Let's talk about the Media & Palantir...

Understanding the compounding media effect for Palantir over the next decade

Welcome back to DailyPalantir! On today’s newsletter, I wanted to deep dive into the media’s relationship with Palantir and how the media will choose to cover them over the next few years. Palantir has started to make more media appearances and bigger financial media companies have begun caring more…and I think this is just the beginning. Let’s get into it!

How Does A Media Business Work?

The media business is fundamentally about capturing and monetizing attention. At its core, media companies exist to attract as many eyes or ears as possible, whether through TV, digital platforms, radio, or print.

Once they have an audience, their primary goal is to monetize that attention, usually through advertising. The more people that watch or consume their content, the more ads they can sell, which is their primary revenue stream. While some media companies have added subscriptions or other models, advertising remains a dominant force in the media ecosystem.

For mainstream media finance outlets like CNBC, Bloomberg, and Yahoo Finance, success relies on consistently attracting large audiences by covering the most interesting and relevant stories. These companies have the resources, like studios and billions of dollars, to create and distribute content at scale, giving them a massive reach. They need to continuously cover topics that draw in viewers, and if a story doesn’t resonate or isn’t seen as engaging enough, they’ll move on quickly. It's a business driven by what people care about, which means they often focus on narratives or figures that are likely to capture attention.

The media industry is also highly competitive and can be ruthless. Mainstream media companies are in a constant battle to keep their viewership in the face of competition from new media and digital platforms. Because of this, the relationship between these traditional media giants and the figures or companies they cover can be complex. They need stories that will resonate with their audiences to keep viewers engaged, and as a result, they may shift their focus quickly based on what’s trending, hot, or profitable.

Ultimately, the media business is all about attention. The more captivating a story, person, or company is, the more coverage it gets because it drives viewership, clicks, and ad revenue. Over time, media outlets will adapt their coverage based on what keeps people watching. Whether it’s a CEO making bold statements, a company like Palantir experiencing rapid growth, or the latest market trends, media companies will follow what captures the most interest—and that’s what drives their business forward.

So, if the media business is about getting attention…why does this matter for Palantir?

The Media’s Historic Relationship with Palantir

The media’s relationship with Palantir has had its ups and downs, starting out pretty rough. Back in 2017, the media was all over Palantir in a negative way, with outlets like Vice portraying the company as a secretive, almost sinister organization. Headlines focused on its work with ICE and immigration, painting Palantir as a black-box company involved in controversial government operations. At the time, Palantir’s secretive nature didn’t help matters, as the company didn’t make much of an effort to be transparent about its operations, fueling suspicions.

Things began to shift a bit when Palantir went public in 2021. Initially, the media didn’t quite know what to make of the company. While it became somewhat of a meme stock, there wasn’t a clear narrative to latch onto. The earlier negative press from 2017 still hung in the air, and with the stock’s volatility, the media didn’t fully understand how to cover it. There were moments of attention, but the overall perception remained cloudy, with a mix of skepticism and confusion.

The real turning point came in May 2023 when Palantir achieved profitability. This milestone was huge for the company and caught the media’s attention in a big way. Suddenly, the narrative shifted from viewing Palantir as some shadowy tech company to a legitimate, profitable enterprise making strides in sectors like defense and AI. The media started to acknowledge the company’s successes, particularly its growing list of government contracts and innovative technology, which made it harder to stick to the old, negative storylines.

As Palantir continued to grow and build partnerships, the media’s coverage evolved to reflect that. Instead of the doom-and-gloom narratives from a few years earlier, outlets began focusing more on the company’s advancements and its role in critical industries like healthcare, defense, and supply chain management. Palantir’s leadership, especially CEO Alex Karp, actually said things that people cared about, even if they were controversial.

The company was no longer just a target for criticism—it was now something the media took seriously.

So, given Palantir’s growth, how will the media cover Palantir now?

The Future of Palantir & Media

Over the next decade, I believe the media will increasingly cover Palantir because the company is becoming more relevant and impossible to ignore.

As Palantir continues to grow, especially with its profitability and expansion into crucial industries like defense and AI, its story becomes more compelling. The media thrives on narratives that people care about, and Palantir is developing into a company that is not only making headlines but also shaping the future in sectors that are gaining massive attention. With Palantir’s involvement in defense, healthcare, and emerging technologies, the media will naturally follow where the interest goes.

One key reason for this increased coverage is that Palantir's products are at the center of many global issues that people care about, such as national security, data management, and artificial intelligence. With governments and enterprises relying on Palantir’s software to solve complex problems, the media will have plenty of material to report on. As the company becomes more embedded in high-stakes areas like defense spending, AI applications, and large-scale government contracts, media outlets will recognize that Palantir is playing a critical role in shaping these narratives and will want to cover it more closely.

Another factor driving media attention is Palantir’s leadership, particularly CEO Alex Karp, who has a knack for making bold, attention-grabbing statements. Karp's unapologetic style and willingness to speak his mind will continue to draw interest from the media. People are drawn to authenticity, and Karp offers a refreshing, unfiltered perspective that stands out in a world where corporate messaging is often bland and rehearsed. The media loves personalities that can generate headlines, and Karp’s interviews, speeches, and public appearances will keep Palantir in the spotlight.

As Palantir’s growth accelerates, particularly if its stock continues to rise, it will become an even bigger player in the market, attracting more attention from institutional investors and financial media alike. When companies start delivering results and disrupting industries, the media can’t help but cover them. If Palantir can maintain its momentum and continue landing high-profile contracts and partnerships, the media will have a vested interest in keeping its audience informed about the company’s progress. The narrative of Palantir as a unique, high-growth tech company will likely be appealing for media outlets looking to attract viewers.

Example, CNBC:

CNBC’s average video gets 2K views. With Joe Lonsdale in the videos, someone who doesn’t even work at Palantir anymore (but was a co-founder), the videos do 10x the views. CNBC is looking at those analytics, understanding why people are clicking on those videos, and likely analyzing how they can further continue to cover topics relating to Palantir as that will bring them more attention.

Geopolitics & AI

Another reason the media will increasingly cover Palantir over the next decade is its involvement in geopolitical matters. With ongoing conflicts and global instability, from the Ukraine-Russia war to tensions in Asia and the Middle East, Palantir’s technology is being used by governments to protect national security and drive military strategy. This makes the company an important player on the world stage. Media outlets, particularly those focused on global affairs, will find Palantir’s role in these high-stakes situations compelling, as the company’s software will be directly tied to the outcomes of significant international events. Palantir’s presence in these arenas will give the media plenty of stories to follow.

Additionally, Palantir’s advancements in artificial intelligence will put it front and center in the media’s coverage of AI trends. As AI continues to reshape industries and economies, Palantir’s unique approach—integrating its AI platform with operational data management—will stand out. The media has a strong interest in reporting on the AI revolution, and as Palantir becomes more synonymous with cutting-edge AI applications, especially in sectors like healthcare, defense, and logistics, its technology will be seen as crucial to understanding the future of AI. The media will naturally want to cover a company that’s playing such a significant role in this space.

Palantir’s rise will also attract attention due to its unique approach to business. Unlike many tech companies that focus primarily on consumer markets, Palantir is deeply embedded in enterprise and government solutions.

The company’s focus on long-term relationships, like its partnerships with government agencies and large corporations, rather than quick, high-volume consumer sales, presents a different kind of growth story—one built on durability and strategic influence. This will continue to intrigue business and tech media as they seek to explain Palantir’s long-term vision and why its approach is working.

Moreover, the media is likely to pay more attention to Palantir as it continues to influence policy and technology ethics discussions. With debates over data privacy, AI governance, and the role of tech companies in shaping society becoming increasingly urgent, Palantir’s influence will be felt not just through its products, but also through its thought leadership. As one of the few companies at the intersection of technology, ethics, and national security, Palantir will be drawn into larger conversations about the responsible use of AI and data. The media will cover these discussions, positioning Palantir as a key player in the ethical debates surrounding tech’s future.

ALL OF THESE NARRATIVES make Palantir an exciting company for the media, and that matters for investors…

What Does This Mean for Investors?

For investors, the increasing media coverage of Palantir over the next decade could significantly impact the company's visibility and, consequently, its stock performance. As the media shines more light on Palantir’s role in AI, defense, and global tech trends, more institutional and retail investors will be drawn to the company. This attention can drive momentum for the stock, making it more attractive to those looking for long-term growth opportunities in cutting-edge industries.

The more Palantir is in the spotlight for its innovations and key contracts, the more investors will view it as a strong growth stock with the potential for significant returns.

Additionally, the media's focus on Palantir will likely amplify the company's narrative as a leader in defense tech and AI, which can create confidence in its future. Investors who are looking at companies with a solid growth trajectory and a strong moat in essential industries will see Palantir as a unique opportunity. With the media highlighting Palantir's wins and strategic moves, it may become a key investment for those looking to tap into the growing importance of AI, cybersecurity, and government technology solutions. This attention could attract new investors who may have previously overlooked Palantir’s potential.

Ultimately, as Palantir’s media presence grows, it will likely lead to increased volatility in its stock as more people pay attention and speculate on its future. For investors, this means staying informed and understanding the company’s fundamentals will be crucial. Media coverage will help drive awareness, but long-term investors should focus on Palantir’s core strengths, partnerships, and strategic direction.

If you own Palantir, I think the next decade is going to be a wild ride because the media is now getting excited about the company. If Palantir can continue to execute, the media will continue to be excited, and that can dramatically have a compounding effect on how the media chooses to cover Palantir.

That’s it for today - see you tomorrow!

This newsletter will always be free and never have paywalled content. To support the newsletter, you can give a gift subscription below. Thank you for reading daily!