Palantir Technologies Inc (NYSE: PLTR) stock has been on a tear this year. The stock is up 188% year-to-date. Moreover, the technical chart for the stock appears bullish with a Golden Cross created in mid-November.
However, a recent development could pause the rally in PLTR stock.
Palantir Stock's Technical & Fundamental Strength
The chart above indicates a bullish tone set in for PLTR stock. The 50-day SMA recently crossed above the 100-day SMA, indicating good times ahead.
On the fundamental front as well, Palantir's business shows strength. The company has experienced significant financial growth over the past six years, with an average revenue growth rate of 42.81%, operational profitability, margin expansion, strong balance sheet, positive cash flows and 21.9% free cash flow margin.
Robust growth in government contracts coupled by the optimism surrounding AI, have been fueling Palantir's stock rally.
An Issue That May Pause The Rally
However, last week, U.S. Army officials raised concerns about Palantir's four-year $458 million contract with the Army Data Platform, according to William Blair analysts. Comments made in an Army presentation suggested there may be potential disagreements over data ownership. The contract is due to expire in a few weeks.
The U.S. Army is a significant client for Palantir. The U.S. government alone accounted for over 40% of Palantir's aggregate revenue in Q3 2023. At $229 million, it was up 10% from Q3 2022.
According to some reports, there is a possibility that the U.S. Army is considering a move away from proprietary data solutions. This potential shift towards open-source vendors might indicate a reduced reliance on Palantir's services. Such a change, if it occurs, could potentially impact Palantir's revenue, particularly with an upcoming contract renewal on the horizon.