Palantir Soars 2.57% as AI Hype and Earnings Fuel Market Optimism

Summary
• PLTR surges to $177.72, up 2.57% intraday, hitting 52-week high of $180.58
• Wedbush upgrades PLTR to $200 PT, citing AI-driven revenue acceleration
• Q2 revenue jumps 48% to $1B, U.S. commercial segment grows 93% year-over

Palantir Technologies (PLTR) is riding a wave of bullish momentum as AI adoption and analyst upgrades converge. With a 2.57% intraday gain and a 48% revenue surge in Q2, the stock has broken through key resistance levels. Wedbush’s $200 price target and CEO Alex Karp’s bullish commentary on AI leverage are amplifying investor enthusiasm. The stock’s 52-week high of $180.58 now looms as a critical psychological threshold.

AI Revenue Surge and Analyst Upgrades Drive PLTR's Rally
Palantir’s 2.57% intraday gain is fueled by a trifecta of catalysts: record Q2 revenue of $1 billion (up 48% YoY), Wedbush’s $200 price target upgrade, and CEO Alex Karp’s assertion that AI is ‘the astonishing impact’ behind the results. The U.S. commercial segment, which includes the AI Platform (AIP), grew 93% YoY to $306 million, with customer count rising 64%. Analyst Dan Ives highlighted AIP’s hypergrowth as a key driver, while Wedbush’s 200% RPO increase signaled long-term contract strength. These factors, combined with the stock’s 7.64% post-earnings surge, have ignited short-term optimism.

Application Software Sector Mixed as Microsoft Slides
The Application Software sector remains fragmented, with Microsoft (MSFT) down 0.40% despite PLTR’s rally. While PLTR’s AI-driven growth story gains traction, Microsoft’s recent earnings and guidance have underperformed, reflecting broader sector volatility. PLTR’s 2.57% gain contrasts with the sector’s uneven performance, underscoring its unique position in the AI hype cycle. However, Microsoft’s dominance in cloud infrastructure and enterprise software ensures it remains a critical benchmark for PLTR’s long-term viability.

Bullish Setup: ETFs and Options for PLTR’s AI Momentum
• RSI: 74.30 (overbought)
• MACD: 6.59 (bullish divergence)
• Bollinger Bands: Price at 177.72, above upper band of 167.99
• 30D MA: 148.19 (price at 177.72, strong breakout)

PLTR’s technicals suggest a continuation of its AI-driven rally. The RSI at 74.30 indicates overbought conditions, but the MACD’s 6.59 and bullish histogram suggest momentum remains intact. The stock is trading above its 30D MA of 148.19, with Bollinger Bands showing a sharp breakout. For leveraged exposure, the Direxion Daily PLTR Bull 2X Shares (PLTU) offers 5.08% gains, amplifying the stock’s 2.57% move.

Top Options:
• PLTR20250815C180
- Type: Call
- Strike: $180
- Expiry: 2025-08-15
- IV: 46.24% (moderate)
- Leverage: 40.35%
- Delta: 0.4496 (moderate sensitivity)
- Theta: -0.5871 (high time decay)
- Gamma: 0.0291 (high sensitivity to price moves)
- Turnover: $7.58M
- Payoff at 5% upside (186.61): $6.61/share
- This call offers high leverage and gamma, ideal for a continuation of PLTR’s rally. The moderate IV and high turnover ensure liquidity.

• PLTR20250815C182.5
- Type: Call
- Strike: $182.5
- Expiry: 2025-08-15
- IV: 48.30% (moderate)
- Leverage: 48.37%
- Delta: 0.3857 (moderate sensitivity)
- Theta: -0.5449 (high time decay)
- Gamma: 0.0269 (high sensitivity to price moves)
- Turnover: $5.23M
- Payoff at 5% upside (186.61): $4.11/share
- This contract balances leverage and liquidity, with a slightly higher strike price to capture a potential 52-week high test.

Action: Aggressive bulls should target PLTR20250815C180 for a 5% upside scenario, while PLTR20250815C182.5 offers a safer entry with moderate risk. Both contracts benefit from PLTR’s current momentum and high gamma.

Backtest Palantir Stock Performance
The backtest of Palantir (PLTR) performance after an intraday surge of at least 3% shows favorable short-to-medium-term gains, highlighting the stock's potential for positive movement following strong price days. The 3-Day win rate is 63.95%, the 10-Day win rate is 70.93%, and the 30-Day win rate is 89.53%, indicating a higher probability of positive returns over these periods. The maximum return during the backtest was 35.69% over 30 days, suggesting that significant gains can be achieved by holding PLTR after a strong intraday performance.

PLTR’s AI Narrative Gains Legs—Act Before Volatility Wanes
Palantir’s AI-driven growth story is gaining critical mass, with Wedbush’s $200 PT and Q2 results validating its market potential. The stock’s 2.57% gain and 52-week high test suggest a continuation of this trend, but overbought RSI and high IV in options contracts signal caution. Investors should monitor the 180.58 level for a breakout confirmation and consider the Direxion Daily PLTR Bull 2X Shares (PLTU) for leveraged exposure. Meanwhile, Microsoft’s -0.40% decline highlights sector volatility, making PLTR’s AI narrative a compelling differentiator. Act now: PLTR20250815C180 offers a high-gamma play on a potential $180.58 breakout, but watch for a pullback to 170 as a key support level.