U.S. markets are dark today for Christmas Day, which means there was no new closing print for Palantir Technologies (PLTR) on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025—and no “after-the-bell” catalyst to digest in the usual sense. The next key moment for PLTR shareholders is Friday’s reopening on Dec. 26, when normal trading resumes and post-holiday liquidity (often thin) can amplify moves in momentum names. [1]
Even with the holiday pause, the Palantir story hasn’t stopped moving. Today’s coverage and data updates revolve around (1) where the stock last traded in Wednesday’s shortened session, (2) what investors are reading into institutional ownership and insider filings, and (3) the ongoing tug-of-war between AI-driven growth optimism and valuation concerns.
Why there’s no “after-hours” move today (and what the last trade actually was)
The New York Stock Exchange lists Christmas Day (Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025) as a market holiday. It also notes the early close on Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. ET, with NYSE late trading sessions closing at 5:00 p.m. ET on that early-close day. [2]
So the most relevant “after-hours” reference point for PLTR going into Friday is really Wednesday, Dec. 24 activity:
- Last trade shown by the market data feed:$194.17, timestamped Dec. 24, 22:15 UTC (late afternoon U.S. time).
- Holiday-week close context: multiple market data pages show PLTR around $193.91 at the (early) close, with after-hours updates around $194.17. [3]
Bottom line: going into Friday’s open, PLTR is entering the session near the mid-$190s, close to recent highs—and in a tape where fewer participants can sometimes mean faster swings. [4]
What the broader market setup implies for PLTR heading into Dec. 26
Investor’s Business Daily notes that the market is reopening from a holiday backdrop after a strong half-day on Christmas Eve, with major indexes showing strength and futures set to reopen Thursday evening. In that same market context, IBD flagged Palantir among “key stocks” staying in buy zones as the rally pushes into the year-end “Santa Claus” window. [5]
Seasonality isn’t a catalyst by itself, but it does matter for trader psychology. A MarketWatch analysis published today highlighted that Dec. 26 has historically been one of the most consistently positive single trading days for the S&P 500, while also cautioning investors not to over-rely on calendar effects. [6]
For PLTR specifically, this setup can translate into:
- Momentum tailwinds if the broader tape stays risk-on.
- Sharper pullbacks if profit-taking shows up—because highly owned, high-multiple stocks can fall faster in thin liquidity.
Today’s Palantir-specific headlines: institutional ownership and “holiday reading” dominate
With the company itself quiet on Christmas Day, the most visible PLTR headlines today are largely ownership/filing-driven and year-end recap analysis.
1) Institutional ownership updates hit the wires
MarketBeat published multiple Palantir ownership pieces dated Dec. 25, 2025, including one noting Private Trust Co. NA increased its position (per a 13F) and reiterating that institutional investors own a significant portion of the stock (MarketBeat cites ~45.65%). [7]
Additional MarketBeat filing recaps (also dated Dec. 25) referenced other holders adjusting positions, reinforcing the “big-money ownership” narrative that tends to support momentum—until it doesn’t (crowded trades can unwind quickly). [8]
2) The valuation debate is back in focus
MarketBeat’s Dec. 25 writeup also frames the core split view: strong recent execution versus a very expensive multiple profile, noting a consensus-style “Hold” stance and an average target price around the low $170s on its dataset. [9]
Separately, a widely circulated Benzinga “holiday” piece (published Dec. 24) emphasized how the stock’s 2025 run has been fueled by repeated beats and raised guidance—but also highlighted lofty valuation metrics and a cluster of price targets above $200 from several firms. [10]
The fundamental backdrop investors are still trading: earnings beat + raised outlook
In the absence of fresh company news today, PLTR’s near-term narrative continues to anchor on the last earnings cycle and guidance:
- Benzinga summarized Palantir’s November report as EPS of $0.21 vs. $0.17 expected and revenue of $1.18B (+62.8% YoY), adding that the company raised guidance and pointed to operating margin expansion. [11]
- IBD’s recent deep dive also cites Q3 EPS $0.21, revenue $1.18B, and notes Palantir projecting Q4 revenue of $1.329B while raising full-year 2025 revenue outlook to $4.398B. [12]
This is why the stock has stayed resilient: bulls argue PLTR is becoming a “core AI infrastructure” name for government and commercial customers; bears argue that much of that future is already priced in.
Analyst targets and forecasts: why “consensus” looks cautious even near highs
A key point going into Friday: PLTR is trading close to its 52-week high area (MarketBeat cites a 12-month high of $207.52), yet many analyst datasets still show targets that sit below the current price. [13]
What current summaries show:
- MarketBeat lists a consensus-style breakdown (in its dataset) with more Holds than Buys, and an average target price around $172.28. [14]
- At the same time, Benzinga notes multiple targets above $200 and cites a Street-high target of $255 in its analyst data roundup. [15]
How to read this before Friday’s open:
- If the stock is above many targets, it can still rise—especially in momentum markets—but it becomes more sensitive to any narrative wobble (contracts, guidance, margins, or macro risk-off).
- Bulls often focus less on targets and more on execution + narrative; bears lean on multiples + expectations risk.
Insider activity: the filing investors should know about before the next session
One of the most concrete, primary-source datapoints investors can review is insider activity via SEC filings.
A recent Form 4 filed with the SEC shows Palantir CFO David A. Glazer reported a set of transactions dated Dec. 12, 2025 (filed Dec. 16, 2025), including:
- Option exercise (9,000 shares)
- Sale of 9,000 shares at $185.91
- Gift of 3,831 shares
The filing notes the transactions were part of a series under a preexisting Rule 10b5-1 trading plan (entered into Sept. 12, 2025). [16]
Why this matters into Dec. 26:
- 10b5-1 selling is often pre-scheduled, but it can still affect sentiment in a stock where the “who’s selling” narrative spreads quickly.
- In thin liquidity, even routine headlines can get oversized reactions.
Key levels and “tape” risks for Friday’s open
From a technical and positioning standpoint, PLTR is sitting in a zone where traders tend to care about round numbers and recent peaks:
- IBD’s technical framing highlights a breakout area and a buy point around 190.39, noting a record high around $207.52 in November 2025. [17]
- MarketBeat lists moving averages (50-day and 200-day) well below current prices, reinforcing that the stock has been in a strong uptrend—but also that it’s extended versus longer-term trend lines. [18]
Practical “before the open” checklist for PLTR traders and long-term holders:
- Watch the open vs. ~$194: a gap above/ below the Dec. 24 area can set tone quickly. [19]
- $200 is psychological: it often acts as a magnet/resistance/support depending on flow.
- Liquidity may be thin: holiday weeks can exaggerate intraday spikes and reversals.
- Options expiration dynamics: Friday is a normal weekly expiration day; gamma positioning can intensify late-day moves even without news.
Macro calendar for Dec. 26: surprisingly light
If you’re looking for “scheduled catalysts” that could move the market at 8:30 a.m. ET, the calendar looks unusually quiet:
- MarketWatch’s economic calendar summary indicates none scheduled for Friday, Dec. 26. (The page itself is restricted in full view, but the calendar snippet is explicit.) [20]
- The New York Fed’s Economic Indicators Calendar does show a New York Fed Staff Nowcast update at 11:45 a.m. ET on Dec. 26—typically not a market-moving release on its own, but worth noting in a data-light session. [21]
That means stock-specific flow and headlines may matter more than macro prints for PLTR on Friday.
What matters most before the market opens tomorrow
If you only track a few things before the Dec. 26 open, make it these:
- Where PLTR is indicated after the holiday (relative to ~$193.9–$194.2)
That’s the most relevant reference zone from the last session. [22] - Any fresh company headline (contracts, partnerships, legal updates)
Even a small headline can move a high-beta stock quickly in light holiday liquidity. MarketBeat lists PLTR’s beta around 1.49. [23] - Institutional positioning narrative
Today’s ownership recaps emphasize large-holder participation—supportive in trends, fragile if the tape turns risk-off. [24] - Valuation sensitivity
Much of the bullish case is already reflected in the price; even bulls acknowledge the stock trades at “high-growth” multiples, as highlighted in recent analysis coverage. [25] - Insider filing context (10b5-1 vs discretionary selling)
The Glazer Form 4 explicitly points to a 10b5-1 plan, which can help investors interpret the signal correctly. [26]
This article is for informational purposes only and is not investment advice. Stocks can move sharply—especially around holidays and in high-volatility names.
References
1. www.nyse.com, 2. www.nyse.com, 3. finance.yahoo.com, 4. www.marketwatch.com, 5. www.investors.com, 6. www.marketwatch.com, 7. www.marketbeat.com, 8. www.marketbeat.com, 9. www.marketbeat.com, 10. www.benzinga.com, 11. www.benzinga.com, 12. www.investors.com, 13. www.marketbeat.com, 14. www.marketbeat.com, 15. www.benzinga.com, 16. www.sec.gov, 17. www.investors.com, 18. www.marketbeat.com, 19. finance.yahoo.com, 20. www.marketwatch.com, 21. www.newyorkfed.org, 22. finance.yahoo.com, 23. www.marketbeat.com, 24. www.marketbeat.com, 25. www.benzinga.com, 26. www.sec.gov
