NEW YORK, Jan 6, 2026, 16:40 ET — After-hours
- Palantir shares rose 3.2% in late trading after Truist initiated coverage with a Buy.
- Investors are weighing fresh bullish calls against a lofty valuation and headline-driven swings.
- Next catalysts include key U.S. jobs data this week and Palantir’s expected early-February results.
Palantir Technologies shares rose 3.2% to $179.71 in after-hours trading on Tuesday after Truist Securities initiated coverage of the data-analytics software company with a “buy” rating and a $223 price target. Truist’s target implies about 28% upside from the prior close, after a run that left the stock up about 118% over the past year. 1
The call lands as investors reset positions in AI-linked stocks at the start of the year, with Wall Street pressing higher on renewed optimism around spending on chips and data centers even as valuations remain elevated ahead of earnings season. “I think we’re going to have a very strong earnings season for Big Tech,” said Jed Ellerbroek, a portfolio manager at Argent Capital. 2
Truist said Palantir is positioned to help governments and companies deploy generative AI — tools that can produce new text, images and code — despite the stock’s rich multiples. The brokerage pointed to accelerating revenue growth and operating margins above 50%, calling Palantir a “best-in-class AI asset” in its initiation report. 3
Truist analyst Arvind Ramnani highlighted Palantir’s free cash flow margin above 40% — cash left after costs and investment — and said the company has delivered positive GAAP earnings per share for 12 straight quarters. He also pointed to $6.4 billion in liquidity, and said the company does not currently pay a dividend or run a share buyback program. 4
Palantir stock had already jumped 3.7% on Monday, ending a five-day losing streak, after traders latched onto headlines around a U.S. raid that resulted in the capture of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro. Barron’s said the move was fueled in part by social media speculation that Palantir’s software may have supported the operation, though the company has not confirmed any role. 5
Maduro pleaded not guilty in Manhattan federal court on Monday to U.S. narcotics and weapons charges and said he had been “kidnapped,” Reuters reported. The next court date was set for March 17, the report said. 6
Competition for enterprise AI projects is also tightening as consultancies buy tools and talent to meet client demand. Accenture said it agreed to acquire UK-based AI firm Faculty and will name Faculty chief executive Marc Warner as its chief technology officer. 7
Still, the valuation leaves little room for stumbles. Palantir trades at more than 70 times forward enterprise value-to-sales — a valuation multiple that compares the firm’s worth with expected revenue — Barron’s reported. 8
Traders will focus next on the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey on Wednesday and Friday’s U.S. employment report for December, which can sway expectations for Federal Reserve policy and risk appetite. Palantir has not confirmed its next earnings date, but Wall Street Horizon lists Feb. 2 as an after-market report for its fourth-quarter update. 9
