Defense Deals and Q1 Beat Can’t Stop PLTR Stock from 10% Crash

Despite reporting outstanding first-quarter earnings and riding a nearly 90% surge over the previous month, Palantir Technologies' stock...

PLTR dives 10% from near record highs

Quick overview

  • Palantir Technologies reported strong Q1 earnings, with revenue rising 36% year-over-year to $862.3 million and EPS of $0.13, meeting expectations.
  • Despite solid results and optimistic guidance for Q2 and full-year 2025, Palantir's shares fell nearly 10% in after-hours trading due to cautious forward outlook.
  • The company's stock had previously surged nearly 90% over the past month, driven by excitement around AI initiatives and government contracts.
  • Investors appear to be locking in profits after the recent rally, leading to a swift correction despite the overall bullish outlook.

Despite reporting outstanding first-quarter earnings and riding a nearly 90% surge over the previous month, Palantir Technologies’ stock fell as cautious forward guidance dampened market enthusiasm.

A Record Close Meets a Sudden Reversal

Heading into its Q1 earnings release, Palantir (NYSE: PLTR) was on a roll. The stock closed last week at $124, marking its highest weekly finish ever and coming within reach of its all-time high of $125.41. After rebounding sharply from a low of $66.12 in early April, PLTR surged nearly 88% over four weeks, fueled by excitement around its artificial intelligence initiatives and expectations of strong government contract performance.

PLTR Chart Daily – Failing to Make New Record Highs Chart PLTR, D1, 2025.05.05 21:34 UTC, MetaQuotes Ltd., MetaTrader 5, Demo

But, today we are seeing a dive which has taken the PLTR share price below $113, which means we will see a massive bearish gap at the US stock market open tomorrow.

Q1 Delivers, But Market Shrugs

The company’s Q1 report did not disappoint on the surface. Revenue rose 36% year-over-year to $862.3 million, comfortably beating expectations. This surge was largely driven by Palantir’s growing portfolio of AI-driven solutions and major government deals, including a headline-grabbing multi-billion dollar contract with NATO. EPS also came in strong at $0.13, exceeding analyst estimates and reflecting the company’s increasing operating efficiency.

Palantir Q1 Earnings – Meets EPS, Beats Revenue and Guidance but Slips in After-Hours Trading

Key Points:

  • Q1 Earnings Per Share (EPS): Reported EPS came in at $0.13, exactly in line with Wall Street estimates.
  • Q1 Revenue: Palantir posted $884 million in revenue, comfortably beating the consensus estimate of $861 million, signaling strong client retention and growth.
  • Q2 Guidance: Management projects Q2 revenue between $934 million and $938 million, exceeding analysts’ expectations of $898 million.
  • Full-Year 2025 Outlook: The company raised its full-year revenue guidance to $3.89–$3.90 billion, significantly above the projected $3.75 billion, reflecting confidence in long-term growth, particularly in AI and government sectors.
  • Stock Reaction: Despite solid results and an optimistic forward view, Palantir shares dipped 10% in after-hours trading, likely due to high investor expectations already priced in after recent strong gains.

Guidance Sends Investors Running

Yet despite these solid numbers, Palantir’s stock took a sharp hit in after-hours trading, falling nearly 10% to around $112.62. The decline appears to be driven by a more cautious Q2 outlook, which, while still positive, failed to live up to the sky-high expectations baked into the stock after its parabolic climb. With much of the good news already priced in, even a hint of moderation was enough to trigger a swift correction.

Conclusion: Can Palantir Survive Without Defense Funds?

Palantir Technologies delivered a solid Q1 with results that matched or exceeded expectations across the board. Strong guidance for Q2 and full-year 2025 confirms robust momentum in both commercial and government sectors. However, the slight dip in after-hours trading suggests investors may have been expecting an even stronger beat or are locking in profits after the stock’s sharp run-up in recent weeks. Despite the pullback, the outlook remains firmly bullish with continued AI and defense contract tailwinds.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR See More
Skerdian Meta
Lead Analyst
Skerdian Meta Lead Analyst. Skerdian is a professional Forex trader and a market analyst. He has been actively engaged in market analysis for the past 11 years. Before becoming our head analyst, Skerdian served as a trader and market analyst in Saxo Bank's local branch, Aksioner. Skerdian specialized in experimenting with developing models and hands-on trading. Skerdian has a masters degree in finance and investment.

Related Articles

HFM

Doo Prime

XM

Best Forex Brokers