PLTR: Palantir Nearly Doubles Revenue to Record, Traders Dump the Stock Anyway

US commercial sales overtake government revenue for the first time, but slower contract growth gives investors something to question.

📊 Record growth meets demanding expectations

• Palantir shares PLTR swung sharply after Monday’s earnings, initially gaining before falling more than 5% in extended trading.
• The company beat forecasts and raised guidance, yet the reaction showed how demanding expectations remain for AI stocks. Nearly doubling sales still leaves room for disappointment on Wall Street.
• Third-quarter revenue jumped 96% to $2.3 billion, crossing $2 billion for the first time and rising 20% from the previous quarter. Adjusted earnings reached $0.44 a share, above the cited $0.41 consensus, while revenue exceeded expectations near $2.2 billion.
• Profitability strengthened alongside sales. Operating income under standard accounting rules reached almost $1.1 billion, representing a 47% operating margin.
• Cash generated from operations totaled $1.2 billion. Those figures provide evidence that Palantir’s rapid expansion is translating into substantial earnings and cash generation.

🏢 Commercial business takes the US lead

• US commercial revenue surged 148% to $984 million, surpassing US government revenue for the first time. The milestone broadens Palantir’s growth story beyond its public-sector roots, with American businesses becoming an increasingly important source of demand for its data and AI software.
• Government sales remained a powerful contributor, climbing 96% to $953 million in the US. Combined American revenue reached $1.9 billion, up 119%.
• Both customer groups expanded rapidly, although the figures also underline how heavily Palantir’s current momentum depends on its home market.
• Existing customers are spending considerably more. Net dollar retention reached 165%, up eight percentage points from the previous quarter.
• This measure compares revenue from the same customer group across successive 12-month periods, showing substantial expansion within established accounts after allowing for customers that reduced spending or left.

🔎 Slower deal growth attracts scrutiny

• New contract value grew much more slowly than revenue. Palantir closed $2.9 billion in total contract value, up 6% year over year, compared with 49% growth in the second quarter.
• Contract signings can fluctuate sharply, but the slowdown raises questions about how future revenue growth will be replenished.
• US commercial contract signings also lost momentum, increasing 11% to $1.4 billion after 153% growth in the previous quarter. These figures cover contracts’ full value, including options, rather than revenue earned immediately.
• Management nevertheless raised full-year revenue guidance to around $8.5 billion, implying roughly 91% growth. Fourth-quarter sales are forecast at around $2.6 billion.