According to CNBC, Palantir’s stock fell 7% on Tuesday as Wall Street analysts raised concerns about the company’s elevated valuation and “Big Short” investor Michael Burry revealed a short position. CEO Alex Karp went on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” and ripped into short sellers, calling their moves “market manipulation” and describing the positions as “super triggering.” This came despite Palantir delivering a top-and-bottom-line beat with revenues topping $1 billion for a second straight quarter. The company also lifted its full-year guidance, but Goldman Sachs analyst Gabriela Borges noted the “muted stock reaction” comes amid “high expectations” and the stock’s 175% year-to-date outperformance.
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<h2 id="karp-vs-wall-street”>The CEO vs The Street
Here’s the thing about Alex Karp – he’s never been one to play nice with Wall Street. His “market manipulation” comments aren’t just typical CEO frustration. They’re part of a broader pattern of Palantir leadership positioning themselves as outsiders fighting against financial establishment skepticism. But here’s the rub: when your stock is up 175% year-to-date and trading at sky-high valuations, you’re going to attract short sellers. It’s basically capitalism 101.
Karp called Palantir “one of the great businesses of the world” while the market was busy voting with its dollars in the opposite direction. The disconnect is fascinating. You have a company beating expectations, raising guidance, and still getting punished. So what gives? Well, when expectations get this elevated, even good news can disappoint.
The Valuation Reality Check
Look, Palantir is executing well operationally. Two straight quarters over $1 billion in revenue is impressive for a company that struggled with profitability for years. But Goldman’s note hits the nail on the head – last quarter they beat revenue by 7%, and this quarter’s beat was more modest. When you’re priced for perfection, anything less than spectacular can trigger a sell-off.
And let’s talk about Michael Burry for a second. The “Big Short” investor doesn’t take positions lightly. His reveal of a short position likely gave other nervous investors permission to take some profits. It’s one thing when random analysts question your valuation – it’s another when the guy who famously predicted the 2008 housing crash shows up on your shareholder registry with a bearish bet.
The real question is whether this is a temporary setback or the start of a broader reassessment of AI stock valuations. Palantir has ridden the AI wave beautifully, but now they have to prove they can grow into that massive valuation. Beating expectations isn’t enough anymore – they need to crush them.
