Key Highlights
- Palantir shares climbed 2.3% in pre-market trading to $131.05 on Monday, April 13.
- Trump endorsed the company via Truth Social, highlighting its military and defense capabilities.
- ARK Invest acquired 85,485 shares of PLTR valued at approximately $10.95–$11.15 million across five ETFs.
- ARKK led ARK’s buying activity with 46,455 shares, while ARKQ, ARKW, ARKF, and ARKX also increased their holdings.
- Year-to-date, PLTR remains down 28% in 2026 and currently trades at 99x projected 2026 earnings.
Palantir shares received a Monday morning boost from a powerful combination: presidential support and significant institutional buying from Cathie Wood’s investment firm.
Pre-market trading saw the stock advance 2.3% to $131.05 before the regular session began. This upward movement occurred despite broader market weakness — S&P 500 futures declined 0.6% as concerns mounted over Trump’s directive for a U.S. Navy blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.
Palantir Technologies Inc., PLTR
Trump took to Truth Social on Friday with a strong endorsement: “Palantir Technologies (PLTR) has proven to have great war fighting capabilities and equipment. Just ask our enemies!!!” This statement helped the stock recover some ground during a trading day already challenged by market anxiety surrounding Anthropic’s newest AI model release.
This isn’t the inaugural instance of a Trump statement influencing the stock’s performance, and market watchers expect similar occurrences going forward.
Cathie Wood’s ARK Makes Substantial PLTR Purchase
The April 11 daily trading disclosure from ARK Invest revealed the firm acquired 85,485 Palantir shares distributed across five exchange-traded funds. Based on pricing variables, the transaction totaled between $10.95 and $11.15 million.
ARKK represented the largest portion of this purchase with 46,455 shares. The remaining distribution included 15,127 shares for ARKQ, 11,865 for ARKW, 5,973 for ARKF, and 6,065 for ARKX.
Wood has maintained a bullish stance on Palantir for an extended period. Given the stock’s significant decline from peak levels, this appears to be a strategic move by ARK to expand an existing high-conviction holding.
Meanwhile, ARK divested 44,446 AMD shares valued at approximately $10.52 million across the same fund lineup. Additionally, the firm sold 75,389 Strata Critical Medical (SRTA) shares for about $305,000, extending its pattern of reducing that position.
Valuation Concerns Persist
Despite favorable news flow, Palantir continues facing significant challenges throughout 2026. The stock has tumbled 28% since the year began, representing a dramatic reversal from the peaks achieved in late 2025.
The central issue confronting shareholders remains valuation metrics. Trading at 99 times anticipated 2026 earnings, the market is embedding substantial growth expectations into the current price. Critics question whether Palantir can accelerate growth sufficiently — particularly as artificial intelligence transforms the software sector where it competes.
This dynamic between robust government and defense sector demand and elevated valuation multiples has characterized the stock’s narrative throughout the current year.
Monday’s pre-market activity positioned PLTR near $131.05. ARK’s transaction occurred at Friday’s closing price, when shares changed hands around $128.
