Palantir Technologies shares are trading sharply lower for a second straight day, after the company early Monday provided disappointing guidance for both the September quarter and the rest of the calendar year, triggering a round of bearish commentary from the Street.
Palantir shares (ticker: PLTR) closed 5.8% lower, at $9.25, on Tuesday, following a 14% slide on Monday. The S&P 500 was down 0.4%.
Palantir, which provides data analytics tools to both government and commercial clients, posted solid results for the June quarter, with revenue of $473 million, slightly ahead of both the company's own target at $470 million and the Street consensus at $466 million. Adjusting for losses in the company's investment portfolio of special-purpose-acquisition-company-related holdings, profits were about in line with expectations.
But guidance was soft. For the third quarter, Palantir foresees revenue of $474 million to $475 million, with operating income of $54 million to $55 million, falling shy of the previous Wall Street consensus of $500 million in revenue and $145 million in non-GAAP operating income.
Palantir projects full-year revenue of $1.9 billion to $1.902 billion, with adjusted operating income of $341 million to $343 million. The old analysts' consensus had called for $1.96 billion in revenue and non-GAAP operating income of $531 million. Chief Financial Officer David Glazer told Barron's in an interview that the company is "chasing very large deals" from government customers, and that the timing on those projects "is more uncertain than we might like."
Deutsche Bank analyst Brad Zelnick responded to the report by cutting his rating on the stock to Sell from Hold, with a new price target of $8, down from $11. He writes in a research note that while he has always been skeptical about the company's commercial business, he previously viewed Palantir as having a "uniquely strong position" in the public sector. But now he has doubts, noting that the company's comments about government contracts contrast with "anecdotal strength" seen at other large government contractors.
Citigroup analyst Tyler Radke repeated his Sell rating, cutting his target price to $6 from $7. He and other analysts noted that the company didn't repeat its previous forecast for 30% annualized growth through 2025. "Results demonstrate the diminishing tailwinds from Covid-related contracts and SPAC investments, combined with the reliance on large lumpy government deals with uncertain deal timing," Radke writes, noting that he struggles to find a reason for optimism, with slowing growth internationally and uncertainty around government contracts. He sees more downside in the stock.
Morgan Stanley analyst Keith Weiss maintains his Equal Weight rating on the shares, but cuts his target price to $11 from $13. "While the pause in government bookings appears temporary, it is notable that management decided not to reiterate its 30% long-term growth target," he writes. "This suggests that management believes the sales environment could prove challenging not just for the next few quarters but potentially beyond."