Key Highlights
- Palantir ($PLTR) co-founder Peter Thiel has registered a potential sale of 2 million Class A shares valued at approximately $280M based on $140 per share pricing via Merrill Lynch.
- The stock has extended gains across four consecutive trading sessions — marking its strongest performance streak since December — fueled by defense sector momentum following U.S.-Israel military action against Iran.
- The company maintains significant defense contracts, including a massive $10B agreement with the U.S. Army and a $448M contract with the Navy.
- Recent analyst activity includes Rosenblatt’s Buy initiation at $150 and UBS’s upgrade to Buy with a $180 price objective, both emphasizing artificial intelligence growth drivers.
- Short seller Michael Burry maintains his bearish stance on PLTR, recently commenting that the Anthropic situation demonstrates “stickiness is Claude’s tech, not Palantir’s.”
Palantir Technologies (PLTR) co-founder Peter Thiel has registered plans to divest as many as 2 million Class A shares, representing approximately $280 million in value based on a $140 per share price. The transaction would be facilitated by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, based on regulatory documentation filed with the SEC on March 2.
Palantir Technologies Inc., PLTR
Thiel’s previous share sale occurred in October 2024. As the company’s chairman since its 2003 inception, he continues to maintain a substantial individual ownership position.
The filing arrives during a period of sustained momentum. PLTR shares have advanced through four consecutive trading sessions — representing the stock’s most extended positive run in approximately three months.
The upward movement coincided with military strikes conducted by the United States and Israel targeting Iranian positions, generating increased investor interest in defense-related equities amid expectations of prolonged regional tensions. Palantir emerged as one of Monday’s strongest performers within the S&P 500.
The organization maintains substantial defense sector exposure through a $10 billion U.S. Army agreement and a $448 million Naval contract, positioning it to benefit from shifts in defense-related investor sentiment.
Analyst Community Grows Optimistic
Recent days have delivered two significant positive ratings adjustments. Rosenblatt launched coverage with a Buy recommendation and $150 price objective, characterizing Palantir as a “market-disrupting, uniquely positioned AI software leader.”
The firm also highlighted the recent price decline — with shares retreating approximately 33% from October peaks — as creating favorable valuation opportunities.
UBS delivered an even more bullish assessment, elevating its rating to Buy from Neutral while establishing a $180 price target. The financial institution described the company as a “premier growth story” strategically positioned where AI innovation intersects with enterprise data infrastructure investment, supported by robust demand signals from industry research.
PLTR currently commands valuation multiples around 110 times projected earnings and exceeding 46 times anticipated revenue. Since making its NYSE debut in September 2020, the stock has delivered returns surpassing 1,400%.
Burry Maintains Bearish Position
Not all market participants share the optimistic outlook. Michael Burry, who revealed a short position in Palantir previously, delivered additional critical commentary recently.
He referenced the U.S. government’s decision to allow a six-month transition window for Anthropic’s Claude artificial intelligence platform despite identifying it as a supply-chain vulnerability. Burry contended the situation “shows the stickiness is Claude’s tech, not Palantir’s” — implying that foundational AI technology holds greater significance for defense applications than the software infrastructure surrounding it.
Burry has previously expressed concerns regarding Palantir’s financial reporting practices, specifically noting that accounts receivable expansion has outpaced revenue growth in recent reporting periods. He has also questioned escalating expenses related to CEO Alex Karp’s private aviation usage.
Bob Lang, founder of trading platform Explosive Options, offered a more grounded take: “They do not build weapons, missiles or planes,” and noted that “the big contracts for Palantir are important but likely already in the price of the stock.”
Palantir has 2,291,470,751 shares outstanding. UBS holds a $180 price target on the stock, the highest among recent analyst updates.
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