Core Insights - Palantir Technologies Inc. is recognized as one of the 10 hottest stocks to buy in 2026, with a price target increase from Citi to $235 and a Buy rating reiterated [1]. Financial Performance - Palantir is expected to report Q4 FY2025 results on February 2, 2026, with projected revenue of nearly $1.34 billion, reflecting over 62% growth year-over-year. Adjusted earnings are anticipated to be around $0.23 per share, indicating more than 64% year-over-year growth [2]. - Over the past year, Palantir's stock has surged by more than 80%, with a consensus median price target of $202.50, suggesting over 38% upside potential [3]. Market Position and Growth Drivers - Phillip Securities initiated coverage on Palantir with a Buy rating and a price target of $208, forecasting sales growth of over 47% year-over-year to $4.2 billion in fiscal 2025, driven by a 51% increase in commercial sales as AI adoption expands beyond defense contracts [4]. - The growth in Palantir's stock and future upside is attributed to strong performance in its commercial business and the increasing adoption of its Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) [3]. Company Overview - Palantir Technologies Inc. specializes in developing data integration and analytics platforms for government agencies, military, and corporations, with flagship products Gotham and Foundry supporting various operations including intelligence and enterprise analytics [5].

Palantir (PLTR) shares have been in a massive downtrend ahead of the company’s Q4 earnings, but options traders seem to believe they’ll rebound after the release on Feb. 2 after the bell. Analysts expect the artificial intelligence (AI) data analytics firm to report earnings of $0.17 a share for its fourth quarter — up more than 20% on a year-over-year basis. At the time of writing, Palantir stock is down more than 25% versus its November high. More News from Barchart www.barchart.com Where Options Da ...

Core Insights - Palantir Technologies Inc. is a significant player in the data analytics industry, recognized for its AI-integrated software platforms, and has shown strong revenue growth and stock performance since its IPO in 2020 [1] - Recent analyst sentiment presents a mixed outlook for Palantir's future performance despite its robust growth [1] Price Target Trends - Over the past year, Palantir's consensus price target has increased from $158.43 to $215.50, indicating a growing bullish sentiment among analysts [4][6] - The average price target rose from $205.22 three months ago, reflecting increased optimism attributed to strategic initiatives and partnerships [3] Revenue Growth - Palantir is expected to achieve a 62.8% year-over-year revenue increase, driven by demand for AI solutions in both government and commercial sectors [2][6] - The company's strategic partnerships, such as the collaboration with Innodata, may enhance its federal contracts pipeline, tapping into over $13 billion in opportunities [3] Earnings Expectations - As Palantir approaches its fourth-quarter 2025 earnings release, Wall Street anticipates significant increases in U.S. sales and strong profitability [5] - The stock is currently viewed as richly valued, which sets high expectations for the company's financial performance [5]

William Blair's senior analyst Louie DiPalma believes Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ: PLTR) will report a strong Q4, paving the way for the AI stock to surpass $200 again by the end of 2026. The data a... ...

Core Viewpoint - Palantir Technologies is preparing to report its fourth-quarter 2025 earnings, with high expectations from investors regarding its valuation and performance, particularly in relation to its AI platform and commercial adoption [1]. Financial Performance - Management has guided fourth-quarter revenue to be between $1.327 billion and $1.331 billion, indicating approximately 61% year-over-year growth [2]. - The full-year revenue forecast has been raised to between $4.396 billion and $4.4 billion, reflecting strong demand for its AI-driven software across both government and commercial sectors [2]. - Wall Street estimates align with this outlook, projecting fourth-quarter revenue of about $1.34 billion, which represents a 61.9% increase year-over-year, and earnings per share of $0.23, a rise of over 64% [3]. Stock Price Predictions - Predictions suggest that Palantir's stock may experience volatility post-earnings, with an initial positive reaction expected, potentially pushing the stock price to the $150 to $155 range shortly after the earnings report [4][5]. - However, this initial strength may fade as investors reassess the company's valuation, leading to a possible consolidation range between $135 and $145 in subsequent sessions [6]. - A bearish scenario could see shares retreating to the $125 to $135 range if forward guidance does not exceed market expectations [7]. - Conversely, a bullish outcome would require a significant earnings beat and strong guidance for 2026, which could drive the stock above $160, potentially reaching the $170 area [8]. Analyst Sentiment - Wall Street analysts maintain a cautious stance on Palantir, with a consensus 'Hold' rating based on 18 analyst reviews, indicating a mix of optimism and valuation concerns [9]. - The average 12-month price target is set at $189.94, suggesting a 29.6% upside from the current share price, with bullish analysts predicting a rise to $235 and the most bearish outlook projecting a drop to $50 [11].

Palantir (NASDAQ: PLTR), the AI-powered data analytics company named after the all-seeing orbs from The Lord of the Rings, went public via a direct listing on Sept. 30, 2020. Its stock started trading at $10, but it's worth nearly $150 today. It also joined the S&P 500 in September 2024. Palantir attracted a stampede of bulls with its accelerating growth, soaring profits, and exposure to the booming AI market, but can it maintain that momentum over the next five years? Image source: Getty Images. Where to ...

Core Insights - Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR) is set to report its fourth-quarter 2025 results on February 2, with earnings expected to grow by 64.3% year-over-year to 23 cents and total revenues projected at $1.35 billion, reflecting a 62.8% increase [1][6] Earnings Performance - The company has a strong history of earnings surprises, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the last four quarters, with an average earnings surprise of 16.3% [2][3] Revenue Growth - The anticipated revenue growth is driven by robust demand in both government and commercial segments, with government revenues expected to reach $707.24 million (up 55.4% year-over-year) and commercial revenues projected at $646.25 million (up 73.5% year-over-year) [6][7] Stock Valuation - Palantir shares have increased by 94% over the past year but have seen a 19% decline in the last three months, indicating a recent pullback [8] - The stock is currently trading at a high valuation, with a forward Price/Earnings ratio of 147X and an EV/EBITDA of 543X, significantly above industry averages of 32X and 11X respectively [9][10] Investment Considerations - While Palantir shows strong growth momentum and profitability improvements, its current valuation reflects much of the optimism, suggesting limited near-term upside [10] - The company’s long-term prospects in artificial intelligence and data analytics remain strong, but short-term investors may consider waiting for a potential pullback before investing [10]

Core Viewpoint - BigBear.ai is experiencing a strong start in 2026, but its financial performance does not yet support comparisons to Palantir Technologies, as it remains unprofitable and lacks consistent top-line growth [1][2]. Company Overview - BigBear.ai has a current market capitalization of $2.6 billion, positioning it at the smaller end of the mid-cap stock range [2][7]. - The company recently completed a $250 million acquisition of Ask Sage, which is expected to enhance its AI offerings and expand its presence in the defense sector and other regulated markets [3][5]. Acquisition Impact - The acquisition of Ask Sage is anticipated to broaden BigBear.ai's portfolio of AI solutions and complement existing services, potentially leading to increased sales in its AI offerings [3][4]. - The combined platform from the acquisition allows government and enterprise customers to utilize AI while ensuring data sovereignty and security compliance [4]. Market Performance - Following the announcement of the acquisition, BigBear.ai's stock has risen approximately 15% year to date, indicating positive investor sentiment regarding future growth opportunities [5]. - Despite the recent stock performance, BigBear.ai's shares are down about 30% from their 52-week high of $10.36, reflecting ongoing investor caution regarding the company's valuation and prospects [8]. Financial Performance - BigBear.ai has reported net losses of $426.3 million over the last four quarters, with revenue of only $144.2 million, highlighting the need for improved earnings alongside revenue growth [8]. - The company has a gross margin of 27.28%, but the high costs associated with running and managing AI models raise concerns about its profitability [7][8].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue for 2025 was $2.133 billion, a 0.5% increase compared to 2024, and a 1.1% increase on a comparable adjusted basis [19] - GAAP net income improved to $85.3 million, or $1.87 per share, up from $52.9 million, or $1.18 per share in 2024 [19] - Comparable adjusted EBITDA was $431.5 million, a 6.2% increase from the previous year, with adjusted EBITDA margins expanding to 20.2% [19][20] - Comparable adjusted EPS grew by 12.6% to $3.67 from $3.26 in 2024 [20] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Merchant services revenue for 2025 was $398.6 million, growing by 3.8% compared to 2024, with adjusted EBITDA at $85.9 million, a 9.4% increase [20][21] - B2B payment segment revenue finished at $290.5 million, reflecting a 0.9% growth, with adjusted EBITDA at $64.4 million, a 12.8% increase [23][24] - Data-driven marketing business revenue reached $307.3 million, a 31.3% increase year-over-year, with adjusted EBITDA at $86.4 million, reflecting a 28.1% margin [26][27] - Print business revenue declined to $1.14 billion, a 5.7% decrease, with adjusted EBITDA at $366.9 million, a 2.6% decline [28][30] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Payments and data now account for 47% of total revenue, up from 43% a year ago, with expectations to achieve revenue parity with print businesses later this year [5][8] - The data segment's revenue growth was particularly strong, expanding over 30% year-over-year, driven by enhanced marketing capabilities and AI tools [9][26] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on shifting its revenue mix towards payments and data, aiming for ongoing profitable growth [6][8] - There is a commitment to driving operational efficiencies and improving margins across all business segments [14][15] - The company aims to reduce net debt and improve its leverage ratio, with a target of achieving a leverage ratio of 3 times or lower [16][33] Management Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the operating environment, noting traditional consumer behavior patterns and stable macroeconomic conditions [46][48] - The company anticipates continued growth in the data segment, although it will face tougher comparisons in the latter half of the year [49] - Overall, management is confident in the company's trajectory heading into 2026, with expectations for significant advances in strategic priorities [39] Other Important Information - Free cash flow for 2025 was $175 million, up from $100 million in 2024, reflecting improved cash generation and operational efficiency [33] - The company has a strong balance sheet, with net debt reduced to $1.39 billion, and a net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio of 3.2 times [32][33] - A regular quarterly dividend of $0.30 per share was approved, payable on February 23, 2026 [35] Q&A Session Summary Question: How is Deluxe positioned to respond to trends in AI and agentic commerce? - Management highlighted that Deluxe has applied AI technology across multiple business areas, enhancing performance and delivering improved outcomes [42][44] Question: What are the primary objectives for the business in 2026? - The main objectives include shifting the revenue mix towards payments and data, driving operational efficiency, and generating cash flow to reduce debt [55][56] Question: What opportunities exist for growth in the ISV distribution channel? - Management noted a robust pipeline for the ISV distribution channel, with ongoing investments in API and reporting tools to enhance appeal [57][58] Question: What is the company's approach to build versus buy decisions for investments? - The company maintains a balance between building capabilities internally and making strategic acquisitions that enhance performance [66][68]

Core Insights - Equifax has launched two new Employment Insights solutions aimed at enhancing the financial profile of buyers during the auto loan prequalification and financing processes [1][2] Group 1: Employment Insights Solutions - The Employment Insights solutions provide verified employment and income data from The Work Number, allowing auto dealers to make data-driven decisions rather than relying on self-reported information [2][3] - These solutions are designed to streamline the auto dealer workflow at two critical stages: prequalification and financing [2] Group 2: Benefits for Auto Dealers - The Employment Insights for Prequalification helps dealers assess a buyer's purchasing power before a full credit application, including total annual income and employment record [4] - The Employment Insights for Financing assists dealers in validating application information and reducing buyback risk by combining verified income and employment data with identity validation [4][6] Group 3: Market Context - The current market shows that car shoppers are increasingly price-sensitive, making timely access to reliable information crucial for closing sales [3] - The new solutions enable dealers to tailor sales experiences and customize offers based on verified consumer employment status and ability to pay [6]