NEW YORK, Jan 23, 2026, 5:33 PM ET — Trading after the close.
- Shortly after the close, Palantir shares climbed 2.3% to $169.60.
- A retail-focused ETF that debuted this week includes Palantir in its starting lineup, which could keep the stock in the spotlight.
- Ukraine announced plans to launch a “Dataroom” project with Palantir aimed at training military AI with combat data.
Palantir Technologies (PLTR.O) shares climbed 2.3% to $169.60 in after-hours trading Friday, after trading between $165.31 and $171.97 during the regular session. Roughly 30.1 million shares exchanged hands.
The software company is set to report its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results on Feb. 2, after U.S. markets close, followed by a webcast at 5:00 p.m. ET. Investors will focus on any updated guidance and fresh insights into demand for its Artificial Intelligence Platform, or AIP. 1
Retail flows play a role here as well. On Thursday, Defiance ETFs and Futurum Equities rolled out the Defiance Retail Kings ETF (RKNG.O), an actively managed fund targeting 30 to 50 stocks. It’s designed for self-directed traders hunting “high-growth, high-momentum” names, with Palantir included in the initial lineup. “These are companies we think will be around for the next decade or two decades,” said Sylvia Jablonski, Defiance’s chief investment officer. 2
Palantir made headlines again this week with a war-related announcement. Ukraine’s new defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, revealed the launch of a project with Palantir named “Dataroom.” The initiative aims to use AI trained on combat data—collected over years, including drone footage—to help intercept Russian drones. 3
The broader market remained uneven. The Dow slipped 0.58% on Friday, while the Nasdaq eked out a 0.28% gain. Investors grappled with Intel’s sharp 17% plunge following its forecast, turning their focus to a packed schedule of tech earnings. Julian McManus, portfolio manager at Janus Henderson, described the upcoming results as a “show-me” moment for AI-related stocks, many priced for rapid growth. 4
Next week brings fresh pressure as the Federal Reserve holds its policy meeting on Jan. 27-28. Expectations around rates tend to hit high-multiple software stocks hard, particularly those active during earnings season. 5
Palantir provides data-analysis software to both governments and corporations, promoting AIP as a solution for clients to deploy AI tools on their own datasets. The stock remains a favorite among retail investors, often intensifying price swings on either side.
Traders will zero in on guidance, deal timing, and any hints about whether customers are ramping up deployments or dialing back spending on Feb. 2. Comments on government and defence contracts often sway sentiment just as much as short-term margin forecasts.
The downside is straightforward. Should Palantir’s forecast disappoint or the Fed take a harsher stance on rates, investors could quickly pull back from growth software. Stocks that are heavily crowded often face sharper declines in such scenarios.
Heading into the weekend, investors have two key dates marked: the Fed’s decision on Wednesday and Palantir’s earnings report after the close on Feb. 2.
