Key Takeaways
- Co-founder Peter Thiel has filed paperwork to offload 2 million shares of Palantir ($PLTR) Class A stock valued at approximately $280M at $140 per share via Merrill Lynch.
- The stock has advanced for four consecutive trading days — marking its strongest stretch since December — fueled by defense sector momentum following U.S.-Israel military action against Iran.
- The company maintains significant Pentagon relationships, including a $10B contract with the U.S. Army and a $448M agreement with the Navy.
- Rosenblatt launched coverage with a Buy recommendation and $150 price objective; UBS raised its stance to Buy with a $180 forecast, highlighting robust AI adoption trends.
- Short seller Michael Burry, who maintains a bearish bet against PLTR, suggested the Anthropic AI situation demonstrates “stickiness is Claude’s tech, not Palantir’s.”
Palantir Technologies (PLTR) co-founder Peter Thiel has submitted regulatory documents outlining plans to dispose of up to 2 million Class A shares, representing approximately $280 million in value based on a $140 share price. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith will handle the transaction, according to Securities and Exchange Commission filings submitted March 2.
Palantir Technologies Inc., PLTR
Thiel’s previous stock sale occurred in October 2024. Since establishing the company in 2003, he has served as chairman and continues to rank among its most significant individual equity holders.
The filing arrives during an opportune market moment. PLTR shares have advanced through four straight trading sessions — representing the longest positive run in approximately three months.
The upward movement gained traction after joint U.S.-Israeli military operations targeting Iran triggered a broad defense sector rally on speculation the confrontation could persist for an extended period. Palantir ranked among Monday’s strongest performers within the S&P 500 index.
The company maintains substantial Pentagon connections. Its portfolio includes a $10 billion U.S. Army agreement and a $448 million Navy contract, positioning it to benefit directly when investor sentiment toward defense expenditures shifts positively.
Analyst Community Grows More Optimistic
The previous week delivered two notable rating improvements. Rosenblatt launched coverage with a Buy designation and $150 price objective, characterizing Palantir as a “market-disrupting, uniquely positioned AI software leader.”
Rosenblatt additionally highlighted the recent price decline — with PLTR retreating roughly 33% from its October peak — as creating an appealing purchase opportunity.
UBS adopted an even more aggressive stance, elevating its rating to Buy from Neutral while establishing a $180 price target. The investment bank described it as a “premier growth story” strategically positioned at the convergence of artificial intelligence and data infrastructure spending, referencing solid demand signals from recent industry conversations.
PLTR currently commands a valuation of approximately 110 times forward earnings estimates and exceeds 46 times projected revenue. Since making its NYSE debut in September 2020, the shares have soared more than 1,400%.
Burry Maintains Bearish Position
Not all market participants share the enthusiasm. Michael Burry, who revealed a short position in Palantir last year, delivered additional critique this week.
He commented on the federal government’s choice to allow a six-month transition period 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 the core AI engine holds greater importance to defense operations than the surrounding software infrastructure.
Burry has previously questioned Palantir’s financial reporting practices, noting that accounts receivable have expanded at a faster pace than revenue growth in recent reporting periods. He also highlighted 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.
