 8% annually for the next five years could further strain Palantir's financials [8] - Internationally, Palantir's revenue from clients like the Ukrainian armed forces may also be at risk if geopolitical dynamics change [9] Valuation Concerns - With a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 135, Palantir's stock price does not reflect the challenges it faces, including moderate growth and high stock-based compensation expenses [10] - The significant drop in stock price and ongoing challenges suggest that further declines may be likely [10]