Core Insights - Growth stocks, particularly in the tech sector, continue to lead the market, with several companies showing significant revenue growth of 25% or more, making them attractive investment opportunities this year Company Summaries Palantir Technologies - Palantir Technologies has experienced a remarkable stock increase of over 135% in 2025 through September 29, following a 340% surge last year [2] - The company has transitioned from being primarily a government contractor to a leading AI platform provider, with its Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) helping businesses deploy AI effectively [3] - Palantir's revenue has accelerated for eight consecutive quarters, with a 48% year-over-year increase last quarter, reaching $1 billion, and U.S. commercial revenue growing by 93% [4] - The company boasts a strong 128% net dollar retention rate, indicating existing customers are expanding their usage [4] - With AI still in its early stages, Palantir has significant growth potential ahead [5] AppLovin - AppLovin has transformed from a gaming app maker to a leader in AI adtech, driven by its Axon 2.0 AI adtech engine, which optimizes ad placements in real-time [6] - The company reported a 77% year-over-year revenue increase last quarter, reaching $1.26 billion, with adjusted EBITDA nearly doubling to $1 billion [6] - AppLovin is expanding its AI adtech engine into e-commerce and broader web advertising, indicating a larger market opportunity [7] - The launch of a self-serve ad manager aims to attract more advertisers and expand internationally, further driving revenue growth [8] - Despite a nearly 450% stock increase over the past year, AppLovin continues to demonstrate strong revenue growth and operational leverage [9] GitLab - GitLab has seen consistent revenue growth between 25% and 35% for eight consecutive quarters, with a 29% increase last quarter to $236 million and a dollar-based net retention rate of 121% [10] - Originally a DevSecOps platform, GitLab has evolved into a comprehensive software development lifecycle solution, enhancing developer efficiency [11] - The introduction of the Duo AI agent automates repetitive tasks, allowing developers to focus more on coding, addressing the concern that AI might reduce the need for coders [12] - GitLab's shift to a hybrid seat-plus-usage pricing model positions the company for growth as demand scales, while also providing protection against potential declines in coding teams [13]