New York, May 29, 2026, 07:04 (EDT)
- BigBear.ai traded at $4.94 before the NYSE open, up 57 cents from its last close.
- No new press release from the company in the last 24 hours. The most recent update was about a Panama supply-chain security deployment on May 20.
- BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc. posted another loss in the first quarter, filings show. Revenue was little changed while net loss came in at $56.8 million.
BigBear.ai Holdings was in focus ahead of the open Friday, with the defense artificial intelligence stock quoted at $4.94—up 57 cents from its previous close—based on the latest U.S. market data. The regular New York Stock Exchange session starts at 9:30 a.m. Eastern time.
BigBear.ai is in a tough, often unpredictable part of the market. The stock trades among a pack of small and mid-cap names pitching artificial intelligence and automation software to both government and companies. Traders are quick to buy when it looks like AI spending is steady. They also sell off as soon as they see weaker sales or contract delays.
BigBear.ai’s investor-relations site did not list any press releases since May 20. That’s when the company announced a commercial deal with Panama Transshipment Group for an AI-based cargo security management platform built by BigBear.ai and Narval. The company says the platform uses biometrics and analytics to track cargo, drivers, and vehicles.
The stock’s latest move was mainly about momentum and positioning, with no major new updates from the company. Broader risk appetite in the market provided a lift: Reuters said Thursday that the S&P 500 and Nasdaq both finished at record highs, with tech leading the market as investors shrugged off worries about geopolitics and inflation. Jitania Kandhari, deputy CIO for solutions and multi-assets at Morgan Stanley Investment Management, told Reuters that ongoing instability “could ultimately accelerate spending in areas tied to AI.” Reuters
Peer reads stayed firm premarket. Palantir moved up to $143.34, with C3.ai at $10.22 and SoundHound AI trading $8.56. The iShares Russell 2000 ETF ticked higher, last at $292.03.
BigBear.ai is leaning on contract wins and better margins, not profit, for its current story. The company put out first-quarter numbers on May 5, showing $34.4 million in revenue, a gross margin at 34.0%, and $281.9 million in backlog. Full-year 2026 revenue is guided between $135 million and $165 million. CEO Kevin McAleenan said contract wins for the period help keep the company on pace for its 2026 goal. CFO Sean Ricker called out “strong gross margin expansion.” BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc.
BigBear.ai’s 10-Q painted a weaker revenue picture, ticking down from $34.8 million last year. Net loss narrowed to $56.8 million from $62.0 million in the same quarter a year ago. The company pointed to softer Army program revenue, partly balanced by adding Ask Sage, the AI platform it acquired.
Ricker sold 10,000 shares at $4.33 on May 22, according to a Form 4 filed with the SEC this week, leaving him with 609,256 shares after the sale. The insider sale was done through the open market, not in a private transaction.
The risk is still front and center. BigBear.ai keeps losing money, and according to its filings, the company’s backlog might not turn into revenue on schedule—or ever—if customers, including the U.S. government, pull out using “termination for convenience” contract clauses. Those let buyers walk away without claiming BigBear.ai is at fault. That’s what traders face if contract delays, shifting budgets, or another AI mood-swing hit the stock. BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc.
Friday’s session starts with a basic check: can the stock stay above $4.94 when the opening bell rings? After the open, focus goes to evidence — fresh awards, Ask Sage revenue, and if broader gross margins can translate to a more straightforward profit story.
