Becker Business Podcast – "Palantir Technologies Resurges"

Host: Scott Becker
Date: September 23, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Scott Becker discusses the remarkable resurgence of Palantir Technologies’ stock in 2025. Drawing on his experience as both a seasoned interviewer and a personal investor, Becker provides commentary on Palantir’s performance, the expertise of its leadership, and the company’s ongoing business with government contracts. The tone is conversational and candid, blending business analysis with personal anecdotes.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Palantir’s Stock Performance

• Huge Annual Gains:
  • Palantir’s stock is up 140% year to date (00:16), highlighting significant growth within a short time frame.
  • Becker notes the volatility, observing that “just a couple months ago [Palantir] was down to 80% up year to date. And it looked like sort of the bloom was off the rose for Palantir. Now it’s back.” (00:29)

Host’s Personal Investment Perspective

• Self-Deprecating Humor:
  • Scott shares, “I absolutely love this because I'm an individual investor in Palantir. And again, I am such a poor individual investor that one of the few stocks that I do own individually does well. I jump for joy like I'm a genius, which I am not.” (00:19)
  • He mostly invests in “index funds and Treasuries” (00:23), positioning this Palantir win as a rare exception.

Palantir’s Leadership and Resilience

• Founders and Leadership Praise:
  • “Palantir is famously founded by Peter Thiel and some others. The CEO, Alex Karp. Just brilliant, brilliant people that run Palantir. I’m amazed.” (00:41)
• Concerns Over Government Contracts:
  • Becker recalls skepticism: “At some point people thought they would have got really hurt by Doge because they've got lots of government contracts. But in the big scheme of things, [Palantir] continues to knock it out of the park.” (00:49)
• Unanticipated Success:
  • “Up 140% year to date. Who saw that coming?” (00:56)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On Success as an Individual Investor:
  • “One of the few stocks that I do own individually does well. I jump for joy like I'm a genius, which I am not.”
    — Scott Becker (00:22)
• On Palantir’s Leadership:
  • “Just brilliant, brilliant people that run Palantir. I'm amazed.”
    — Scott Becker (00:44)
• On Market Surprise:
  • “Up 140% year to date. Who saw that coming?”
    — Scott Becker (00:56)

Key Segment Timestamps

• 00:16 – Palantir’s 140% surge in 2025
• 00:22 – Personal reflection on investing success
• 00:41 – Praise of Palantir’s leadership and founders
• 00:49 – Discussion of government contracts and continued resilience
• 00:56 – Reflection on the market’s unpredictability

Tone and Style

Scott Becker’s delivery is relaxed, personal, and engaging. He mixes investor insights with humor and candor, making complex financial events relatable to both seasoned investors and casual listeners.