Palantir surged 8% on Thursday, boosting its market cap to $281 billion and breaking into the top 10 U.S. tech companies, according to CNBC. The data analytics firm has outperformed peers amid tariff concerns and economic uncertainty, with shares up 58% this year and over five times in the past year. Its rally follows strength in government contracts, including a $178 million AI deal with the U.S. Army. Analysts warn of its steep valuation, trading at 520 times trailing earnings and nearly 90 times revenue. Jefferies' Brent Thill called the valuation “irrational” despite strong fundamentals. CEO Alex Karp told CNBC that the company is confident in its path and partnerships, and indifferent to whether skeptical investors choose to join.
