Key Points
Palantir is helping its customers reap the benefits of AI without sacrificing control over their data.
Management says its fast-growing U.S. commercial business has plenty of room for further expansion.
- 10 stocks we like better than Palantir Technologies ›
Shares of Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ: PLTR) rose nearly 40% last week after the data analytics leader reported stunning artificial intelligence (AI)-fueled growth metrics.
Image source: The Motley Fool.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
Palantir is expanding at a blistering pace
Palantir's second-quarter revenue soared 93% year over year to $1.9 billion. The gains were driven by a 90% jump in U.S. government revenue to $809 million and a 149% surge in U.S. commercial revenue to $764 million.
"Such an achievement would be cause for astonishment in any business; for one of our size, scale, and consequence, it is simply staggering," CEO Alex Karp said.
Karp said that Palantir serves as a safer alternative to working directly with AI model developers such as OpenAI and Anthropic.
"Our customers trust us to provide them with maximal control over their operations, data, and decisions," Karp said. "Their competitive advantage should never become the training data for future models."
All told, Palantir's adjusted operating income increased 62% to $1.2 billion. And its adjusted earnings per share checked in at $0.41, easily surpassing Wall Street's estimates of $0.35.
This AI-fueled growth story is just getting started
These sterling results prompted Palantir to lift its full-year revenue target to nearly $8.2 billion, driven by U.S. commercial revenue growth of at least 134%. Management also projects adjusted operating income of roughly $4.9 billion in 2026.
"While our U.S. commercial business is on fire, we believe it is nonetheless just nascent," Karp said.
Should you buy stock in Palantir Technologies right now?
Before you buy stock in Palantir Technologies, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Palantir Technologies wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $399,832!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,374,595!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 968% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 215% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of August 10, 2026.
Joe Tenebruso has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Palantir Technologies. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
