Apple and Palantir report after the close today, with both earnings calls scheduled for 5 PM ET. Below are the key expectations and year-ago comparisons. Consensus estimates can vary by provider; the figures here use MarketBeat.
Apple: Revenue expected to rise nearly 11%
For Apple’s fiscal fourth quarter, analysts expect:
EPS of $1.99 versus $1.85 a year ago, an increase of 7.6%.
Revenue of $113.40 billion versus $102.47 billion a year ago, an increase of 10.7%.
The numbers point to earnings growing more slowly than sales. That puts margins in focus. Traders will want to see whether product demand and the Services business can support profitability, along with what management says about the important December holiday quarter.
For comparison, Apple’s year-ago September quarter included iPhone revenue of $49.03 billion, Services revenue of $28.75 billion and Greater China revenue of $14.49 billion. Those provide additional barometers when the results cross the wires.
From a share-price perspective, Apple closed 2025 at $271.86. The current price is trading $338, putting the shares up $66.14, or 24.3%, for the year, excluding dividends. Apple therefore enters the report with a sizable annual gain to defend.
Apple from a technical perspective.
Technically, the price is trading below its 200 hour MA at $340.23 and its 100 hour MA at $344.34. Staying below those levels, keep the sellers in play at least in the short term. On the downside, the rising 100 day MA is at $321.92 which is around 4.7% away from the current level. The MA was last tested on June 25 when the price was much lower at $275.56.
Palantir: Expectations call for another sharp jump in growth
For Palantir’s third quarter, analysts expect:
Adjusted EPS of $0.41 versus $0.21 a year ago, an increase of 95.2%.
Revenue of $2.18 billion versus $1.181 billion a year ago, an increase of 84.6%.
The adjusted EPS comparison matters. Palantir reported GAAP EPS of $0.18 in the year-ago quarter, but adjusted EPS was $0.21. The $0.41 estimate is compared with that adjusted figure.
The revenue bar is already above the company’s guidance of $2.160 billion to $2.164 billion. At $2.18 billion, consensus sits approximately $16 million above the top of that range. Simply meeting management’s revenue guidance would therefore fall short of the analyst estimate.
The forward guidance will be another key barometer. Palantir’s existing full-year outlook calls for revenue of $8.150 billion to $8.158 billion, U.S. commercial revenue above $3.424 billion and adjusted free cash flow of $4.5 billion to $4.7 billion. Traders will be watching whether those targets move higher.
For additional year-ago comparisons, U.S. commercial revenue was $397 million, U.S. government revenue was $486 million and the adjusted operating margin was 51%. Those figures will help show how broadly growth is developing and how much is reaching operating profit.
Palantir closed 2025 at $177.75. The current price is at $180.82, leaving the shares up $3.07, or 1.727%, for the year. Despite the sharp expected increase in earnings and revenue, the stock is trading only modestly above its year-end closing level.
Palantir technical analysis
Technically, the stock moved back below its converged 100- and 200-hour moving averages on Friday, giving sellers more control. That downside momentum has continued today, with the price down $3.17 at $180.85.
The 100- and 200-hour moving averages are clustered near $195, making that area a key barometer for buyers and sellers. Getting and staying above those moving averages would shift the bias back toward the buyers and open the door for a move toward the October high at $212.94, which is also the all-time high. Until then, sellers retain the technical advantage.
On the downside, the 100-day moving average at $162.92 is the next key support target, roughly 9.9% below the current price. A move toward that level would test whether longer-term buyers are willing to lean against it and stall the fall.
For perspective, the stock’s low for the year was reached on June 25 at $106.37. The subsequent rally to $212.94 highlights the size of this year’s swings—and the importance of defining risk against key technical levels.
This article was written by Greg Michalowski at investinglive.com.
