Interesting Times: A Mind-Bending Conversation with Peter Thiel
Produced by Sophia Alvarez BoydAndrea BetanzosElisa Gutierrez and Katherine Sullivan
Edited by Jordana Hochman
Engineered by Isaac JonesSophia Lanman and Tim Brow
Original music by Isaac JonesSonia HerreroPat McCusker and Aman Sahota
This week, we're bringing you a recent interview from 'Interesting Times with Ross Douthat,' one of The New York Times's newest podcasts. In this episode, Ross sits down with Peter Thiel, the co-founder of PayPal and Palantir and one of the most contrarian thinkers in tech. Together, they unpack Thiel's theory that we're living through an era of technological stagnation, and debate whether President Trump's populism and the development of artificial intelligence will help us unlock new progress.
Guest:
Peter Thiel, co-founder of Paypal and Palantir.
Additional Reading:
Peter Thiel and the Antichrist
'Hard Fork' is hosted by Kevin Roose and Casey Newton and produced by Whitney Jones and Rachel Cohn. The show is edited by Jen Poyant. Engineering by Alyssa Moxley and original music by Dan Powell, Elisheba Ittoop, Marion Lozano, Sophia Lanman and Rowan Niemisto.
Special thanks to Paula Szuchman, Pui-Wing Tam, Dahlia Haddad and Jeffrey Miranda.
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In a note to clients published Tuesday, Gautam Chhugani and the digital assets team at Bernstein said they see bitcoin reaching its cycle peak between $150,000 and $200,000 in the next 6-12 months during what the firm is calling a "long, exhausting bull run" for crypto into 2027. "We believe we are in the middle of a digital assets revolution backed by regulatory reform," the firm wrote. "Now we believe the Trump admin. is in mission-critical mode (incl. SEC/CFTC) to build U.S into the crypto capital of the world, so market peak is not anywhere near. We expect a long Crypto bull market, continuing the surge into 2026 and potentially peak in 2027." Read more here. An Apple robot will need a lot of AI help Yahoo Finance's Dan Howley reports: Read more here. Big Tech is dragging down the market on Tuesday Rotation is at the forefront of the market action on Tuesday. 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Sook added that deregulatory initiatives from the Trump administration have created an opportunity for broadcasters "to expand reach, level the playing field, and compete more effectively with the Big Tech and legacy Big Media companies." The companies expect about $300 million in annual net synergies and project the transaction will be more than 40% accretive to Nexstar's free cash flow in the first 12 months post-closing. Citi analyst Jason Bazinet said the transaction adds about $25 per share of M&A value to Nexstar's outlook. He raised his price target on the stock to $218 from $186 as a result, while maintaining a Neutral rating. Stocks mixed at the open US stocks were mixed on Tuesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) edged up 0.1%, while the S&P 500 (^GSPC) fell about 0.2%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) declined 0.4%, continuing Wall Street stocks' muted start to the week. 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A suite of retail data is set to decode the resilient consumer American shoppers have kept the engine of the nation's GDP humming along. But it's worth pinpointing where all that resilience is coming from, as Yahoo Finance's Hamza Shaban lays out in today's Morning Brief. Read more here. Medtronic appoints 2 new board members after Elliott takes a stake Shares of medical device maker Medtronic (MDT) fell 3% premarket after the company announced it would add two new independent directors to its board. Veteran med-tech executives John Groetelaars and Bill Jellison were appointed, the company said. The change comes as activist investor Elliott Investment Management has become one of its largest shareholders. Additionally, the board formed two new committees, helmed by CEO Geoff Martha. The Growth Committee will evaluate M&A opportunities, R&D investments, and potential divestitures. The Operating Committee will focus on margin expansion and operational efficiency. Home Depot slightly misses Wall Street's mark in Q2 earnings, reiterates guidance Home Depot (HD) released its second-quarter earnings on Tuesday. The retailer's stock fell about 2% premarket before recovering. Yahoo Finance's senior reporter Brooke DiPalma looks at the latest from the home improvement retailer and how the US housing slump has impacted its bottom line. Read more here. Wall Street sees stock market rotation charting 'healthiest path' to new highs The stock market's record rally is showing early signs of broadening beyond Big Tech as investors rotate into lagging sectors, but strategists warn its durability hinges on earnings and Fed policy. Yahoo Finance's Allie Canal reports: Read more here. Premarket trending tickers: Palo Alto, Nu holdings and Intel Here's a look at some of the top stocks trending in premarket trading: Palo Alto Networks (PANW) shares rose 5% in premarket trading on Tuesday after the Santa Clara cybersecurity firm forecast fiscal 2026 revenue and profit above analysts' estimates, citing growing demand for its AI powered cybersecurity solutions. Digital banking group Nu holdings (NU) stock rose 2% before the bell after Morgan Stanley (MS) analyst Jorge Kuri reiterated a Buy rating on the company and set a price target of $18.00. Intel (INTC) stock rose premarket more than 6% after Softbank Group (9984.T) announced a $2 billion capital injection into the US chipmaker that is currently in the middle of a turnaround effort. Good morning. Here's what's happening today. Economic data: Housing starts (July); Building permits (July) Earnings: Home Depot (HD), XPeng (XPEV), Medtronic (MDT), Amer Sports (AS), Toll Brothers (TOL), La-Z-Boy (LZB) Here are some of the biggest stories you may have missed overnight and early this morning: Signs of a healthier path to new records emerge for stocks Nvidia is working on an H20-beating AI chip for China Trump tariffs get S&P seal of approval Why stocks are looking ripe for a regime shift Intel gets a $2 billion lifeline from SoftBank Trump pushes Putin-Zelensky meeting after talks with both Home Depot to report earnings as Wall Street eyes US sales growth Why Google just boosted its stake in a bitcoin miner What to expect from Powell's Jackson Hole speech Yahoo Finance's Jennifer Schonberger reports: Read more here. Yahoo Finance's Jennifer Schonberger reports: Read more here. Palantir sinks 9% as AI rout puts market rotation in focus Palantir (PLTR) stock slid further in afternoon trading on Tuesday, falling more than 9%, as the AI-led tech sell-off dragged the major indexes lower and extended a multiday slide for one of 2025's top S&P 500 performers. With Tuesday's losses, the tech and defense name is now on track for its fifth consecutive day in the red, its longest losing streak since March. The pressure on AI names comes at a moment when the broader market rally is starting to show signs of rotation beyond Big Tech. After months of concentration in a handful of growth giants, sectors like Health Care (XLV) and Homebuilders (XHB), along with small- and mid-cap stocks, have taken on a larger role in driving this summer's move to record highs. Still, given Big Tech's outsized weighting in the index, if the group isn't leading, gains in the S&P 500 are unlikely to be as sharp or one-sided as they've been over the past two years — a dynamic on display in Tuesday's trading. Read more about the rotation trade here. Palantir (PLTR) stock slid further in afternoon trading on Tuesday, falling more than 9%, as the AI-led tech sell-off dragged the major indexes lower and extended a multiday slide for one of 2025's top S&P 500 performers. With Tuesday's losses, the tech and defense name is now on track for its fifth consecutive day in the red, its longest losing streak since March. The pressure on AI names comes at a moment when the broader market rally is starting to show signs of rotation beyond Big Tech. After months of concentration in a handful of growth giants, sectors like Health Care (XLV) and Homebuilders (XHB), along with small- and mid-cap stocks, have taken on a larger role in driving this summer's move to record highs. Still, given Big Tech's outsized weighting in the index, if the group isn't leading, gains in the S&P 500 are unlikely to be as sharp or one-sided as they've been over the past two years — a dynamic on display in Tuesday's trading. Read more about the rotation trade here. Bitcoin could reach $200,000 within 6 months during 'long, exhausting' crypto bull market Yahoo Finance's Ines Ferre reports: Bitcoin (BTC-USD) hit a record high last week, but analysts at Bernstein think the current crypto bull market could see the world's largest cryptocurrency hit an even bigger milestone in the near future: $200,000. In a note to clients published Tuesday, Gautam Chhugani and the digital assets team at Bernstein said they see bitcoin reaching its cycle peak between $150,000 and $200,000 in the next 6-12 months during what the firm is calling a "long, exhausting bull run" for crypto into 2027. "We believe we are in the middle of a digital assets revolution backed by regulatory reform," the firm wrote. "Now we believe the Trump admin. is in mission-critical mode (incl. SEC/CFTC) to build U.S into the crypto capital of the world, so market peak is not anywhere near. We expect a long Crypto bull market, continuing the surge into 2026 and potentially peak in 2027." Read more here. Yahoo Finance's Ines Ferre reports: Bitcoin (BTC-USD) hit a record high last week, but analysts at Bernstein think the current crypto bull market could see the world's largest cryptocurrency hit an even bigger milestone in the near future: $200,000. In a note to clients published Tuesday, Gautam Chhugani and the digital assets team at Bernstein said they see bitcoin reaching its cycle peak between $150,000 and $200,000 in the next 6-12 months during what the firm is calling a "long, exhausting bull run" for crypto into 2027. "We believe we are in the middle of a digital assets revolution backed by regulatory reform," the firm wrote. "Now we believe the Trump admin. is in mission-critical mode (incl. SEC/CFTC) to build U.S into the crypto capital of the world, so market peak is not anywhere near. We expect a long Crypto bull market, continuing the surge into 2026 and potentially peak in 2027." Read more here. An Apple robot will need a lot of AI help Yahoo Finance's Dan Howley reports: Read more here. Yahoo Finance's Dan Howley reports: Read more here. Big Tech is dragging down the market on Tuesday Rotation is at the forefront of the market action on Tuesday. Eight of the 11 sectors in the S&P 500 are in the green, led by Real Estate (XLRE), Consumer Staples (XLP), and Healthcare (XLV). Nearly 400 stocks in the benchmark index are higher on the day too. But the S&P 500 is down about 0.4% as the most loved sector of the bull market — large-cap technology stocks — is lagging on Tuesday. That downside action is being led by a 2% decline in Nvidia (NVDA), an almost 6% decline in Palantir (PLTR), and over 3% losses for both AMD (AMD) and Netflix (NFLX). Rotating out of recent winners and into market laggards has been an emerging trend in August. Market strategists have pointed out that, for the long run, this could be the "healthiest path" higher for the benchmark index. But Tuesday's action is a reminder to index investors that, given its weighting in the index, if Big Tech isn't the group leading the market higher, the gains in the S&P 500 won't be as aggressively up and to the right as they have been for the past two years. Rotation is at the forefront of the market action on Tuesday. Eight of the 11 sectors in the S&P 500 are in the green, led by Real Estate (XLRE), Consumer Staples (XLP), and Healthcare (XLV). Nearly 400 stocks in the benchmark index are higher on the day too. But the S&P 500 is down about 0.4% as the most loved sector of the bull market — large-cap technology stocks — is lagging on Tuesday. That downside action is being led by a 2% decline in Nvidia (NVDA), an almost 6% decline in Palantir (PLTR), and over 3% losses for both AMD (AMD) and Netflix (NFLX). Rotating out of recent winners and into market laggards has been an emerging trend in August. Market strategists have pointed out that, for the long run, this could be the "healthiest path" higher for the benchmark index. But Tuesday's action is a reminder to index investors that, given its weighting in the index, if Big Tech isn't the group leading the market higher, the gains in the S&P 500 won't be as aggressively up and to the right as they have been for the past two years. NorthWestern Energy stock jumps after news of merger with Black Hills NorthWestern Energy shares jumped nearly 6% Tuesday after announcing that it is merging with fellow utility company Black Hills to create a "premier regional regulated electric and natural gas utility company." The two companies will have a combined value of about $15.4 billion and serve over 2 million customers across eight states: Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming. "Together, we will be better positioned to meet rising demand, accelerate investment in energy and grid infrastructure, and support customers and communities through a rapidly evolving energy landscape," said NorthWestern Energy President and CEO, Brian Bird. Black Hills stock rose a more modest 1% on the news. NorthWestern Energy shares jumped nearly 6% Tuesday after announcing that it is merging with fellow utility company Black Hills to create a "premier regional regulated electric and natural gas utility company." The two companies will have a combined value of about $15.4 billion and serve over 2 million customers across eight states: Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming. "Together, we will be better positioned to meet rising demand, accelerate investment in energy and grid infrastructure, and support customers and communities through a rapidly evolving energy landscape," said NorthWestern Energy President and CEO, Brian Bird. Black Hills stock rose a more modest 1% on the news. Crypto's bull run is just beginning. Here are 3 stocks to play. Yahoo Finance's Francisco Velasquez reports: Read the story here. Yahoo Finance's Francisco Velasquez reports: Read the story here. White House cryptocurrency adviser Bo Hines joins Tether Tether, the world's largest stablecoin company, has appointed former White House cryptocurrency adviser Bo Hines, Yahoo Finance's David Hollerith reports. Hollerith writes: Read the full story here. Tether, the world's largest stablecoin company, has appointed former White House cryptocurrency adviser Bo Hines, Yahoo Finance's David Hollerith reports. Hollerith writes: Read the full story here. Opendoor stock climbs as CEO search continues Opendoor Technologies (OPEN) stock rallied 6% at the market open before paring gains on Tuesday morning as the company continues its executive search following CEO Carrie Wheeler's departure, Yahoo Finance's Jake Conley reports. Conley writes: Read the full story here. Opendoor Technologies (OPEN) stock rallied 6% at the market open before paring gains on Tuesday morning as the company continues its executive search following CEO Carrie Wheeler's departure, Yahoo Finance's Jake Conley reports. Conley writes: Read the full story here. Nexstar to acquire Tegna in $6.2 billion deal, creating largest US local TV station group Nexstar Media Group (NXST) is set to expand its dominance in US broadcasting with a $6.2 billion acquisition of Tegna Inc. (TGNA), a deal that will create the nation's largest local TV station group. The transaction, which includes Tegna's net debt and fees, is expected to close in the second half of 2026 pending regulatory approvals. The Wall Street Journal first reported earlier this month that Nexstar was in advanced talks to acquire Tegna. Shares of Nexstar jumped over 6% shortly after the opening bell on Tuesday, while Tegna shares rose around 4% on the news. According to the release, the combination will create a leading local media company with 265 full-power television stations in 44 states and Washington, D.C., covering 132 of the nation's 210 television markets and reaching about 80% of US TV households. The new entity will hold stations in nine of the top 10 designated market areas (DMAs) and 41 of the top 50. Nexstar Chairman and CEO Perry Sook said the merger reflects both companies' commitment to local broadcasting and builds on Nexstar's "record of growth" through acquisitions, which includes its 2019 purchase of Tribune Media and its majority stake in The CW network in 2022. Sook added that deregulatory initiatives from the Trump administration have created an opportunity for broadcasters "to expand reach, level the playing field, and compete more effectively with the Big Tech and legacy Big Media companies." The companies expect about $300 million in annual net synergies and project the transaction will be more than 40% accretive to Nexstar's free cash flow in the first 12 months post-closing. Citi analyst Jason Bazinet said the transaction adds about $25 per share of M&A value to Nexstar's outlook. He raised his price target on the stock to $218 from $186 as a result, while maintaining a Neutral rating. Nexstar Media Group (NXST) is set to expand its dominance in US broadcasting with a $6.2 billion acquisition of Tegna Inc. (TGNA), a deal that will create the nation's largest local TV station group. The transaction, which includes Tegna's net debt and fees, is expected to close in the second half of 2026 pending regulatory approvals. The Wall Street Journal first reported earlier this month that Nexstar was in advanced talks to acquire Tegna. Shares of Nexstar jumped over 6% shortly after the opening bell on Tuesday, while Tegna shares rose around 4% on the news. According to the release, the combination will create a leading local media company with 265 full-power television stations in 44 states and Washington, D.C., covering 132 of the nation's 210 television markets and reaching about 80% of US TV households. The new entity will hold stations in nine of the top 10 designated market areas (DMAs) and 41 of the top 50. Nexstar Chairman and CEO Perry Sook said the merger reflects both companies' commitment to local broadcasting and builds on Nexstar's "record of growth" through acquisitions, which includes its 2019 purchase of Tribune Media and its majority stake in The CW network in 2022. Sook added that deregulatory initiatives from the Trump administration have created an opportunity for broadcasters "to expand reach, level the playing field, and compete more effectively with the Big Tech and legacy Big Media companies." The companies expect about $300 million in annual net synergies and project the transaction will be more than 40% accretive to Nexstar's free cash flow in the first 12 months post-closing. Citi analyst Jason Bazinet said the transaction adds about $25 per share of M&A value to Nexstar's outlook. He raised his price target on the stock to $218 from $186 as a result, while maintaining a Neutral rating. Stocks mixed at the open US stocks were mixed on Tuesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) edged up 0.1%, while the S&P 500 (^GSPC) fell about 0.2%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) declined 0.4%, continuing Wall Street stocks' muted start to the week. Home Depot (HD) led out this week's results from retail giants, with its earnings report on Tuesday showing a return to consistent same-store sales growth in the US amid signs that the housing market could begin to recover. In the tech world, Intel (INTC) shares jumped after SoftBank said it's taking a $2 billion stake, and the Trump administration reportedly weighed taking its own stake worth up to 10% of the troubled chipmaker. Wall Street is looking ahead to Fed Chair Jerome Powell's highly anticipated speech in Jackson Hole on Friday, signaling the central bank's latest views on interest rates. US stocks were mixed on Tuesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) edged up 0.1%, while the S&P 500 (^GSPC) fell about 0.2%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC) declined 0.4%, continuing Wall Street stocks' muted start to the week. Home Depot (HD) led out this week's results from retail giants, with its earnings report on Tuesday showing a return to consistent same-store sales growth in the US amid signs that the housing market could begin to recover. In the tech world, Intel (INTC) shares jumped after SoftBank said it's taking a $2 billion stake, and the Trump administration reportedly weighed taking its own stake worth up to 10% of the troubled chipmaker. Wall Street is looking ahead to Fed Chair Jerome Powell's highly anticipated speech in Jackson Hole on Friday, signaling the central bank's latest views on interest rates. Intel stock jumps 5% as SoftBank takes $2 billion stake in ailing chip company Yahoo Finance's Daniel Howley reports: Read more here. Yahoo Finance's Daniel Howley reports: Read more here. Viking Therapeutics stock plunges on high dropout rate in weight-loss pill trial Viking Therapeutics (VKTX) stock tumbled 35% in premarket trading after a phase 2 trial of its weight-loss pill showed a high patient dropout rate. The GLP-1 obesity treatment showed some promising results: Patients lost 12.2% of body weight after 13 weeks. However, 28% of patients dropped out of the trial before it was completed. Viking's oral obesity drug, VK2735, aims to compete with Eli Lilly's drug, orforglipron, which saw a 12% weight-loss rate after 72 weeks. Eli Lilly shares rose 1.5% in premarket trading. "Data look inferior to LLY on almost all metrics and the thing to consider here is that patients discontinued at such a high rate over 13-weeks vs. LLY in the mid 20% range — but over 72-weeks," Mizuho analyst Jared Holz wrote in a note. "A much longer trial, and [therefore] LLY looks far better head-to-head." Read more here. Viking Therapeutics (VKTX) stock tumbled 35% in premarket trading after a phase 2 trial of its weight-loss pill showed a high patient dropout rate. The GLP-1 obesity treatment showed some promising results: Patients lost 12.2% of body weight after 13 weeks. However, 28% of patients dropped out of the trial before it was completed. Viking's oral obesity drug, VK2735, aims to compete with Eli Lilly's drug, orforglipron, which saw a 12% weight-loss rate after 72 weeks. Eli Lilly shares rose 1.5% in premarket trading. "Data look inferior to LLY on almost all metrics and the thing to consider here is that patients discontinued at such a high rate over 13-weeks vs. LLY in the mid 20% range — but over 72-weeks," Mizuho analyst Jared Holz wrote in a note. "A much longer trial, and [therefore] LLY looks far better head-to-head." Read more here. S&P affirms US credit rating US stock futures were muted after the S&P reiterated its credit rating for the US. The 10-year Treasury yield (^TNX) and 30-year yield (^TYX) fell by about 2 basis points to 4.32% and 4.92%, respectively. Bloomberg reports: Read more here. US stock futures were muted after the S&P reiterated its credit rating for the US. The 10-year Treasury yield (^TNX) and 30-year yield (^TYX) fell by about 2 basis points to 4.32% and 4.92%, respectively. Bloomberg reports: Read more here. A suite of retail data is set to decode the resilient consumer American shoppers have kept the engine of the nation's GDP humming along. But it's worth pinpointing where all that resilience is coming from, as Yahoo Finance's Hamza Shaban lays out in today's Morning Brief. Read more here. American shoppers have kept the engine of the nation's GDP humming along. But it's worth pinpointing where all that resilience is coming from, as Yahoo Finance's Hamza Shaban lays out in today's Morning Brief. Read more here. Medtronic appoints 2 new board members after Elliott takes a stake Shares of medical device maker Medtronic (MDT) fell 3% premarket after the company announced it would add two new independent directors to its board. Veteran med-tech executives John Groetelaars and Bill Jellison were appointed, the company said. The change comes as activist investor Elliott Investment Management has become one of its largest shareholders. Additionally, the board formed two new committees, helmed by CEO Geoff Martha. The Growth Committee will evaluate M&A opportunities, R&D investments, and potential divestitures. The Operating Committee will focus on margin expansion and operational efficiency. Shares of medical device maker Medtronic (MDT) fell 3% premarket after the company announced it would add two new independent directors to its board. Veteran med-tech executives John Groetelaars and Bill Jellison were appointed, the company said. The change comes as activist investor Elliott Investment Management has become one of its largest shareholders. Additionally, the board formed two new committees, helmed by CEO Geoff Martha. The Growth Committee will evaluate M&A opportunities, R&D investments, and potential divestitures. The Operating Committee will focus on margin expansion and operational efficiency. Home Depot slightly misses Wall Street's mark in Q2 earnings, reiterates guidance Home Depot (HD) released its second-quarter earnings on Tuesday. The retailer's stock fell about 2% premarket before recovering. Yahoo Finance's senior reporter Brooke DiPalma looks at the latest from the home improvement retailer and how the US housing slump has impacted its bottom line. Read more here. Home Depot (HD) released its second-quarter earnings on Tuesday. The retailer's stock fell about 2% premarket before recovering. Yahoo Finance's senior reporter Brooke DiPalma looks at the latest from the home improvement retailer and how the US housing slump has impacted its bottom line. Read more here. Wall Street sees stock market rotation charting 'healthiest path' to new highs The stock market's record rally is showing early signs of broadening beyond Big Tech as investors rotate into lagging sectors, but strategists warn its durability hinges on earnings and Fed policy. Yahoo Finance's Allie Canal reports: Read more here. The stock market's record rally is showing early signs of broadening beyond Big Tech as investors rotate into lagging sectors, but strategists warn its durability hinges on earnings and Fed policy. Yahoo Finance's Allie Canal reports: Read more here. Premarket trending tickers: Palo Alto, Nu holdings and Intel Here's a look at some of the top stocks trending in premarket trading: Palo Alto Networks (PANW) shares rose 5% in premarket trading on Tuesday after the Santa Clara cybersecurity firm forecast fiscal 2026 revenue and profit above analysts' estimates, citing growing demand for its AI powered cybersecurity solutions. Digital banking group Nu holdings (NU) stock rose 2% before the bell after Morgan Stanley (MS) analyst Jorge Kuri reiterated a Buy rating on the company and set a price target of $18.00. Intel (INTC) stock rose premarket more than 6% after Softbank Group (9984.T) announced a $2 billion capital injection into the US chipmaker that is currently in the middle of a turnaround effort. Here's a look at some of the top stocks trending in premarket trading: Palo Alto Networks (PANW) shares rose 5% in premarket trading on Tuesday after the Santa Clara cybersecurity firm forecast fiscal 2026 revenue and profit above analysts' estimates, citing growing demand for its AI powered cybersecurity solutions. Digital banking group Nu holdings (NU) stock rose 2% before the bell after Morgan Stanley (MS) analyst Jorge Kuri reiterated a Buy rating on the company and set a price target of $18.00. Intel (INTC) stock rose premarket more than 6% after Softbank Group (9984.T) announced a $2 billion capital injection into the US chipmaker that is currently in the middle of a turnaround effort. Good morning. Here's what's happening today. Economic data: Housing starts (July); Building permits (July) Earnings: Home Depot (HD), XPeng (XPEV), Medtronic (MDT), Amer Sports (AS), Toll Brothers (TOL), La-Z-Boy (LZB) Here are some of the biggest stories you may have missed overnight and early this morning: Signs of a healthier path to new records emerge for stocks Nvidia is working on an H20-beating AI chip for China Trump tariffs get S&P seal of approval Why stocks are looking ripe for a regime shift Intel gets a $2 billion lifeline from SoftBank Trump pushes Putin-Zelensky meeting after talks with both Home Depot to report earnings as Wall Street eyes US sales growth Why Google just boosted its stake in a bitcoin miner Economic data: Housing starts (July); Building permits (July) Earnings: Home Depot (HD), XPeng (XPEV), Medtronic (MDT), Amer Sports (AS), Toll Brothers (TOL), La-Z-Boy (LZB) Here are some of the biggest stories you may have missed overnight and early this morning: Signs of a healthier path to new records emerge for stocks Nvidia is working on an H20-beating AI chip for China Trump tariffs get S&P seal of approval Why stocks are looking ripe for a regime shift Intel gets a $2 billion lifeline from SoftBank Trump pushes Putin-Zelensky meeting after talks with both Home Depot to report earnings as Wall Street eyes US sales growth Why Google just boosted its stake in a bitcoin miner Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
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Palantir Stock is ‘Anomalously Bullish' Says CEO Alex Karp, Because Ongoing AI ‘Revolution' Is Resulting In ‘a Perfect Time for Palantir'
Palantir Technologies (PLTR) crossed a historic milestone in the second quarter of 2025, reporting its first-ever billion-dollar quarter. Revenue surged nearly 48% year-over-year to approximately $1.004 billion, easily beating Wall Street's expectations of roughly $937–940 million. Adjusted earnings per share came in at $0.16, topping consensus forecasts of $0.14, while adjusted operating margins climbed to an impressive 46%. Free cash flow soared to $569 million, representing a margin of 57%, and the company posted GAAP net income of about $327 million, or a 33% net margin. Palantir's Rule of 40 score — a key measure of growth and profitability — hit a remarkable 94%, underlining its rare balance of aggressive expansion and strong operational efficiency. The company's balance sheet remains robust, with a cash and short-term investment reserve of approximately $6 billion. More News from Barchart Lyft Generates Huge FCF Margins - LYFT Stock Is Too Cheap Powell, Trump Talks and Other Can't Miss Items this Week 'My Kid Will Never Ever Be Smarter Than an AI': OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Most Kids Won't Know a World Without AI Get exclusive insights with the FREE Barchart Brief newsletter. Subscribe now for quick, incisive midday market analysis you won't find anywhere else. A closer look at the numbers reveals that Palantir's U.S. business is powering much of the momentum. Domestic revenue surged 68% to $733 million, with U.S. commercial revenue skyrocketing 93% to $306 million and U.S. government revenue climbing 53% to $426 million. Internationally, Palantir continues to serve a growing base of major commercial clients in Europe and high-value government partners outside the United States, though CEO Alex Karp made clear that the company's most transformative work is occurring in its home market. Total Contract Value (TCV) rose 140% year-over-year to $2.3 billion, driven in part by a 222% jump in U.S. commercial TCV to $843 million. Off the back of these results, Palantir raised its full-year guidance to $4.14-4.15 billion, with U.S. commercial revenues now expected to surpass $1.3 billion — an increase of over 85% from the prior year. On the company's earnings call, Karp delivered one of his most emphatic visions to date, framing Palantir's success not just as a business story, but as part of a broader national transformation. He pointed to key offerings such as Ontology, Foundry, and Maven as being 'on the front line' of what he called 'a perfect time for Palantir' and 'a revolution in The United States of America.' While acknowledging the importance of Palantir's international partnerships, Karp cast the company's mission as fundamentally American, fueled by advances in AI, semiconductors, and large language models. He described Palantir as 'anomalously bullish' on every facet of U.S. life, with a particular focus on the country's blue-collar workforce. To a striking extent, Karp's remarks centered on AI as an 'agency-enhancing revolution.' He emphasized that Palantir's software is enabling workers without college degrees — often those in manual or industrial roles — to create as much, and in some cases more, value than formally educated professionals. To that end, Palantir plans to partner with labor leaders to develop new ways for workers to earn AI-enhanced incomes, effectively arming the working class with cutting-edge digital tools. This vision of democratizing access to AI capabilities, he suggested, is reflected in Palantir's financial performance: its strong unit economics flow downstream to its clients, who then seek to integrate those efficiencies into their own operations. Market reaction to the blowout results was swift. Palantir shares jumped 7.8% in post-earnings trading, pushing the stock's year-to-date gain above 130% and cementing it as the best-performing stock in the S&P 500 Index ($SPX) this year. Analysts lauded the combination of rapid revenue growth, widening margins, and expanding commercial adoption. Still, some caution remains on Wall Street, with Palantir's lofty valuation — pegged at over 400 times forward earnings — raising questions about the sustainability of such torrid growth. For now, however, Palantir is firing on all cylinders. The company stands at the crossroads of advanced AI deployment, surging demand from both government and private sectors, and a narrative that blends corporate success with national renewal. In Karp's words, the U.S. is not just Palantir's largest market — it is the arena for an AI-driven industrial renaissance, one in which the benefits of technology extend beyond boardrooms and into the hands of America's working class. On the date of publication, Caleb Naysmith did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
