Shares of Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR) sold off at the start of the new year, losing 14.05% over past five trading sessions after losing 0.84% the five prior. ...

Core Viewpoint - Veteran investor Louis Navellier warns against the recent "junk rally" in low-quality stocks and advises a shift back to quality stocks with strong earnings growth as the 2026 financial year begins [1][2] Group 1: Market Trends - Navellier highlights a fourth-quarter mean reversion where previously underperforming stocks led the market, which he deems unsustainable [2] - He anticipates a "big flip" in January, where quality companies with accelerating sales and earnings will regain market leadership [2] Group 2: Stock Picks - Navellier's top pick is Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ: NVDA), expecting a 66.7% increase in sales and a 71% jump in earnings due to new chip sales to China [4] - He is also bullish on Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: PLTR), forecasting a 64.1% earnings surge as a leading "AI implementer" for government contracts [4] - Seagate Technology Holdings PLC (NASDAQ: STX) and Celestica Inc. (NYSE: CLS) are highlighted as beneficiaries of the data center boom, with earnings expected to rise 37.6% and 58.1%, respectively [5] Group 3: Economic Outlook - Navellier expresses concern over the broader economy, predicting deflation as the primary story for 2026, citing falling rental costs, declining condo prices, and low energy prices [6] - He argues that the Federal Reserve needs to cut rates by at least 100 basis points to prevent a deeper economic slowdown [6] Group 4: Market Performance - In 2025, the S&P 500 increased by 16.65%, while the Nasdaq Composite and Dow Jones gained 20.54% and 13.38%, respectively [7] - The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE: SPY) was up 0.24% at $684.82, and the Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ: QQQ) advanced 0.52% to $616.29 in premarket trading [7]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the potential for growth in three AI-related stocks—NVIDIA Corp., Micron Technology, Inc., and Palantir Technologies Inc.—due to the "January Effect" and ongoing demand in the technology sector driven by artificial intelligence [2][4]. Group 1: NVIDIA Corp. - NVIDIA is expected to experience strong growth driven by demand for its AI hardware, particularly its next-generation Blackwell chips and cloud GPUs [5]. - The easing of U.S.-China trade tensions, highlighted by the approval of H200 AI chip shipments to select customers in China, is seen as a positive development for NVIDIA [6]. - NVIDIA projects fiscal fourth-quarter 2026 revenues at approximately $65 billion, with a margin of plus or minus 2% [7]. - The company's expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 55.9%, with a Zacks Consensus Estimate for EPS at $4.66, reflecting a 12% year-over-year increase [8]. Group 2: Micron Technology, Inc. - Micron's high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips are in continuous demand, supporting growth in 2025 and expected to continue this year [9]. - The company anticipates fiscal second-quarter 2026 revenues between $18.3 billion and $19.1 billion, mirroring revenue growth seen during the dot-com bubble [10]. - Micron's projected earnings growth rate for the current year is 278.3%, with a Zacks Consensus Estimate for EPS at $31.36, indicating a 185.9% year-over-year increase [11]. Group 3: Palantir Technologies Inc. - Palantir is positioned for growth due to the increasing adoption of its Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) among U.S. government and commercial clients [12]. - The company expects total revenues for 2025 to be between $4.396 billion and $4.400 billion, indicating growth in both client segments [13]. - Palantir's expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 42.5%, with a Zacks Consensus Estimate for EPS at $0.73, reflecting a 52.1% year-over-year increase [14].

Core Insights - The Zacks Equity Research team has highlighted stocks including Amazon.com, Palantir Technologies, TotalEnergies, and MIND Technology in their recent analysis, focusing on their performance and market outlook [1][2]. Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN) - Amazon's shares have outperformed the Zacks Internet - Commerce industry over the past six months, with a gain of 4.5% compared to the industry's 2.4% [4]. - The company projects Q4 2025 net sales between $206 billion and $213 billion, with operating income expected to be between $21 billion and $26 billion, indicating operational efficiency gains [5]. - AI integration is enhancing personalization and logistics, strengthening Amazon's competitive position, although substantial capital expenditures for AI infrastructure may strain financial resources [6]. Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR) - Palantir's shares have significantly outperformed the Zacks Internet - Software industry, gaining 32.3% compared to a decline of 6.5% in the industry over the past six months [7]. - The company has $5.4 billion in cash and no debt, providing strong liquidity and visibility, while its AI strategy is driving growth in both government and commercial sectors [8]. - Despite a 122.5% increase in share price over the past year, intense competition and rising costs present challenges, leading to a neutral rating on the stock [9]. TotalEnergies SE (TTE) - TotalEnergies' shares have outperformed the Zacks Oil and Gas - Refining and Marketing industry, with a 5.9% increase compared to the industry's 1.7% over the past six months [10]. - The company is benefiting from contributions from startups and well-spread LNG assets, with a focus on generating 15-20% of sales from low-carbon business by 2040 [11]. - However, security concerns in some production regions and acquisition-related risks pose challenges to its operations [12]. MIND Technology, Inc. (MIND) - MIND Technology's shares have gained 11.4% over the past six months, although this is below the Zacks Technology Services industry's gain of 15.4% [13]. - The company secured a $9.5 million seismic contract in December 2025, indicating improving demand, and has expanded its Huntsville facility to support higher-margin throughput [14]. - Despite recent gains, declining revenue and backlog highlight demand volatility, and rising operating expenses may pressure profitability [15].

Core Insights - Palantir Technologies Inc. is a major player in advanced data analytics software, serving both government and commercial clients, with a market capitalization of approximately $400.1 billion, categorizing it as a "mega-cap" company [1]. Company Overview - The company offers a diversified portfolio of platforms, including Gotham, Foundry, Apollo, and AIP, which cater to various sectors such as intelligence analysis, enterprise operations, system deployment, and large language model integration [2]. Financial Performance - Palantir's Q4 fiscal 2025 earnings are anticipated to show a diluted EPS of $0.17, representing an 1,800% increase from the previous year's loss of $0.01 per share, although the company has only met EPS estimates in two of the last four quarters [3]. - In Q3 fiscal 2025, Palantir reported revenue of $1.18 billion, a 62.8% year-over-year increase, exceeding analyst expectations of $1.09 billion, with an adjusted EPS of $0.21, surpassing the forecast of $0.17 [4]. Market Reaction - Following the strong Q3 results, initial market enthusiasm waned due to valuation concerns and the revelation of a significant options position betting against the stock, leading to a nearly 7.9% decline in PLTR stock in the subsequent session [5]. Future Projections - Analysts project a continued earnings momentum, forecasting a diluted EPS increase of 550% year-over-year to $0.52 for fiscal 2025, followed by a further 51.9% rise to $0.79 in fiscal 2026 [6]. Stock Performance - Over the past 52 weeks, PLTR stock has surged by 123.3%, with a year-to-date gain of 5.6%, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 Index, which rose 16.9% during the same period [7]. Strategic Developments - On December 10, 2025, Palantir's shares rose by 3.3% following a partnership announcement with the U.S. Navy, which involves deploying Foundry and AIP across the Maritime Industrial Base, with a potential value of up to $448 million, enhancing Palantir's position in defense infrastructure [8].

Core Insights - Palantir and CrowdStrike are identified as two of the most expensive AI stocks, with investor concerns primarily focused on valuation despite a general interest in AI stocks for 2026 [1] Palantir Technologies - Palantir's stock trades at a forward price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 67 times 2025 analyst estimates and 49 times 2026 consensus, significantly exceeding the median enterprise value-to-sales multiple of around 20 times for software stocks in 2021 and 2022 [2] - The company has experienced accelerating revenue growth, reaching 63% last quarter, driven by increased adoption of its Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) among U.S. commercial customers [4] - Palantir's customer count increased by 45% in Q3 2025, and its net dollar retention rate is at 134%, indicating strong growth from existing customers [5] - The U.S. government, as Palantir's largest customer, is also expanding its contracts as it modernizes its defense and intelligence capabilities [6] - Despite its growth potential, the stock is considered overvalued, with historical examples of major tech companies experiencing significant stock price declines before eventual recoveries [7] CrowdStrike - CrowdStrike's stock trades at a forward P/S multiple of nearly 25 times the fiscal 2026 consensus and 20 times fiscal 2027 forecasts, raising concerns about its valuation [10] - The company's annual recurring revenue (ARR) growth had been decelerating but accelerated to 23% last quarter, while total revenue rose 22% [11] - The introduction of the Falcon Flex licensing model has significantly boosted ARR for customers adopting it, with some seeing their ARR triple in Q3 [12] - For CrowdStrike to justify its current valuation, revenue growth needs to accelerate to the 30% range and maintain that level [13]

Core Insights - The artificial intelligence sector is currently the hottest market segment, with Oracle and Palantir being closely monitored stocks within this space [2][3] Palantir - Palantir has seen remarkable stock performance, with a 147% increase over the past year and a staggering 1,920% rise since its IPO in October 2020 [5] - The company utilizes AI to analyze data from various sources, identifying trends and recommending actions, making it appealing to both government and business sectors [6] - Despite strong fundamentals, Palantir's stock trades at 256 times forward earnings, leading to concerns about overvaluation among analysts; currently, 3 analysts recommend buying, 11 suggest holding, and 2 recommend selling [8][9] Oracle - Oracle reported $455 billion in remaining performance obligations (RPOs) due to AI data center demand, which initially led to a nearly 40% stock price surge [10] - However, concerns arose regarding the debt required for data center expansion and the thin margins in this business, leading to a decline in investor confidence [11][12] - Despite these challenges, Oracle's stock is up approximately 18% over the past year, and analysts remain optimistic, with 24 out of 34 recommending a buy and an average 12-month price target suggesting a 60% upside [15][16]

Core Viewpoint - Palantir's share price has started 2026 on a bearish note, losing most of the gains from the previous year, with a year-to-date decline of over 7% despite a 121% rally in the past year [1][3]. Stock Performance - As of the close of the Friday session, Palantir shares traded at $167.86, down 5.5% for the day [1]. - The stock has experienced significant volatility in early 2026, attributed to investors rotating within the tech sector and scrutinizing high-priced AI stocks [3]. Market Sentiment and Fundamentals - Investors are balancing strong long-term fundamentals against near-term valuation and sentiment concerns, leading to mixed signals for the stock [2]. - Elevated valuation multiples have made Palantir shares sensitive to shifts in sentiment, prompting profit-taking as markets reassess growth expectations [3]. Demand and Future Outlook - Despite near-term challenges, fundamentals remain supportive due to steady demand for Palantir's AI platforms, long-term government contracts, and expanding commercial adoption [4]. - The upcoming full-year 2025 earnings report in early February is expected to be a key catalyst for direction and volatility [4]. Price Prediction - ChatGPT projects Palantir trading near $180 by January 31, 2026, with a likely range of $165 to $195, reflecting a balance between supportive AI demand and valuation-driven caution [5]. - The outlook suggests continued consolidation rather than a decisive breakout, with upside dependent on strong earnings or major contracts and downside tied to renewed selling or broader market weakness [7].

Core Viewpoint - Palantir Technologies has gained significant attention with a stock increase of nearly 140% in 2025, following a 340% rise in the previous year, but there are three AI stocks that may present better investment opportunities in 2026 [1][2]. Group 1: Alphabet - Alphabet, the parent company of Google, offers a comprehensive range of AI solutions, positioning it as a strong competitor in 2026 [4]. - Google Cloud is the fastest-growing among major cloud service providers and is favored by AI start-ups, with nearly all AI "unicorns" utilizing its services [4]. - Alphabet's Gemini 3.0 Pro is recognized as the top large language model, and the company is making strides in the AI chip market with its Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) [6]. Group 2: Micron Technology - Micron Technology is a key player in the high-bandwidth memory (HBM) market, being one of only three global suppliers and the only U.S.-based manufacturer [7]. - The functionality of Palantir's AI software relies on powerful chips, which in turn depend on high-bandwidth, low-latency memory, suggesting Micron's critical role in the AI ecosystem [8]. - Micron's forward price-to-earnings multiple is significantly lower at 9.2 compared to Palantir's 181.8, indicating a more attractive valuation despite Palantir's faster earnings growth [11]. Group 3: Nvidia - Nvidia is recognized as a leader in AI, with its GPUs being the most powerful for AI processing, making it a strong competitor against Palantir [12]. - Both Nvidia and Palantir reported similar revenue growth rates, with Palantir at 63% and Nvidia at 62% year-over-year in Q3 2025 [12][14]. - Nvidia's quarter-over-quarter revenue growth was 22%, surpassing Palantir's 18%, and its guidance suggests a projected revenue increase of 14% in Q4, compared to Palantir's 12.5% [14][15].

Core Insights - Artificial intelligence (AI) is recognized as a transformative technology, comparable to the impact of smartphones on society and the economy [1][2] - Companies are rapidly integrating AI into their operations to enhance efficiency and innovate products and services [2] Investment Opportunities - There are various avenues for investing in AI, including enterprise AI, applied AI, and full-stack AI products [3] Enterprise AI: Palantir Technologies - Palantir Technologies has launched its Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) integrated with its Foundry and Gotham software, enabling real-time data insights for clients [5] - The company has secured diverse contracts, including partnerships with TWG Global for sports performance and the U.S. Navy for supply chain management [6] - Palantir's stock has increased over 960% since January 1, 2024, indicating strong market performance [7] Applied AI: SoundHound AI - SoundHound AI focuses on voice recognition and conversational AI, with applications in various industries, including fast food and retail [9][10] - The company reported a revenue of $42.05 million in Q3, a 68% increase year-over-year, and has $269 million in cash with no debt [12] - SoundHound's stock has risen 141% in 2025, reflecting its growth potential [12] Big-Swing AI: Tesla - Tesla is heavily investing in AI for its self-driving technology and has launched its Robotaxi app across the U.S. and Canada [13] - The company is also developing Optimus, a humanoid robot, as part of a broader AI strategy [14] - Tesla's stock has increased by 14% in 2025, with potential for significant future gains [15]