Why Is Palantir Stock Surging Monday Premarket?

by | Mar 2, 2026 | General

Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR) stock was jumping in premarket trading on Monday, as the ongoing U.S.-Iran military conflict renewed investor appetite for defense-linked artificial intelligence companies.

The move comes as broader markets slumped. Dow Jones futures fell 1.03%, S&P 500 futures dropped 1.12%, and Nasdaq 100 futures declined 1.35%, following confirmation over the weekend that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in joint U.S.-Israeli strikes.

President Donald Trump signaled the operation, dubbed “Operation Epic Furry,” could continue for “four to five weeks,” if necessary.

Palantir’s Defense Footprint Draws Fresh Attention

With airspace closures spreading across Iran, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Iraq, and oil prices surging 7.71% to around $72.19 per barrel, investors rotated into companies with direct defense and government intelligence exposure.

Palantir, which provides AI-powered data platforms to the U.S. military and intelligence community, sits squarely in that category.

Q4 Earnings Provided Strong Launchpad

In its fourth quarter 2025 results reported Feb. 2, Palantir posted total revenue of $1.41 billion — a 70% year-over-year surge — while U.S. Commercial revenue exploded 137% to $507 million. The company recorded $609 million in profit for the quarter, a 28% sequential increase.

Earnings & Analyst Outlook

Looking further out, the next major catalyst for the stock arrives with the May 4 earnings report.

  • EPS Estimate: 26 cents (Up from 13 cents YoY)
  • Revenue Estimate: $1.54 Billion (Up from 88 cents Billion YoY)
  • Valuation: P/E of 217.8x (Indicates premium valuation relative to peers)

The stock carries a Buy Rating with an average price target of $162.46. Recent analyst moves include:

  • Rosenblatt: Initiated with Buy (Target $150.00) (Feb. 27)
  • UBS: Upgraded to Buy (Maintains Target to $180.00) (Feb. 26)
  • Mizuho: Upgraded to Outperform (Target $195.00) (Feb. 18)

PLTR Price Action: Palantir Technologies shares were up 4.21% at $142.85 during premarket trading on Monday, according to Benzinga Pro data.

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