Key Highlights
- PLTR shares climbed 2.3% in pre-market trading to $131.05 on Monday, April 13.
- Trump endorsed Palantir via Truth Social, highlighting its defense and warfare capabilities.
- ARK Invest purchased 85,485 shares of PLTR worth approximately $10.95–$11.15 million across five different ETFs.
- ARKK dominated the buying activity with 46,455 shares, while ARKQ, ARKW, ARKF, and ARKX also increased holdings.
- Year-to-date, PLTR remains down 28% in 2026 and currently trades at 99 times projected 2026 earnings.
Monday morning brought renewed momentum for Palantir shares, fueled by a powerful combination: presidential backing and substantial institutional buying from Cathie Wood’s investment firm.
Pre-market trading saw PLTR shares climb 2.3%, reaching $131.05 before regular market hours began. This upward movement occurred even as broader market sentiment turned negative — S&P 500 futures declined 0.6% following Trump’s directive for a U.S. Navy blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, which sparked investor anxiety.
Palantir Technologies Inc., PLTR
Last Friday, Trump took to Truth Social with a strong endorsement: “Palantir Technologies (PLTR) has proven to have great war fighting capabilities and equipment. Just ask our enemies!!!” This statement provided momentum for PLTR shares during a trading session already challenged by concerns surrounding Anthropic’s newest AI model release.
This marks another instance of Trump’s commentary influencing the stock’s trajectory, a pattern that appears likely to continue.
Cathie Wood’s ARK Makes Substantial PLTR Purchase
Trading records from ARK Invest dated April 11 reveal the firm accumulated 85,485 Palantir shares distributed across five separate ETFs. The transaction’s total value ranged between approximately $10.95 million and $11.15 million, varying based on execution price.
ARKK led the acquisition with 46,455 shares. The remaining purchases included 15,127 shares for ARKQ, 11,865 for ARKW, 5,973 for ARKF, and 6,065 for ARKX.
Wood has maintained a bullish stance on Palantir for an extended period. With shares trading significantly below recent peaks, this move appears to represent ARK capitalizing on weakness to strengthen an existing high-conviction holding.
Simultaneously, ARK divested 44,446 AMD shares valued at approximately $10.52 million across its ETF lineup. The firm also eliminated 75,389 shares of Strata Critical Medical (SRTA) for roughly $305,000, extending an ongoing exit from that position.
Challenging Year for PLTR Shares
Despite the encouraging news flow, Palantir faces significant headwinds throughout 2026. Year-to-date performance shows a 28% decline, representing a dramatic reversal from the peaks achieved in late 2025.
The fundamental debate centers on valuation metrics. Trading at 99 times forecasted 2026 earnings, the market has embedded substantial growth expectations into current pricing. Critics question whether Palantir can achieve the necessary growth velocity — particularly as AI technology transforms the competitive software environment.
This ongoing conflict between robust government and defense sector demand versus elevated valuation multiples has characterized PLTR’s narrative throughout the current year.
Pre-market activity Monday positioned PLTR near $131.05. ARK executed its purchase at Friday’s closing price, which stood around $128.
