Palantir Reports 49% Revenue Growth; $117M in Cash Flow from Operations, up $404M Y/Y; and $151M in Adj. Free Cash Flow, up $441M Y/Y for Q1 2021

Rhea-AI Summary

Palantir Technologies reported strong financial results for Q1 2021, with total revenue up 49% year-over-year to $341 million. US commercial revenue surged 72%, while US government revenue soared 83%. The company achieved a cash flow from operations of $117 million, reflecting a 34% margin. Adjusted free cash flow reached $151 million, representing a 44% margin. Despite a GAAP net loss per share of $(0.07), adjusted earnings per share were $0.04. Palantir expects Q2 2021 revenue of $360 million, a 43% increase year-over-year, with long-term revenue growth guidance of 30% through 2025.

Positive

• Revenue grew 49% year-over-year to $341 million.
• US commercial revenue increased 72% year-over-year.
• US government revenue grew 83% year-over-year.
• Cash flow from operations reached $117 million, a 34% margin.
• Adjusted free cash flow was $151 million, with a 44% margin.
• Adjusted earnings per share were $0.04.

Negative

• GAAP net loss per share was $(0.07).
• Loss from operations was $(114,014) or (33)% margin.

Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE:PLTR) today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021.

Q1 2021 Highlights

• Total revenue grew 49% year-over-year to $341 million
• US commercial revenue grew 72% year-over-year
• US government revenue grew 83% year-over-year
• Cash flow from operations of $117 million, up $404 million year-over-year, and representing a 34% margin
• Adjusted free cash flow of $151 million, up $441 million year-over-year, and representing a 44% margin
• GAAP net loss per share, diluted of $(0.07)
• Adjusted earnings per share, diluted of $0.04

Q1 2021 Financial Summary
(in thousands, except percentages and per share amounts)		First Quarter 2021
		Amount
Revenue		$	341,234
Year-over-year growth			49	%
		Amount				Margin
Loss from Operations		$	(114,014	)		(33	)%
Adjusted Income from Operations		$	116,583			34	%
Cash Flow from Operations		$	116,881			34	%
Adjusted Free Cash Flow		$	150,975			44	%
Net Loss		$	(123,474	)
Adjusted Net Income		$	82,651
Adjusted EBITDA		$	119,820
GAAP Net Loss Per Share, Diluted		$	(0.07	)
Adjusted Earnings Per Share, Diluted		$	0.04

Outlook

For Q2 2021, we expect:

• $360 million in revenue, representing year-over-year revenue growth of 43%.
• Adjusted operating margin of 23%.

For full year 2021, we expect:

• Adjusted free cash flow in excess of $150 million.

Per long-term guidance policy, as provided by our Chief Executive Officer, Alex Karp, we continue to expect:

• Annual revenue growth of 30% or greater for 2021 through 2025.

Earnings Webcast

A public webcast will be held at 6:00 a.m. MT / 8:00 a.m. ET today to discuss the results for our first quarter ended March 31, 2021 and financial outlook. The live public call can be accessed by registering online at https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/3081658/AE03B253254D0E44DB21687E3F277890. A replay of the webcast will be available at https://investors.palantir.com following the event.

A slide presentation including supplemental financial information and reconciliations of certain non-GAAP measures to their nearest comparable GAAP measures will be available through Palantir’s Investor Relations website at https://investors.palantir.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release and statements on our earnings webcast contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including but not limited to, statements regarding our financial outlook, product development, expected benefits of and applications for our software platforms, business strategy and plans (including strategy and plans relating to our sales force and partnerships), market trends and market size, opportunities (including growth opportunities), and positioning. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date they were first issued and were based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections as well as the beliefs and assumptions of management. Words such as “guidance,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “should,” “believe,” “hope,” “target,” “project,” “plan,” “goals,” “estimate,” “potential,” “predict,” “may,” “will,” “might,” “could,” “intend,” “shall,” and variations of these terms or the negative of these terms and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or circumstances that are beyond our control. Our actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including but not limited to risks detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 and other filings and reports that we may file from time to time with the SEC, including our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2021. In particular, the following factors, among others, could cause results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements: our ability to successfully execute our business and growth strategy; the sufficiency of our cash and cash equivalents to meet our liquidity needs; the demand for our platforms in general; our ability to increase our number of new customers and revenue generated from customers; our ability to realize some or all of the total contract value of customer contracts as revenue, including any contractual options available to customers or contractual periods that are subject to termination for convenience provisions; our long and unpredictable sales cycle; our ability to successfully grow our direct salesforce and to successfully execute our channel sales and other strategic initiatives with third parties; our ability to retain and expand our customer base; the fluctuation of our results of operations and our key business measures on a quarterly basis in future periods; the seasonality of our business; the implementation process for our platforms, which may be complex and lengthy; our ability to successfully develop and deploy new technologies to address the needs of our customers; our ability to make our platforms easier to install and consume; our ability to maintain and enhance our brand and reputation; news or social media coverage about us, including but not limited to coverage that presents, or relies on, inaccurate, misleading, incomplete, or otherwise damaging information; and any breach or access to customer or third-party data.

The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent our views as of the date of this press release. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause our views to change. We undertake no intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release and the accompanying tables contain the non-GAAP financial measures income (loss) from operations excluding stock-based compensation and related employer payroll taxes (also referred to as “adjusted income (loss) from operations”); adjusted operating margin; adjusted free cash flow; adjusted free cash flow margin; adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“adjusted EBITDA”); adjusted net income (loss); and adjusted earnings (loss) per share (“EPS”), diluted.

We believe these non-GAAP financial measures help us evaluate our business, identify trends affecting Palantir’s business, formulate business plans and financial projections, and make strategic decisions. We exclude stock-based compensation, which is a non-cash expense, from these non-GAAP financial measures because we believe that excluding this item provides meaningful supplemental information regarding operational performance and provides useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our operating results in the same manner as our management team. Additionally, we exclude employer payroll taxes related to stock-based compensation, as it is difficult to predict and outside of Palantir’s control. Our definitions may differ from the definitions used by other companies and therefore comparability may be limited. In addition, other companies may not publish these or similar metrics. Further, these metrics have certain limitations, as they do not include the impact of certain expenses that are reflected in our consolidated statements of operations. For example, adjusted free cash flow does not reflect our future contractual commitments or the total increase or decrease in our cash balances for a given period. Thus, our non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, or in isolation from, measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.

We compensate for these limitations by providing a reconciliation of each of these non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP measure. We encourage investors and others to review our business, results of operations, and financial information in their entirety, not to rely on any single financial measure, and to view these non-GAAP measures in conjunction with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.

A reconciliation table of the most comparable GAAP financial measure to each non-GAAP financial measure used in this press release is included at the end of this release. A reconciliation of non-GAAP guidance measures to corresponding GAAP measures is not available on a forward-looking basis without unreasonable effort due to the uncertainty regarding, and the potential variability of, reconciling items that may be incurred in the future such as stock-based compensation, and related employer payroll taxes, the effect of which may be significant.

Available Information

Palantir uses its Investor Relations website at https://investors.palantir.com as a means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Accordingly, investors should monitor Palantir’s Investor Relations website, in addition to following our press releases, SEC filings, public conference calls, and webcasts.

About Palantir Technologies Inc.

Palantir Technologies Inc. builds and deploys operating systems for the modern enterprise. Additional information is available at https://www.palantir.com.

Palantir Technologies Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(unaudited)
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2021				2020
Revenue		$	341,234			$	229,327
Cost of revenue (1)		74,111				64,294
Gross profit		267,123				165,033
Operating expenses:
Sales and marketing (1)		136,097				98,653
Research and development (1)		98,471				65,800
General and administrative (1)		146,569				70,765
Total operating expenses		381,137				235,218
Loss from operations		(114,014		)		(70,185		)
Interest income		376				3,267
Interest expense		(1,840		)		(4,594		)
Change in fair value of warrants		—				13,695
Other income (expense), net		(4,894		)		6,100
Loss before provision for income taxes		(120,372		)		(51,717		)
Provision for income taxes		3,102				2,557
Net loss		$	(123,474	)		$	(54,274	)
Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic		$	(0.07	)		$	(0.09	)
Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, diluted		$	(0.07	)		$	(0.10	)
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding used in computing net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic		1,821,158				591,850
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding used in computing net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, diluted		1,821,158				594,363

—————

(1) Includes stock-based compensation expense as follows (in thousands):

		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2021				2020
Cost of revenue		$	15,977			$	8,068
Sales and marketing		57,286				18,463
Research and development		37,874				15,032
General and administrative		82,594				12,544
Total stock-based compensation		$	193,731			$	54,107

Palantir Technologies Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
		March 31,				December 31,
		2021				2020
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	2,339,437			$	2,011,323
Restricted cash		37,106				37,285
Accounts receivable		151,400				156,932
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		61,755				51,889
Total current assets		2,589,698				2,257,429
Property and equipment, net		27,378				29,541
Restricted cash, noncurrent		71,933				79,538
Operating lease right-of-use assets		213,331				217,075
Other assets		111,845				106,921
Total assets		$	3,014,185			$	2,690,504
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable		$	17,234			$	16,358
Accrued liabilities		181,603				158,546
Deferred revenue		186,498				189,520
Customer deposits		250,181				210,320
Operating lease liabilities		32,110				29,079
Total current liabilities		667,626				603,823
Deferred revenue, noncurrent		44,998				50,525
Customer deposits, noncurrent		70,768				81,513
Debt, noncurrent, net		198,185				197,977
Operating lease liabilities, noncurrent		222,429				229,800
Other noncurrent liabilities		4,236				4,316
Total liabilities		1,208,242				1,167,954
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock		1,860				1,792
Additional paid-in capital		6,892,046				6,488,857
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		865				(2,745		)
Accumulated deficit		(5,088,828		)		(4,965,354		)
Total stockholders’ equity		1,805,943				1,522,550
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	3,014,185			$	2,690,504

Palantir Technologies Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2021				2020
Operating activities
Net loss		$	(123,474	)		$	(54,274	)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		3,237				3,671
Stock-based compensation		193,731				54,107
Change in fair value of warrants		—				(13,695		)
Non-cash operating lease expense		6,477				10,160
Other operating activities		771				514
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable		4,480				(51,403		)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		(9,753		)		(7,974		)
Other assets		(4,865		)		(8,403		)
Accounts payable		51				(40,790		)
Accrued liabilities		44,488				(39,368		)
Deferred revenue, current and noncurrent		(11,952		)		8,599
Customer deposits, current and noncurrent		20,825				(132,077		)
Operating lease liabilities, current and noncurrent		(7,132		)		(16,251		)
Other noncurrent liabilities		(3		)		—
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		116,881				(287,184		)
Investing activities
Purchases of property and equipment		(708		)		(3,016		)
Net cash used in investing activities		(708		)		(3,016		)
Financing activities
Proceeds from the exercise of common stock options		208,860				6,710
Repurchase of common stock		—				(3,777		)
Other financing activities		(2,506		)		(439		)
Net cash provided by financing activities		206,354				2,494
Effect of foreign exchange on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash		(2,197		)		(1,627		)
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash		320,330				(289,333		)
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash - beginning of period		2,128,146				1,401,962
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash - end of period		$	2,448,476			$	1,112,629

Palantir Technologies Inc.
Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures
(unaudited)
Non-GAAP Reconciliations
Adjusted Income (Loss) from Operations and Adjusted Operating Margin (in thousands, except percentages)
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2021				2020
Loss from operations		$	(114,014	)		$	(70,185	)
Add: stock-based compensation		193,731				54,107
Add: employer payroll taxes related to stock-based compensation		36,866				—
Adjusted income (loss) from operations		$	116,583			$	(16,078	)
Adjusted operating margin		34		%		(7		)%

Adjusted Free Cash Flow (in thousands, except percentages)
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2021				2020
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		$	116,881			$	(287,184	)
Less: purchases of property and equipment			(708	)			(3,016	)
Add: cash paid for employer payroll taxes related to stock-based compensation			34,802				—
Adjusted free cash flow		$	150,975			$	(290,200	)
Adjusted free cash flow margin			44	%			(127	)%

Adjusted EBITDA (in thousands)
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2021				2020
Net Loss		$	(123,474	)		$	(54,274	)
Less: interest income		(376		)		(3,267		)
Add: interest expense		1,840				4,594
Less: change in fair value of warrants		--				(13,695		)
Add: other (income) expense, net		4,894				(6,100		)
Add: provision for income taxes		3,102				2,557
Add: depreciation and amortization		3,237				3,671
Add: stock-based compensation		193,731				54,107
Add: employer payroll taxes related to stock-based compensation		36,866				—
Adjusted EBITDA		$	119,820			$	(12,407	)

Adjusted Earnings (Loss) per Share, Diluted (in thousands, except per share amounts)
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2021					2020
Net loss attributable to common stockholders		$	(123,474	)			$	(54,274	)
Less: change in fair value attributable to participating securities		—						(7,773	)
Net loss attributable to common stockholders, diluted		(123,474		)				(62,047	)
Add: stock-based compensation		193,731					54,107
Add: employer payroll taxes related to stock-based compensation		36,866					—
Less: income tax effect related to adjustments (1)		(24,472		)			(528		)
Adjusted net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders, diluted		$	82,651				$	(8,468	)
Weighted-average shares used in computing GAAP net loss per share, diluted		1,821,158					594,363
Adjusted weighted-average shares used in computing adjusted earnings (loss) per share, diluted (2)		2,330,865					594,363
Adjusted earnings (loss) per share, diluted		$	0.04				$	(0.01	)

——————

(1) Income tax effect is based on long-term estimated annual effective tax rates of 22.2% and 22.1% for the periods ended 2021 and 2020, respectively.

(2) Includes an additional 510 million dilutive securities for the three months ended March 31, 2021 that are excluded from a GAAP perspective due to the Company’s net loss position. For the three months ended March 31, 2020, there were no such securities as the Company was in a net loss position on a GAAP and adjusted basis.

 

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FAQ

What were Palantir's total revenue figures for Q1 2021?

Palantir's total revenue for Q1 2021 was $341 million, marking a 49% year-over-year increase.

What revenue growth did Palantir expect for Q2 2021?

Palantir expects revenue of $360 million for Q2 2021, representing a 43% year-over-year growth.

What were the adjusted earnings per share for Palantir in Q1 2021?

Palantir reported adjusted earnings per share of $0.04 for Q1 2021.

What is Palantir's revenue growth outlook for 2021 through 2025?

Palantir maintains an annual revenue growth expectation of 30% or greater from 2021 through 2025.

How much was Palantir's cash flow from operations in Q1 2021?

Palantir reported cash flow from operations of $117 million in Q1 2021, equating to a 34% margin.