Planet Labs otevřela v Berlíně továrnu s kapacitou až 60 satelitů ročně, aby uspokojila rostoucí poptávku ze strany evropských vlád; tržby v regionu EMEA ve 2. fiskálním čtvrtletí vzrostly o více než 130 %.
Key Takeaways Planet Labs' new Berlin facility can produce up to 60 satellites annually to serve European sovereign demand.Defense and Intelligence revenues surged 93.3%, while EMEA revenues jumped more than 130% in Q2.PL expects $100-$115M in fiscal 2027 capex as weaker free cash flow raises concerns about returns.
Planet Labs PBC (PL - Free Report) is expanding its manufacturing footprint in Europe as sovereign satellite demand becomes a larger part of its growth story. The new Berlin facility adds capacity closer to European customers and could support faster regional execution.
The opportunity comes with a cost. Planet Labs is increasing capital spending while free cash flow has weakened, making utilization and returns on the new capacity important measures of whether the expansion creates durable value.
Planet Labs Adds Major European CapacityPlanet Labs opened its 5,700-square-meter Berlin satellite manufacturing facility in September. The site is designed to scale to as many as 60 satellites annually, with the first satellite expected before year-end.
The expansion also brings production closer to European sovereign customers, where Planet Labs has seen growing interest in satellite services and related capabilities.
PL Is Already Seeing Sovereign DemandIn August, Germany’s Federal Ministry of the Interior awarded Planet Labs a tender for dedicated-capacity satellite services. The award includes options and carries a maximum possible value of €25 million over five years, with Germany becoming the first civil government to procure Planet Labs’ dedicated Constellation Services.
The company is building a broader European presence around that demand. BlackSky Technology Inc. (BKSY - Free Report) , another space-based intelligence provider, is also pursuing international government opportunities through its high-revisit imaging and analytics platform. Satellogic Inc. (SATL - Free Report) serves defense, civil government and commercial customers with persistent Earth-observation monitoring, underscoring the competitive push for sovereign and regional space capabilities.
Planet Labs’ Defense Business Is Expanding FastDefense and Intelligence revenues reached nearly $81 million in the fiscal second quarter of 2027, up 93.3% year over year. The category represented about 70% of quarterly revenues, making it the company’s largest customer vertical during the period.
European demand has been especially strong. Revenues in Europe, the Middle East and Africa increased more than 130% year over year in the quarter. The growth reflects Planet Labs’ expanding sovereign satellite business and gives the Berlin investment a clear regional demand backdrop.
PL Must Fund Capacity Before Returns ImproveThe Berlin buildout is part of a wider investment program. Planet Labs expects fiscal 2027 capital expenditures of $100-$115 million as it expands manufacturing in San Francisco and Berlin, improves supply-chain resiliency and develops next-generation satellite fleets.
Liquidity provides room to invest, with roughly $865 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments at the end of the fiscal second quarter. Still, first-half free cash flow fell to $21.3 million from $54.3 million a year earlier, while trailing 12-month return on invested capital was negative 39.1%. Higher utilization and operating leverage will be important if the new capacity is to improve returns.
PL’s Scores Reflect Opportunity and Execution RiskThe Berlin facility strengthens Planet Labs’ ability to address European sovereign demand, but the investment case still depends on execution. More manufacturing capacity can support growth only if contract wins translate into sustained revenues, improving margins and better capital efficiency.
PL currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). It has a Momentum Score of A and Growth Score of B, but a Value Score of F and VGM Score of C. The stronger Momentum and Growth scores point to favorable characteristics in those styles, while the weak Value score argues for valuation discipline. Taken together, the signals support a measured view as investors watch how effectively Planet Labs converts its European expansion into higher-return growth.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Tržby Planet Labs ve 2. čtvrtletí fiskálního roku 2027 vzrostly o 58,1 % na 116,1 mil. USD, ale ocenění na úrovni 8,8násobku očekávaných tržeb zvyšuje nároky na další růst.
Key Takeaways Planet Labs' Q2 revenues surged 58.1% to $116.1M, driven by 93.3% growth in Defense and Intelligence.PL's $815M backlog supports revenue visibility, while fiscal 2027 sales are projected to grow 40-43%.PL trades at 8.8X forward sales, while heavy capital spending and negative returns raise valuation concerns.
Planet Labs PBC (PL - Free Report) combines rapid revenue growth, rising sovereign demand and substantial contracted business with a valuation that already discounts considerable future execution. The setup is attractive on growth, but less forgiving on price.
That leaves investors weighing whether improving operating trends can offset heavy reinvestment needs and weak capital returns. The current evidence supports a measured stance rather than treating growth alone as sufficient reason to become more aggressive.
Planet Labs Has Powerful Revenue MomentumFiscal second-quarter 2027 revenues increased 58.1% year over year to $116.1 million. Defense and Intelligence revenues rose 93.3% to $81 million, making that customer vertical the main driver of the quarter’s expansion.
Management expects fiscal 2027 revenues of $430-$441 million, representing roughly 40-43% annual growth. The outlook also calls for non-GAAP gross margin of 55-57% and adjusted EBITDA profit of $3-$10 million, showing that management expects growth to coexist with improving operating leverage.
PL’s Backlog Adds Visibility to Future GrowthBacklog was approximately $815 million at the end of the fiscal second quarter, up about 11% year over year. Roughly half applies to the next 12 months, while about 70% applies to the next 24 months.
Remaining performance obligations totaled approximately $753 million, up 9%. Management estimates that executing contracts already in backlog could generate more than $400 million in revenues over the next four quarters, excluding new business and renewals, giving PL meaningful near-term visibility.
Planet Labs Still Requires Heavy ReinvestmentPlanet Labs expects fiscal 2027 capital expenditures of $100-$115 million. Management plans to direct spending toward manufacturing expansion, supply-chain resiliency and next-generation satellite fleets as it builds capacity for future demand.
That investment burden is already visible in cash flow. First-half free cash flow fell to $21.3 million from $54.3 million a year earlier, while operating cash flow declined to $68.4 million from $85.1 million. Management still targets positive adjusted free cash flow for the full fiscal year.
PL’s Premium Valuation Raises the BarPL trades at 8.8X forward 12-month sales, above the 2.6X Zacks sub-industry multiple and its 4.8X three-year median. With GAAP operating results still negative and trailing 12-month return on invested capital at negative 39.1%, the current valuation leaves limited room for execution setbacks.
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The competitive backdrop also matters. BlackSky Technology Inc. (BKSY - Free Report) provides real-time space-based intelligence using high-revisit imagery, analytics and its proprietary satellite constellation. Satellogic Inc. (SATL - Free Report) is developing its Merlin constellation for daily global monitoring at one-meter resolution, highlighting continued investment across Earth observation.
PL’s Scores Favor Growth but Flag ValuationThe bottom line is that Planet Labs has a credible growth case backed by rapid revenue expansion, a large backlog and increasing sovereign demand, but its valuation and capital intensity argue for patience. Investors may want to see sustained margin progress and better capital efficiency before assigning even more value to future growth.
PL currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). It also has a Growth Score of B and Momentum Score of A, while its Value Score of F and VGM Score of C are less supportive. The favorable Growth and Momentum scores recognize stronger characteristics in those styles, but the weak Value score reinforces valuation caution. Taken together with the Hold rank, the signals fit a balanced view rather than a clear buy case.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Ředitelka Planet Labs PBC Kristen Robinson prodala 40 000 akcií za průměrnou cenu 14,14 USD za akcii, celkem za 565 600 USD, čímž snížila svůj podíl o 17,95 %.
Planet Labs PBC (NYSE:PL – Get Free Report) Director Kristen Robinson sold 40,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, October 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $14.14, for a total value of $565,600.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 182,897 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,586,163.58. This represents a 17.95% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website.
Planet Labs PBC Stock Down 0.0% Shares of NYSE PL opened at $13.55 on Monday. Planet Labs PBC has a one year low of $10.52 and a one year high of $51.76. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.79, a current ratio of 2.84 and a quick ratio of 2.82. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $18.69 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $27.95. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.93 billion, a P/E ratio of -12.32 and a beta of 2.17.
Planet Labs PBC (NYSE:PL – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, September 3rd. The company reported $0.02 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.02) by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $116.05 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $104.53 million. Planet Labs PBC had a negative net margin of 95.13% and a negative return on equity of 93.11%. The business’s revenue was up 58.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted ($0.07) earnings per share. As a group, analysts expect that Planet Labs PBC will post -0.63 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research firms have recently commented on PL. Morgan Stanley set a $19.00 price objective on Planet Labs PBC in a report on Friday. Citizens Jmp reissued a “market perform” rating on shares of Planet Labs PBC in a research note on Friday, September 4th. Zacks Research upgraded Planet Labs PBC from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, July 2nd. New Street Research upgraded Planet Labs PBC from a “sell” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, September 4th. Finally, Citigroup lowered Planet Labs PBC from a “market perform” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, September 4th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have assigned a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $30.33. View Our Latest Analysis on Planet Labs PBC
Institutional Investors Weigh In On Planet Labs PBC Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its stake in Planet Labs PBC by 1.8% in the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 4,013,187 shares of the company’s stock worth $112,167,000 after buying an additional 70,986 shares in the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership lifted its holdings in Planet Labs PBC by 80.4% in the first quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 1,932,381 shares of the company’s stock worth $54,010,000 after buying an additional 861,306 shares during the period. Tidal Investments LLC lifted its holdings in Planet Labs PBC by 5,339.2% in the second quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 1,591,020 shares of the company’s stock worth $52,710,000 after buying an additional 1,561,769 shares during the period. Tema ETFs LLC lifted its holdings in Planet Labs PBC by 75,804.6% in the second quarter. Tema ETFs LLC now owns 1,590,960 shares of the company’s stock worth $52,709,000 after buying an additional 1,588,864 shares during the period. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC boosted its position in Planet Labs PBC by 36.5% during the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 1,021,180 shares of the company’s stock valued at $28,542,000 after acquiring an additional 273,300 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 41.71% of the company’s stock.
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Planet Labs PBC is an Earth-imaging and geospatial data company that operates a constellation of satellites designed to provide frequent, high-resolution imagery of the planet. Its data is used to monitor changes in land, infrastructure, agriculture, forests, oceans and other environments.
The company’s products include PlanetScope, a satellite imagery service intended to provide frequent coverage of large areas; SkySat, which offers higher-resolution imagery and video capabilities; and other satellite and data products, including hyperspectral imaging initiatives.
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Dceřiná společnost Planet Labs vyvine pro ESA během 12měsíčního pilotního projektu systém slovinské satelitní monitorovací služby pro katastrofy, zpočátku zaměřený na požáry.
Key Takeaways PL's subsidiary will develop Slovenia's Space Resilience Node under a 12-month ESA pilot project.The system will use Copernicus data & PlanetScope imagery to detect anomalies & trigger high-resolution scans.Government and defense wins, including an $8M NGA award, are expanding PL's market opportunities. Planet Labs PBC (PL - Free Report) is expanding its role in satellite-based intelligence after its subsidiary, Sinergise Solutions d.o.o., was selected by the European Space Agency (“ESA”) to develop Slovenia’s Space Resilience Node. The 12-month pilot project aims to automate satellite-based change detection and high-resolution image tasking to improve disaster response and situational awareness. The initiative highlights Planet’s efforts to combine frequent satellite imagery, automated analytics and high-resolution imaging services to address real-world challenges.
The Slovenia SRN project falls under ESA’s European Resilience from Space Earth Observation program. It will be developed in partnership with software company Lucis d.o.o. to support Slovenia’s Administration for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief. The system will analyze open Copernicus satellite data alongside PlanetScope imagery to identify changes and anomalies. When predefined thresholds are exceeded, the platform will automatically generate alerts and request high-resolution satellite images, including through Planet’s Pelican fleet. The imagery will reach emergency responders within hours, enabling faster crisis assessment and decision-making.
Initially, the project will focus on wildfire management across Slovenia’s approximately 20,000 square kilometers. The technology could eventually be adapted to monitor floods, landslides and other environmental hazards. By connecting broad-area monitoring with targeted, high-resolution imaging, Planet aims to shorten the time between detecting a potential threat and obtaining detailed information for emergency response.
Defense and government customers are becoming key catalysts to Planet’s growth strategy. Planet secured an $8 million NGA award, a German government satellite-services tender worth up to €25 million over five years and a seven-figure European defense contract in August. It also partnered with Rwanda’s Space Agency to provide satellite data and analytics for agriculture, urban planning and disaster response. Furthermore, it renewed a contract with a hyperscale AI developer to monitor data center and semiconductor facility construction. These wins continue to expand its opportunities across government, defense and commercial markets.
Mapping PL’s Competitive TerrainRedwire Corporation (RDW - Free Report) benefits from a record backlog, better revenue visibility, repeat defense awards and rising UAS and ISR demand. In August, Redwire announced a strategic investment in next-generation phased-array antenna technology to expand space-based communications for global warfighters across low, medium and geostationary Earth orbits. Its RF Systems portfolio has delivered more than 200 flight antennas, including tactical connectivity antennas used on the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. The investment broadens Redwire’s defense capabilities beyond UAS and ISR into resilient space communications, supporting a larger Defense Tech opportunity over time. However, contract accounting remains sensitive to cost estimates and timing, potentially adding earnings volatility.
Satellogic (SATL - Free Report) secured several sovereign and defense agreements during the second quarter, including an $18 million Portugal CEiiA program, a defense monitoring contract worth more than $18 million and a $12 million NewSat satellite-delivery deal. It also highlighted an $80 million annual Aleph Observer program that advanced from pilot to full-scale deployment in under six months. It ended the quarter with $80.7 million in contracted, non-cancellable RPO, of which $45.8 million is expected to be recognized within 12 months. These deals highlight its shift toward recurring defense-monitoring subscriptions, although contract timing and lengthy procurement cycles remain key considerations.
PL’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesPlanet Labs’ shares have lost 55.9% over the past six months compared with the Satellite and Communication industry’s 28.4% decline.
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Planet Labs’ shares trade at a forward 12-month price-to-sales multiple of 10.32X, significantly higher than the industry’s 2.8X.
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The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PL’s earnings for fiscal 2027 has been revised upward over the past 60 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
PL currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Planet Labs vypustila 20 satelitů včetně Tanageru-2, 18 satelitů SuperDove a prototypu Suncatcher, čímž rozšiřuje kapacitu pro téměř každodenní globální monitoring Země.
Key Takeaways Planet Labs launched 20 satellites, including Tanager-2, 18 SuperDoves and a Suncatcher prototype.Tanager-2 uses hyperspectral imaging to identify methane emissions and support several applications.The SuperDoves are set to boost PlanetScope capacity for near-daily global monitoring and diverse customers. Planet Labs PBC (PL - Free Report) has successfully launched 20 satellites aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-18 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base, marking another step in expanding its satellite constellation and Earth-observation capabilities. The launch included the company’s second Tanager satellite, 18 SuperDoves and the first demonstration mission associated with Google’s Project Suncatcher.
The company established initial contact with Tanager-2, the Suncatcher prototype and two SuperDove satellites following deployment. The remaining 16 SuperDoves are expected to be deployed through D-Orbit’s ION satellite carrier as planned. The mission represents Planet Labs’ 40th successful launch and brings the total number of satellites the company has built and delivered to orbit to 718.
The Suncatcher demonstration is designed to test the feasibility of using Google Tensor Processing Units in space for machine-learning workloads. Meanwhile, Tanager-2, developed with Carbon Mapper, is equipped with hyperspectral imaging capabilities designed to identify methane emissions and support applications such as rare-earth element identification, water-quality monitoring and agricultural intelligence. The satellite captures imagery across 426 contiguous spectral bands with approximately 5-nanometer spectral resolution and 30-meter spatial resolution. Planet Labs expects to launch at least three additional Tanager satellites.
The 18 SuperDoves are part of PL’s Flock 4J mission and are expected to add capacity to the company’s PlanetScope constellation, which provides near-daily global monitoring. The expanded fleet is intended to support commercial customers as well as civil government, defense and intelligence applications.
Planet Labs plans additional launches to further expand its satellite constellations and support growing demand for satellite services, data and vertically integrated geospatial intelligence solutions. The company’s latest launch therefore adds capacity across multiple satellite platforms while advancing its efforts to broaden Earth-observation coverage and capabilities.
Taking a Look at PL’s CompetitorsRedwire Corporation (RDW - Free Report) benefits from a record backlog, better revenue visibility, repeat defense awards and rising UAS and ISR demand. Margin improvement reflects better execution as the business scales. Capacity projects in Huntsville and Georgetown are aligned with real demand areas and backed by stronger liquidity. RDW invested in phased-array antenna technology for space communications. Redwire also reaffirmed its full-year 2026 revenue forecast of $450-$500 million. The $475 million midpoint implies 41.6% year-over-year growth. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $471 million, which is lower than the midpoint of the company's guided range.
Satellogic (SATL - Free Report) is gaining from strong sovereign and defense demand, rising adoption of persistent monitoring and improving operating leverage. The successful launch of its first Merlin satellite strengthens SATL’s path toward daily global remapping and full operational service in the second half of 2027. In the second quarter, revenues surged 259% year over year to $15.9 million, while adjusted EBITDA turned positive at $2.8 million. Growth was supported by sovereign satellite deliveries and expanding Aleph Observer subscriptions. Satellogic also ended the quarter with $80.7 million in contracted backlog, including $45.8 million expected within 12 months, providing solid revenue visibility.
PL’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesPlanet Labs’ shares have lost 50.6% over the past six months compared with the Satellite and Communication industry’s 21.4% decline.
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Planet Labs’ shares are trading at a forward 12-month price-to-sales multiple of 11.89X, significantly higher than the industry’s ratio of 2.93X.
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The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PL’s earnings for fiscal 2027 has been revised upward over the past 60 days.
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PL currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Planet Labs zvýšila ve 2. čtvrtletí fiskálního roku 2027 tržby o 58 % na 116 mil. USD a zvedla spodní hranici výhledu celoročních tržeb na 430–441 mil. USD.
Key Takeaways Planet Labs' 51% slide contrasts with 58% revenue growth and rising defense demand.PL had an $815M backlog and expects fiscal 2027 revenues to be in the range of $430-$441M. Planet Labs has $865M in liquidity to fund expansion, though valuation and execution risks remain. Planet Labs PBC’s (PL - Free Report) shares have declined 50.6% over the past six months, raising a familiar question for investors: Is the selloff a warning sign or an opportunity to buy?
Price Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Planet Labs provides daily satellite imagery and geospatial solutions. The company has a differentiated position in the Earth-observation industry, combining daily global monitoring with a decade-long imagery archive.
However, a lower share price alone does not establish a buying opportunity. Let’s discuss the company’s growth factors and the risks it faces to assess investment prospects and make an informed decision.
Defense Demand Main Driver for Planet LabsRevenues surged 58% year over year to $116 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2027. Defense and Intelligence revenues (including satellite services revenues) rose more than 90% year over year, while commercial and civil-government revenues increased over 15% and 5%, respectively.
The handover of the Pelican satellite to the Swedish Armed Forces supported top-line growth. In August, the company was awarded a satellite services tender by Germany’s Federal Ministry of the Interior, making the country the first civil government to procure Planet Labs’ dedicated Constellation Services. The tender includes options and has a maximum possible value of €25 million over five years.
At its last earnings call, Planet Labs also highlighted an $8 million August award from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency for its Global Monitoring Service.
Management raised the lower end of fiscal 2027 revenue guidance to $430-$441 million, representing 40-43% growth. It also projected adjusted EBITDA profit of $3-$10 million and targeted positive annual adjusted free cash flow.
PL’s Backlog Provides Revenue VisibilityThe company had a backlog of approximately $815 million, up about 11% year over year at the end of the fiscal second quarter. Roughly 50% of the backlog applies to the next 12 months and 70% to the next 24 months. Within Planet Labs’ eligible annual contract value book, recurring contracts represented 98%, and net dollar retention was 109%. Remaining performance obligations (“RPO”) totaled approximately $753 million, up 9% year over year.
Management estimates that executing contracts already in backlog could generate more than $400 million in revenues over the next four quarters, excluding new business and renewals. Management added that the company is confident it can sustain “high growth rates in future years,” supported by near-term visibility and pipeline strength.
This visibility is important as Planet Labs ramps up its satellite services business. On the last earnings call, management added that it had identified more than $4 billion in satellite-services opportunities, with over 25% qualified as near-term.
Planet Labs is also expanding capacity to support this opportunity. The company recently opened its Berlin manufacturing facility, which is expected to produce Pelican satellites and eventually scale to as many as 60 satellites per year.
AI and Satellite Upgrades Expand PL’s OpportunityCommercial applications are already emerging. An expanded six-figure renewal with a hyperscaler AI developer covers monitoring of global data centers and semiconductor-facility construction, illustrating how Planet Labs can participate in AI infrastructure growth through intelligence services.
The company is also advancing its satellite roadmap. On Oct.1, Planet Labs announced the launch of 20 satellites which includes a Google Project Suncatcher prototype, Tanager-2 and 18 SuperDoves. This launch was the 40th for Planet Labs, which now has a total of 718 satellites built and delivered into orbit. Suncatcher satellite will test Google’s Tensor Processing Units in space for the first time.
Looking ahead, Planet Labs is accelerating Owl, its upcoming next-generation monitoring satellite. Owl is expected to upgrade Planet Labs' monitoring capabilities from 3-meter to 1-meter-class resolution while providing roughly 10 times more data at about 10 times the speed, added management.
PL’s Sizable Financial ResourcesPlanet Labs exited the second quarter of fiscal 2027 with approximately $865 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, up more than 200% year over year. This increase was driven by positive free cash flow and proceeds from capital transactions over the past year.
The company generated $68.4 million in net cash from operating activities, while free cash flow was $21.3 million for the six months ended July 31, 2026. Adjusted free cash flow (excluding nonrecurring payments related to litigation settlements) was $28.8 million. PL generated nearly $120 million from stock sales under its ATM program. This sizable liquidity position gives Planet Labs ample flexibility to accelerate investments as demand for its satellite services and AI-enabled solutions grows.
No Case Is Without RisksQuarterly performance will remain uneven owing to the timing of satellite deliveries. Sweden’s satellite handover pulled revenues into the fiscal second quarter from the fiscal third quarter. Fiscal third-quarter guidance of $101-$105 million therefore implies a sequential revenue decline, alongside an expected adjusted EBITDA loss of $1-$6 million.
Growth also requires substantial investment. Planet Labs spent about $29 million in capital expenditures in the fiscal second quarter and expects fiscal 2027 capex of $100-$115 million. Management expects capex to increase in future quarters as it plans to channel spending toward manufacturing expansion in San Francisco and Berlin, supply-chain resiliency and next-generation satellite fleets.
Moreover, the increasing competition in the Earth observation space leaves less room for execution missteps. New satellites and AI offerings must deliver commercially, not merely meet development milestones. Planet Labs faces competition in the space from players such as BlackSky Technology (BKSY - Free Report) , Satellogic (SATL - Free Report) and Intuitive Machines, Inc. (LUNR - Free Report) .
PL’s ValuationPlanet Labs is trading at a forward 12-month price/sales ratio of 11.89X, higher than the Satellite and Communication sector’s multiple of 2.98X.
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The premium valuation to an extent is justified by its stronger growth profile, expanding backlog and rising defense exposure.
In comparison, BlackSky Technology trades at a forward 12-month P/S multiple of 4.51X, while Satellogic and Intuitive Machines are trading at a multiple of 12.62X and 2.97X, respectively.
Over the past six months, BKSY, SATL and LUNR have registered losses of 37.2%, 23.4% and 37.1%, respectively.
PL: A Buying Opportunity?At present, PL carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Planet Labs’ sharp share-price decline appears to offer a favorable entry point given its strong revenue growth, sizable backlog and expanding opportunities across defense. Its solid liquidity position provides room to fund expansion, while execution risks and elevated valuation remain key considerations.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Akcie Planet Labs v pátek vzrostly o 7,8 % po potvrzení úspěšného vypuštění 20 družic Planet Labs na palubě rakety SpaceX Transporter 18/Falcon 9. Mezi nimi byla i jedna družice mise Project Suncatcher s Alphabetem.
Planet Labs (PL +8.15%) stock soared 7.8% through 11:40 a.m. ET Friday after confirming the successful launch, aboard a "Transporter" Falcon 9 rocket managed by Space Exploration Technologies (SPCX +6.84%), of 20 Planet Labs-built satellites to orbit.
Image source: Getty Images.
What's Planet launching now?Running down the list, Planet says the SpaceX Transport 18 rocket carried to orbit:
18 SuperDove Earth observation satellites to supplement and maintain its existing "flock" of satellites that monitor happenings down here on Earth.One Tanager-2 hyperspectral satellite equipped with "cutting-edge, adjustable sensitivity imaging spectroscopy" that can detect methane emissions, analyze water quality, and even search for rare-earth elements on Earth.And one single Project Suncatcher satellite. This final payload was developed in partnership with Planet Labs customer Alphabet (GOOG +1.74%) (GOOGL +1.63%), and is equipped with Google artificial intelligence Tensor Processing Units.Its mission: To test whether TPUs can be used for AI satellites in space.
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What it means for Planet Labs?The SuperDove satellites offer the most immediate boost to Planet Labs' business, which derives essentially all of its $300 million-plus annual revenue from selling images captured by the company's Earth-observation satellites. Tanager-2 may supplement this core business. If you ask me, though, in the long term, Project Suncatcher may have the most potential to add a significant new revenue stream for Planet Labs by building AI satellites for Google to use in orbit.
Assuming the Suncatcher sat proves that TPUs can effectively process AI inference requests in orbit, collect solar power efficiently, and shed heat effectively, this may become Planet Labs' next big area of growth.
Suncatcher won't turn Planet Labs stock profitable immediately. (Analysts polled by S&P Global Market Intelligence don't expect that to happen before 2029.) But it gives Planet Labs its best shot at becoming a growth stock eventually.
Rich Smith has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet and Planet Labs PBC. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Planet Labs PBC (NYSE:PL) shares are trading higher on Friday. The company disclosed that Pelican-12, an updated second-generation (Gen 2) high-resolution Pelican satellite, has arrived at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida ahead of its launch on SpaceX’s Bandwagon-5 rideshare mission.
• Planet Labs stock is trading near recent lows. What’s next for PL stock?
Pelican-12 Satellite Launch UpdatePelican-12 incorporates lessons from Pelican-11, launched in July, and includes payload and communications upgrades delivered less than three months later.
It will help Planet test technologies including commercial data relay services, intersatellite communications through a steerable antenna and two-way data rates above the 1 Mbps achieved in a 2025 demonstration.
Gen 2 Pelicans are designed for up to 30 cm-class imagery versus 50 cm-class imagery for Gen 1, supporting applications such as agricultural monitoring, critical infrastructure management and disaster response.
Pelican-12 will be Planet’s fifth Pelican launch in 2026. The company is expanding production at its Berlin facility and plans additional Pelican launches in 2027 to meet demand for high-resolution data products and Satellite Services.
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PL Technical Analysis: Trend, Momentum and Key LevelsFrom a longer-term trend view, the stock is still in a repair phase: it’s trading 12.4% below its 50-day SMA ($20.41) and more than 34% below both the 100-day and 200-day SMAs, with a Death Cross (50-day below 200-day) that formed in August still hanging over the chart. The near-term improvement is that price is back above the 20-day SMA ($17.56), which can be an early sign that selling pressure is easing.
Momentum looks more "range-bound than trending" right now, with RSI at 45.87 (neutral), meaning the stock isn’t stretched enough to scream overbought/oversold and may be waiting for a clearer catalyst. In that context, traders often watch whether RSI can push and hold above the 50 area to confirm improving demand rather than just a bounce.
Key levels are fairly clean given the moving-average stack overhead and the recent base-building near the lows:
Key Resistance: $21 — Round-number area that also sits near the 50-day zone where rebounds can stall. Key Support: $15.50 — Nearby floor area where buyers previously stepped in, closer to the stock’s recent lower range Industrials Sector Strength and PL Relative PerformancePlanet Labs is outperforming its Industrials peer group today, up about 0.23 percentage points versus the sector’s +1.27% move. That relative strength matters because Industrials is currently the top-ranked sector (No. 1 of 11), so the stock is leading within the day’s strongest pocket of the market.
Zooming out, the sector trend has been choppy: Industrials is down 5.19% over the past 30 days and down 6.45% over the past 90 days. In other words, today’s strength is a tailwind, but the intermediate backdrop still argues for respecting overhead resistance levels until the sector’s longer-term trend improves.
Planet Labs (PL) Earnings Preview and Analyst Price TargetsLooking further out, the next major catalyst for the stock arrives with the Dec. 9 (estimated) earnings report.
Revenue Estimate: $114.33 million (Up from $81.25 million year-over-year) Analyst Consensus & Recent Actions: The stock carries a Buy rating with an average price forecast of $39.80. Recent analyst moves include:
Citizens: Market Perform on Sept. 4 Needham: Buy (Lowers target to $40 on Sept. 4) Goldman Sachs: Neutral (Raises target to $25 on July 14) How Planet Labs (PL) Ranks on MomentumBelow is the Benzinga Edge scorecard for Planet Labs, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses compared to the broader market:
Momentum: Weak (Score: 15.28) — The stock’s factor-based momentum profile is still lagging, which lines up with price sitting well below key longer-term moving averages. The Verdict: Planet Labs’s Benzinga Edge signal reveals a momentum-challenged setup despite today’s bounce. For longer-term traders, the chart likely needs sustained follow-through (and progress back toward the 50-day area) before the factor picture starts to look meaningfully healthier.
Top ETFs Holding Planet Labs (PL) Global X Copper Miners ETF (NYSE:COPX): 4.86% Weight Procure Space ETF (NASDAQ:UFO): 3.68% Weight VanEck Oil Refiners ETF (NYSE:CRAK): 4.87% Weight Significance: Because Planet Labs carries significant weight in these funds, any significant inflows or outflows for these ETFs will likely trigger automatic buying or selling of the stock.
PL Stock Price Action TodayPL Stock Price Activity: Planet Labs shares were up 0.06% at $17.63 at the time of publication on Friday, according to Benzinga Pro data.
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This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Planet Labs ukončil fiskální 2. čtvrtletí 2027 s asi 865 mil. USD v hotovosti a investicích, meziročně o více než 200 % více. Firma plánuje fiskální capex 100–115 mil. USD na výrobu, odolnost dodavatelského řetězce a nové satelity.
Key Takeaways PL ended fiscal Q2 2027 with about $865M in cash and investments, up more than 200% year over year.PL plans $100-$115M in fiscal 2027 capex for manufacturing, supply-chain resiliency and next-gen satellites.PL had an $815M backlog, while management identified over $4B in satellite-services opportunities. Planet Labs PBC (PL - Free Report) exited the second quarter of fiscal 2027 with approximately $865 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, up more than 200% year over year. This increase was driven by positive free cash flow and proceeds from capital transactions over the last year.
The company generated $68.4 million in net cash from operating activities, while free cash flow was $21.3 million for the six months ended July 31, 2026. Adjusted free cash flow (excluding nonrecurring payments related to litigation settlements) was $28.8 million. PL generated nearly $120 million from stock sales under its ATM program. This sizable liquidity position gives Planet Labs ample flexibility to accelerate investments as demand for its satellite services and AI-enabled solutions grows.
On the last earnings call, management added that it had identified more than $4 billion in satellite-services opportunities, with over 25% qualified as near-term. The company had a backlog of approximately $815 million, up about 11% year over year at the end of the fiscal second quarter. Roughly 50% of the backlog applies to the next 12 months and 70% to the next 24 months. Remaining performance obligations totaled approximately $753 million, up 9% year over year.
Planet Labs spent about $29 million in capital expenditures in the fiscal second quarter and expects fiscal 2027 capex of $100-$115 million. Management expects capex to increase in future quarters as it plans to channel spending toward manufacturing expansion in San Francisco and Berlin, supply-chain resiliency and next-generation satellite fleets.
The recently opened Berlin manufacturing facility highlights how these investments are translating into additional capacity. This new 5,700-square-meter manufacturing facility will be used for building 300-kilogram, 30-cm resolution class Pelican satellites. Production is expected to begin in autumn this year, with the facility eventually capable of producing up to 60 satellites annually. The first satellite is scheduled to be completed before this year-end.
However, increasing capex and competition in the space from players such as BlackSky Technology (BKSY - Free Report) and Satellogic (SATL - Free Report) remains concerning.
Cash Resources of CompetitorsBlackSky Technology provides real-time geospatial intelligence and global monitoring services. The company ended second-quarter 2026 with $244.1 million in cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments. BKSY had more than $325 million in total liquidity, following a $150 million ATM raise.
The company expects 2026 capital expenditures of $50-$60 million. On the last earnings call, BlackSky noted that it has a pipeline of more than 20 Gen-3 satellites underway and is on track to have eight Gen-3 satellites in orbit by the end of the year. The company is on track for an on-time delivery of its first sovereign Gen-3 satellite in 2026.
Satellogic is a vertically integrated Earth-observation and geospatial intelligence company. The company exited the second quarter with $112.8 million in cash and cash equivalents and reduced secured convertible debt to $18 million.
On the last earnings call, management added that the broader Space Systems pipeline remains around $1 billion. The company ramped production at the Montevideo facility to support its Merlin, NewSat and NextGen programs as defense demand grows. Satellogic expects to reach positive free cash flow in 2027.
PL Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesPlanet Labs’ shares have lost 16.7% over the past month against the Satellite and Communication industry’s 1.3% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Planet Labs’ shares are trading at a forward 12-month price-to-sales multiple of 12.16X, higher than the industry’s ratio of 2.83X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PL’s earnings for fiscal 2027 has been revised upward over the past 60 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
PL currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Planet Labs uzavřel fiskální 2. čtvrtletí s backlogem 815 mil. USD, zhruba polovina se má promítnout do příštích 12 měsíců. Tržby meziročně vyskočily o 58 % na 116 mil. USD.
Key Takeaways Planet Labs ended fiscal Q2 with an $815M backlog, with about 50% applying to the next 12 months.Fiscal Q2 revenues surged 58% to $116M as Defense and Intelligence revenues rose more than 90%.Planet Labs sees over $4B in satellite-services opportunities while fiscal 2027 capex is set at $100-$115M. Planet Labs PBC (PL - Free Report) is entering the second half of fiscal 2027 with strong revenue visibility, buoyed by a growing backlog and expanding satellite services opportunity.
The company had a backlog of approximately $815 million, up about 11% year over year at the end of the fiscal second quarter. Roughly 50% of the backlog applies to the next 12 months and 70% to the next 24 months. Remaining performance obligations (“RPO”) totaled approximately $753 million, up 9% year over year.
Management estimates that executing contracts already in backlog could generate more than $400 million in revenues over the next four quarters, excluding new business and renewals. The company added that it is confident of sustaining “high growth rates in future years” supported by near-term visibility and pipeline strength.
This visibility is important as Planet Labs ramps up its satellite services business. On the last earnings call, management added that it had identified more than $4 billion in satellite-services opportunities, with over 25% qualified as near term.
Fiscal second-quarter revenues surged 58% year over year to $116 million. Defense and Intelligence revenues (including satellite services revenues) rose more than 90% year over year, while commercial and civil-government revenues increased over 15% and 5%, respectively.
The handover of the Pelican satellite to the Swedish Armed Forces supported top-line growth. In August, the company was awarded a satellite services tender by Germany’s Federal Ministry of the Interior, making the country the first civil government to procure Planet Labs’ dedicated Constellation Services. The tender includes options and has a maximum possible value of €25 million over five years.
Planet Labs is also expanding capacity to support this opportunity. The company recently opened its Berlin manufacturing facility, which is expected to produce Pelican satellites and eventually scale to as many as 60 satellites per year.
Nonetheless, the key challenge will be to translate this visibility into consistent growth. Increasing capex will be a factor to watch out for amid increasing competition in this space. Fiscal 2027 capex is expected at $100-$115 million.
Mapping the Competitive TerrainBlackSky Technology (BKSY - Free Report) is a provider of real-time geospatial intelligence and global monitoring services. On the last earnings call, the company noted that it had secured up to $200 million in bookings year-to-date, while multi-year international contracts for space-based intelligence subscriptions represented more than 80% of total funded backlog.
Increasing adoption of Gen-3 services and expansion with existing customers is expected to sustain the momentum. BlackSky has a pipeline of more than 20 Gen-3 satellites underway and is on track to have eight Gen-3 satellites in orbit by the end of the year. The company is on track for an on-time delivery of its first sovereign Gen-3 satellite in 2026. BlackSky recently announced that it “collected and processed first-light imagery” from its fifth Gen-3 satellite in less than 20 hours after liftoff, underscoring rapid commissioning capabilities.
Satellogic (SATL - Free Report) is a vertically integrated Earth-observation and geospatial intelligence company. The company ended the second quarter of 2026 with $80.7 million in contracted non-cancellable RPO, including $45.8 million expected to be realized within the next 12 months. The broader Space Systems pipeline remains around $1 billion.
Strong global sovereign demand is creating a durable tailwind. In the last reported quarter, Satellogic’s Space Systems delivered $8.8 million in revenues (comprising 55% of total revenues) driven by sovereign satellite deliveries. Increasing subscriptions for persistent monitoring is another growth factor. Satellogic is also ramping production for its Merlin, NewSat and NextGen programs as defense demand grows.
PL Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesShares of Planet Labs have lost 21.6% over the past month against the Satellite and Communication industry’s growth of 3.4%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Planet Labs’ shares are trading at a forward 12-month price-to-sales multiple of 11.69X, higher than the industry’s ratio of 2.9X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PL’s earnings for fiscal 2027 has been revised upward over the past 60 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
PL currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Planet Labs otevřela v Berlíně továrnu o rozloze 5 700 m², která má později vyrábět až 60 satelitů ročně. Firma zároveň uvedla, že v satelitních službách vidí přes 4 miliardy USD příležitostí.
Key Takeaways Planet Labs opened a 5,700-square-meter Berlin facility that could produce up to 60 satellites a year.Planet Labs sees more than $4 billion in satellite-services opportunities, with over 25% near-term.EMEA revenues jumped more than 130% year over year in Q2. Planet Labs PBC (PL - Free Report) recently opened a satellite manufacturing facility in Berlin as governments across the region seek greater control over satellite infrastructure and Earth-observation capabilities.
This new 5,700-square-meter manufacturing facility will be used for building 300-kilogram, 30-cm resolution class Pelican satellites. Production is expected to begin in autumn this year, with the facility eventually capable of producing up to 60 satellites annually. The first satellite is scheduled to be completed before this year-end.
The investment could become increasingly important as Planet Labs scales its satellite-services business. On the last earnings call, management added that it had identified more than $4 billion in satellite-services opportunities, with over 25% qualified as near term.
Further, management said the Berlin facility is expected to roughly double manufacturing capacity and has already attracted “considerable interest” from German and other European governments on the last earnings call. The company also established an office in London to boost customer and partner relationships across the region.
Planet Labs plans to launch a Berlin-built Pelican satellite aboard Isar Aerospace’s German-made Spectrum rocket in 2027, marking a national first with both the satellite and launch vehicle built in the country.
Recent contract momentum indicates that sovereign-space demand is already translating into business opportunities. Fiscal second-quarter revenues surged 58% year over year to $116 million. The handover of the Pelican satellite to the Swedish Armed Forces supported top-line growth. Additionally, EMEA revenues surged more than 130% year over year, underscoring the region’s growing contribution.
In August, the company was awarded a satellite services tender by Germany’s Federal Ministry of the Interior, making the country the first civil government to procure Planet Labs’ dedicated Constellation Services. The tender includes options and has a maximum possible value of €25 million over five years.
The Berlin facility could therefore give Planet Labs a greater local manufacturing scale as demand soars. However, capitalizing on that opportunity will depend on converting the expanding pipeline into contracts while executing rapidly enough to keep pace with growing competition.
Mapping the Competitive TerrainBlackSky Technology (BKSY - Free Report) is a provider of real-time geospatial intelligence and global monitoring services. On the last earnings call, management noted that the strongest demand for its Mission Solutions is international. In September, BlackSky announced that its Gen-3 satellites will be part of a 50-satellite constellation developed under a $1 billion investment involving Marlan Space, Loft Orbital, Mistral AI, along with organizations in the UAE and France.
On the last earnings call, BlackSky noted that it had secured up to $200 million in bookings year to date, while multi-year international contracts for space-based intelligence subscriptions represented more than 80% of funded backlog.
Satellogic (SATL - Free Report) is a vertically integrated Earth-observation and geospatial intelligence company. Strong global sovereign demand is creating a durable tailwind. In the last reported quarter, Space Systems delivered $8.8 million in revenues (comprising 55% of total revenues) driven by sovereign satellite deliveries.
Europe accounted for 58% of Satellogic's second-quarter revenues, supported by deliveries under Portugal's $18 million CEiiA program. On the last earnings call, management added that the broader Space Systems pipeline remains around $1 billion. Recently, Satellogic announced that it will launch two new NewSat Mark VI satellites equipped with inter-satellite link technology and one additional NewSat Mark V satellite in October 2026. The Mark V satellite is intended to add capacity to its sovereign Space Systems program.
PL Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesShares of Planet Labs have lost 21.6% over the past month against the Satellite and Communication industry’s growth of 3.4%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Planet Labs’ shares are trading at a forward 12-month price-to-sales multiple of 11.69X, higher than the industry’s ratio of 2.9X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PL’s earnings for fiscal 2027 has been revised upward over the past 60 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
PL currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Planet Labs ve 2. čtvrtletí fiskálního roku 2027 zvýšila tržby o více než 58 % na rekordních 116 milionů USD a přešla do zisku na akcii 2 centy. Akcie přesto po výsledcích klesly o více než 1 %.
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$9.39▼
$51.76$32.78
Like a rocket that must eventually come back down to Earth after takeoff, space and satellite stock Planet Labs PBC NYSE: PL has plummeted from its heights. Through the end of May, PL had risen nearly 160%. The stock had reached a market capitalization of more than $18 billion, despite generating sales of only $307 million in the last 12 months at that point.
Shares have now declined even faster than they rose at the start of the year. Planet Labs’ 2026 gains have completely vanished, with shares now down roughly 15% year-to-date. Compared to its 2026 high, Planet Labs has fallen more than 60%.
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However, this move is more a function of a stock that had gotten ahead of itself, rather than one posting deeply disappointing financial performance. Amid this, Wall Street analysts are now forecasting a large rebound, indicating a potential opportunity going forward.
The Q1 Report That Turned the TidePlanet Labs recently posted its Q2 fiscal year 2027 (FY2027) earnings report, but understanding the path of this name requires going back one quarter. Its Q1 FY2027 report marked the point when the market began punishing the stock despite continued business growth.
In that Q1 report, Planet Labs posted revenue of over $94 million, up 42% year-over-year (YOY), and beat estimates by over $3 million. Its loss per share of 3 cents was better than expected. Its backlog surged 72% YOY to $906 million, and the firm raised its full-year revenue guidance. Despite this, shares tanked 26% the next day. Since then, the stock has plummeted by almost another 50%.
Trading at a forward price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of over 30x going into its report, posting anything other than massive beats equated to an untenable valuation. Investor expectations had gotten ahead of the company’s results, and shares have continued to fall as that valuation reset played out. The latest quarter provides a clearer picture of where the business and stock stand now.
Planet Labs Crushes Q2, But With a CaveatIn fiscal Q2 2027, Planet Labs’ financial performance was even stronger than in the prior quarter. Revenue soared over 58% YOY to a record $116 million, this time beating estimates by over $11 million. This was the firm’s highest revenue growth in four years. Additionally, the company swung from a loss per share of 7 cents in the prior year to earnings of 2 cents per share, well ahead of the expected 2-cent loss. The company also saw its Rule of 40 Score improve to 70, versus 41 last quarter and 29 a year ago. It calculates this by adding revenue growth to its adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) margin of 12%.
However, there was a notable caveat to its strong quarter. Its sales outperformance was partially due to handing over a satellite to a customer during fiscal Q2, rather than its expected timeline of fiscal Q3. As timing rather than demand drove this, the company only slightly raised the low end of its full-year guidance. It now expects midpoint sales growth of 41.5%, up from 41% last quarter.
Meanwhile, its backlog fell 10% sequentially despite rising 11% YOY to $815 million, as new orders did not fully replenish deliveries. Despite posting many impressive metrics, shares fell more than 1% after the report. This further reflects how moderate earnings blemishes can cause negative reactions for this still high-multiple stock.
Analysts Eye Huge Rebound, But Planet Labs Still Isn't CheapPlanet Labs now trades at a forward P/S sales ratio near 12x. Notably, this figure has come down more than 70% from its highs, but it is not low by any means. For reference, Planet Labs' forward P/S ratio still ranks in the top five highest among nearly 200 industrial stocks in the Russell 1000 Index. Thus, although its valuation indicates less risk than in the past, in the grand scheme, risk is still palpable.
Current Price$16.47High Forecast$50.00Average Forecast$32.78Low Forecast$12.30Planet Labs PBC Stock Forecast Details
However, Wall Street analysts are clearly bullish on the stock’s outlook, with the MarketBeat consensus price target of $32.78 implying upside of well over 90%. Additionally, the average of targets updated after its report is slightly higher, above $33.
Looking ahead, one key watch item will be Planet Labs' ability to convert its over $4 billion pipeline into orders. Within this, it classifies $1 billion as being "near-term," seeing potential to convert this portion in the coming quarters rather than years. With its backlog currently at $815 million, converting a significant percentage of its near-term pipeline could materially improve its backlog and, in turn, revenue visibility.
Planet Lab’s growth to this point has demonstrated its ability to succeed in the satellite and imaging market. However, whether this success will continue at a rate that satisfies markets is an entirely different question, and one filled with uncertainty. In turn, taking a cautious approach with this stock remains paramount.
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Cleo Palmer-Poroner - Director of Investor Relations
William Marshall - Co-Founder, CEO & Chairman of the Board
Ashley Whitfield Johnson - President & CFO
Conference Call Participants
Xin Yu - Deutsche Bank AG, Research Division
John Godyn - Citigroup Inc., Research Division
Mike Latimore - Northland Capital Markets, Research Division
Trevor Walsh - Citizens JMP Securities, LLC, Research Division
Ryan Koontz - Needham & Company, LLC, Research Division
Michael Filatov - Joh. Berenberg, Gossler & Co. KG, Research Division
Daniel Hibshman - Craig-Hallum Capital Group LLC, Research Division
Noah Poponak - Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Research Division
Kyle Benvenuto - Morgan Stanley, Research Division
Gregory Pendy - Clear Street LLC., Research Division
Gabriel Flouret - Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., Research Division
Christopher Quilty - Quilty Space Inc., Research Division
Presentation
Operator
Thank you for joining us, and welcome to the Planet Labs PBC Second Quarter of Fiscal Year 2027 Earnings Call. [Operator Instructions]
I will now hand the conference over to Cleo Palmer-Poroner, Director of Investor Relations.
Cleo Palmer-Poroner
Director of Investor Relations
Thanks, operator, and hello, everyone. I'm joined by Will Marshall and Ashley Johnson, who will provide a recap of our results and discuss our current outlook. We encourage everyone to please reference the earnings press release and earnings update presentation for today's call, which are available on our Investor Relations website.
Before we begin, we'd like to remind everyone that we will make forward-looking statements related to future events or our financial outlook. Any forward-looking statements are based on management's current outlook, plans, estimates, expectations, and projections. The inclusion of such forward-looking information should not be regarded as a representation by Planet that future plans, estimates, or expectations will be achieved. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties and assumptions as detailed in our SEC filings, which can be found
Planet Labs oznámila rekordní tržby 116,05 milionu USD za 2. čtvrtletí, což překonalo odhad trhu. Ztráta 3 centy na akcii ale byla vyšší, než se očekávalo.
Planet Labs PBC (NYSE:PATH) posted its fiscal 2027 second-quarter results after Thursday’s closing bell, beating analysts’ revenue expectations. Here’s a look at the details inside the report.
PL stock is moving. Watch the price action here. Planet Labs reported quarterly losses of three cents per share, which missed the consensus estimate for losses of two cents, per Benzinga Pro data.
Quarterly revenue came in at $116.05 million, which beat the Street estimate of $104.12 million by 11.46%.
Planet Labs reported the following quarterly highlights:
Second quarter revenue increased 58% year-over-year to a record $116.1 million. Percent of recurring annual contract value (ACV) was 98% as of the end of the second quarter. Second quarter non-GAAP gross margin was 59%, compared to 61% in the second quarter of fiscal year 2026. Second quarter net loss was ($9.4) million, compared to ($22.6) million in the second quarter of fiscal year 2026. “Planet delivered an outstanding second quarter, with record revenue of $116.1 million, representing 58% year-over-year growth and our fourth consecutive quarter of meeting or exceeding the Rule of 40,” said Will Marshall, Planet’s CEO.
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PL Stock Price: According to data from Benzinga Pro, Planet Labs stock was up 6.32% to $19.51 in Thursday’s extended trading.
Photo: Shutterstock
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A new European defense contract and a fresh analyst Buy rating landed for Planet Labs on Thursday, yet the stock cratered anyway while the broader market rallied. Something specific to this sector is spooking investors ahead of a closely watched…
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Space and satellite names are pulling back Thursday morning even as major U.S. benchmarks climb, with a mix of company-specific catalysts failing to stem selling across the commercial space complex. The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSEARCA:SPY) is up 0.6% to $769.76, tracking the S&P 500, so the risk-off in space is idiosyncratic to the sector rather than a reflection of the wider market.
Planet Labs PBC (NYSE:PL) stock is down 8% to $18.48, even after the company announced a new European defense contract and picked up a fresh Buy initiation from Berenberg. Meanwhile, Intuitive Machines (NASDAQ:LUNR) stock is falling 2% to $14.52 as risk comes out of the space complex. AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ:ASTS) stock is sliding 1% to $61.78, sitting out today’s broad-market advance.
Contract and Buy Rating Fail to Lift Planet Labs Planet Labs disclosed a seven-figure, one-year agreement with a European defense and intelligence customer covering Planet Mosaics imagery and dedicated professional services support, according to Planet Labs PBC. Jon Powers, its Vice President of Global Defense and Intelligence, stated, “Defense and intelligence organizations around the globe rely on Planet’s high-frequency, scalable satellite solutions to address complex and fast-evolving security environments.” That agreement extends Planet Labs’s run of government wins from earlier this year, including deals with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, the Swedish Armed Forces and the Defense Innovation Unit.
Scale is the problem for bulls. A seven-figure deal is small next to the 8-figure and 9-figure awards Planet Labs has booked earlier this year, so it doesn’t materially shift the revenue base or full-year guidance math.
The sell-side signal is more constructive. Rocket Lab (NASDAQ:RKLB | RKLB Price Prediction) was named alongside Planet Labs and AST SpaceMobile in a Berenberg initiation, with analyst Michael Filatov launching coverage of all three at Buy and setting a $25 price target on Planet Labs stock, citing its daily whole-Earth imaging and multi-year imagery archive as a moat rivals would struggle to reproduce. Yet, that initiation isn’t drawing buyers in Planet Labs stock during this session.
Sector Risk Comes Off Ahead of Results Positioning offers the cleaner read. Planet Labs is scheduled to report quarterly results after the close, though the company hasn’t confirmed the date, and short-dated options activity has tilted defensive into the release. That’s a familiar setup for a name that’s run hard.
The year-to-date figure sharpens the picture. Planet Labs stock was up 1% year to date through Wednesday’s close despite a 201% advance over the past year, meaning the entire twelve-month gain predates 2026, and current holders have sat through eight quiet months.
The commercial space peers show the same tone. Intuitive Machines stock was down 8% year to date through the prior close, and AST SpaceMobile stock was down 14% year to date over the same span, extending an underperforming stretch even as the S&P 500 climbs. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note is down 4 basis points to 4.74%, a rate move typically supportive of long-duration growth names.
What to Watch The immediate event is Planet Labs’ scheduled results release. A quarterly print in line with the FY2027 revenue and adjusted EBITDA guide could unwind the day’s de-risking. Any softness in backlog conversion or the current-quarter revenue outlook may confirm the caution the session is pricing in.
Peer-group price action matters, too. If Intuitive Machines and AST SpaceMobile stabilize while Planet Labs continues to lag, the move looks stock-specific rather than sector-wide. Should the whole space complex keep sliding, it points to broader rotation regardless of tonight’s numbers.
Investors sizing their exposure into the release should calibrate their positions carefully given the volatility already visible in the session and in short-dated options activity. There’s no shame in waiting for the report itself; the setup here is asymmetric only for holders willing to stomach a gap either way.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Planet Labs před výsledky obchoduje 27,3 % pod 200denním klouzavým průměrem. Trh sleduje i výhled tržeb na fiskální rok 2027 v pásmu 425 až 441 milionů USD.
Planet Labs PBC (NYSE:PL) shares are in the spotlight, with earnings on deck, key growth metrics in focus and a technical setup showing the stock trading below every major moving average.
Earnings Preview & HistoryPlanet Labs is scheduled to report second-quarter fiscal-year 2027 earnings on September 3 after market close. Analysts estimate a loss of 2 cents per share along with revenue of $104.12 million. For the prior quarter, Planet Labs reported EPS of negative 3 cents, beating the consensus estimate of negative 4 cents by 25%. The company also posted revenue of $94.15 million, beating the consensus estimate of $89.85 million by 4.78%.
Backlog, Defense Growth, FY27 Guidance in FocusInvestors will be closely tracking backlog and remaining performance obligations, which stood at approximately $906 million and $816 million, respectively, at the end of the first quarter, up more than 70% year-over-year, as a key indicator of future revenue visibility. Defense and intelligence segment growth will also be in focus, given it grew more than 65% year-over-year last quarter and has become the company’s primary growth driver, alongside any updates on international contract wins and the pace of Pelican satellite deployments.
Commentary on full-year fiscal 2027 guidance, currently set at $425 million to $441 million in revenue with adjusted EBITDA between breakeven and $10 million, along with progress toward sustained positive free cash flow, should offer additional signals on whether Planet Labs can justify its valuation heading into the back half of the year.
Planet Labs Trades Below Every Major Moving AverageFrom a trend perspective, PL is still in a defensive posture: it’s trading 13.8% below its 20-day SMA, 19.6% below its 50-day SMA, 37.7% below its 100-day SMA, and 27.3% below its 200-day SMA. That "below all the key averages" setup typically means rallies can run into supply faster than they find follow-through.
The moving-average structure also leans bearish, with the 20-day SMA below the 50-day SMA and a death cross in August (the 50-day SMA below the 200-day SMA). In longer-term trend work, that combination often signals the stock needs time (and multiple closes back above key averages) before the trend picture improves.
MACD is the cleaner momentum lens right now: it’s below its signal line and the histogram is negative, which points to fading upside pressure versus the prior upswing. In plain terms, when MACD sits below its signal line, it usually means momentum is cooling unless buyers can push price back into a stronger uptrend.
Near-term levels are tight, which can make Tuesday’s open important if volatility picks up with the futures tone:
Key Resistance: $21.00 — a round-number area that can cap rebounds before the stock can work back toward its short-term moving averages Key Support: $19.50 — a nearby floor traders may defend, sitting right around the current trading area Read Next
Planet Labs Shares DropPL Price Action: At the time of publication, Planet Labs shares are trading 1.91% lower at $19.47, according to data from Benzinga Pro.
Image via Shutterstock
This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
CFO společnosti Planet Labs Ashley Johnson prodala přibližně 110 000 akcií za 2,4 milionu USD v rámci předem nastaveného plánu 10b5-1. Po transakci jí zůstává zhruba 1,1 milionu přímých a 561 000 nepřímých akcií.
Ashley F. Johnson, President and Chief Financial Officer of Planet Labs PBC (PL +1.29%), sold ~110,000 shares of Class A Common Stock on July 23, 2026, for a total value of $2.4 million, according to an SEC Form 4 filing.
Transaction summaryMetricValueTransaction value$2.4 millionShares sold~110,000Shares sold (directly held)75,035Shares sold (indirectly held)34,993Post-transaction shares (directly held)~1.1 millionPost-transaction shares (indirectly held)~561,000Post-transaction value$37.87 millionInsider ownership0.51%Transaction value based on SEC Form 4 weighted average sale price ($22.08); post-transaction value based on July 23, 2026 market close ($22.36).
Key questionsWhat is the context for this transaction?
The sale was conducted as part of routine portfolio management under a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan established on April 23, 2026. This regulatory framework allows insiders to schedule stock sales in advance to avoid concerns regarding the possession of material non-public information.How has the company performed financially leading up to this trade?
Planet Labs reported a 226% one-year return as of the July 23, 2026 transaction date. During the most recent trailing-twelve-month period, the company generated $335.6 million in revenue while recording a net loss of $373.1 million.What is the status of the executive's remaining equity position?
Following this transaction, Johnson retains a significant interest in the company, including ~1.1 million shares held directly and ~561,000 shares held indirectly through a revocable trust. The directly held position includes 1,132,122 restricted stock units (RSUs) that are scheduled to vest in quarterly installments through December.Company OverviewMetricValueShare Price (as of market close 2026-07-23)$22.36Market Capitalization$6.9 billionRevenue (TTM)$335.6 millionNet Income (TTM)-$373.1 millionCompany SnapshotPlanet Labs designs, deploys, and operates extensive satellite constellations that deliver frequent, high-resolution geospatial imagery and data to customers worldwide through a proprietary cloud-native platform.The company generates revenue through subscription-based access to its satellite imagery and geospatial analytics platform, leveraging its proprietary technology stack to process and integrate temporal data for advanced analytical applications.Planet Labs serves government agencies, commercial enterprises, and institutional customers requiring real-time geospatial intelligence for applications spanning agriculture, urban planning, disaster response, and defense and security operations.Planet Labs PBC operates as a leading provider of frequent, global geospatial data through its constellation of Earth-imaging satellites. The company's differentiated competitive position derives from its extensive satellite network, proprietary cloud-native processing infrastructure, and ability to deliver sub-meter resolution imagery at unprecedented temporal frequency.
With a market capitalization of $6.9 billion, Planet Labs is scaling its commercial and government customer base while advancing its technological capabilities in satellite operations and geospatial analytics.
What this transaction means for investorsThe July 23 sale of Planet Labs stock by CFO Ashley Johnson for a weighted average price of $22.08 occurred during a time when shares were on the decline, having fallen substantially from a 52-week high of $51.76 reached in May. The drop was due in part to the company’s plan to sell up to $1.5 billion Class A shares, a large equity offering that prompted dilution concerns among shareholders.
The CFO’s disposition combined with other insider sales also added to a Planet Labs stock sell-off. That said, her July 23 transaction does not appear to raise red flags for investors, given it was a non-discretionary transaction executed as part of a pre-established Rule 10b5-1 plan.
Moreover, Johnson retained more than one million directly-held shares post-transaction, and over half a million indirectly-held stock in a trust. This demonstrates she maintains a sizable equity position, ensuring her continued alignment with shareholder interests.
Robert Izquierdo has positions in Planet Labs PBC. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Planet Labs PBC. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Planet Labs pokračuje v prudkém poklesu a akcie jsou na nejnižší úrovni od 19. března. Firma přitom v prvním čtvrtletí zvýšila tržby o 42 % na 94,2 milionu USD.
Planet Labs stock continued its strong downward trend last week, reaching its lowest level since March 19. PL has dropped by 50% from its highest point this year, with the market capitalization falling from over $18.40 billion in May to the current $9.28 billion, and technicals suggest that it has more downside to go.
The ongoing PL stock retreat has coincided with that of other companies in the space industry. SpaceX stock has plunged to a record low, while Rocket Lab fell by 47% from its highest point this year. The Procure Space ETF (UFO) dropped from the year-to-date high of $68.3 to $46.
PL stock has plunged in the past few weeks, even after the company published strong financial results. Its recent results showed that its revenue and backlog continued rising in the last quarter.
Planet Labs revenue jumped by 42% in the first quarter to $94.2 million, with the percentage of recurring annual contract value (ACV) soaring to 99%.
The company’s gross margin softened a bit to 54%, with its net loss soaring to $138.9 million from the $12.6 million it lost a year earlier. This loss jumped because of a $106 million revaluation loss from a change in fair value of warrant liabilities related to stock appreciation.
Planet Labs expects the company’s growth will continue in the foreseeable future, helped by the rising demand from government agencies and corporations. The average estimate among analysts is that its revenue jumped by 42% in the second quarter to $104 million, followed by 40% in the second quarter.
Planet Labs annual revenue is expected to continue rising by over 40% to $436 million, followed by $570 million next year. This growth will likely be because of the Pelican-11 satellite, which is designed to validate new technologies and capabilities in a bid to boost the quality of images.
Most notably, analysts expect the company will become profitable in the coming years. The average estimate is that the company will breakeven in terms of EPS as soon as next year.
Planet Labs stock has dropped because of the rising fears of dilution after the company entered an equity distribution plan to sell up to $1.5 billion of its Class A common stock from time to time. This likely explains why the company has a short interest of 12.4%.
Planet Labs stock chart | Source: TradingView
The daily chart shows that the Planet Labs stock has been in a freefall in the past few weeks, moving from a high of $51.60 in May to the current $26.
It is attempting to drop below the key support level of $26.25, a move that will invalidate the forming of the double-bottom pattern.
It is attempting to move below the 50-day and 100-day Exponential Moving Averages (EMA), which are about to cross each other, forming a mini death cross.
The stock will likely continue falling, potentially to the key support level at $20, down by 23% from the current level. It will likely bounce back later this year as investors rotate back to space companies.
READ MORE: Wedbush makes a strong case for buying the dip in Planet Labs stock
Akcie Planet Labs klesly o 37 % z historického maxima za něco málo přes měsíc po slabším výhledu zisku a oznámení emise akcií až za 1,5 miliardy USD. Firma zároveň snížila marži z 56 % v prvním čtvrtletí na 52 % až 54 % za celý rok.
It has been an exciting year for space stocks. Coming into June, Planet Labs (PL 0.60%) stock had surged to over $51 per share and was up an eye-opening 162% year to date. However, the stock recently pulled back 37% from its all-time high just over one month ago.
Planet Labs has been riding high on the wave of strong top-line growth and a surge in government spending on space and defense. However, the company's recent earnings forecast and equity raise have taken the air out of the balloon. Here's what investors need to know.
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Planet Labs' stock has gone on a tear over the last year Planet Labs operates a massive constellation of small satellites that capture daily high-resolution imagery of the planet. The company provides geospatial imagery, data archives, and analytics to intelligence, agricultural, and commercial customers for applications such as national security, crop yields, and deforestation monitoring.
The stock has soared over the last year, surging 432% as investors flock to booming space stocks. The company showcased solid top-line growth while teaming up with Nvidia to incorporate its GPUs into its satellites and deliver real-time AI insights to customers like never before. It is also riding a wave of contract wins, including awards with the U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and the Swedish Armed Forces, and selection as a prime contractor under the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) SHIELD framework.
Image source: Getty Images.
Planet Labs stock surged following its previous three earnings reports, but its first-quarter results (for the period ending April 30) sent the stock tumbling. Part of its decline was driven by margin compression and a high forecast for capital expenditure for the year. During the earnings call, Planet Labs guided its margin down from 56% in the first quarter to between 52% and 54% for the full year, with heavy capital investment totaling between $80 million and $95 million this year.
The biggest driver of the stock's decline was its $1.5 billion at-the-market equity offering, which was also announced during its earnings call. Planet Labs entered into an agreement to sell up to $1.5 billion of its Class A common stock through at-the-market offerings, meaning it could sell shares in smaller portions over time. The proceeds would be used to expand manufacturing capacity and further build out its Earth-imaging infrastructure.
Should you buy the dip in Planet Labs? Planet Labs is growing nicely and expanding its reach with its growing satellite platform. However, the equity offering highlights the risks of investing in high-growth, early-stage companies, and the $1.5 billion raise is a massive amount for a company with a market capitalization of $11.7 billion.
The company is spending big in hopes of a larger payoff long-term, and analysts project its revenue could grow by 34% compounded over the next three years. That said, Planet Labs stock is far from cheap, priced at 31.2 times sales, and analysts covering the company don't foresee profitability until 2028 at the earliest.
Investors must balance growth with spending and recognize that Planet Labs is still an early-stage, rapidly growing company. If you do buy the stock, make sure it's part of a diversified portfolio and size your position accordingly.
Key Takeaways PL shares have lost 11.9% in three months, lagging the industry, sector and the Zacks S&P 500 composite.PL trades at 22.76X price-to-sales, above the industry average of 3.15 and the three-year median of 3.8.Planet Labs' backlog rose 72% to over $906M, but losses are expected to continue through fiscal 2027. Shares of Planet Labs (PL - Free Report) have lost 11.9% in the past three months, underperforming the industry, its sector, as well as the Zacks S&P 500 composite. Planet Labs is a leading provider of Earth-imaging data and geospatial analytics, operating the largest fleet of Earth-observation satellites globally.
PL vs. Industry, Sector, S&P 500 in 3 Months
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Shares of Rocket Lab (RKLB - Free Report) , its peer, have gained 47.7% in the past three months, while those of BlackSky Technology (BKSY - Free Report) , another peer, have lost 6.7% in the same time frame.
PL Shares Are ExpensiveThe stock is overvalued compared with its industry. It is currently trading at a price-to-sales multiple of 22.76, higher than the industry average of 3.15 and the median of 3.8 over three years.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
PL is relatively cheap compared to RKLB but expensive compared to BKSY.
The Case for PL StockPlanet Labs generates most of its revenues through a combination of fixed-price subscription agreements and usage-based contracts, delivering satellite imagery and geospatial data analytics to governments and large enterprises via its cloud-based platform. Revenue growth has been driven by an expanding subscription base, rising government demand and a strategic emphasis on higher-value satellite services and advanced analytics.
The company ended the first quarter of fiscal 2027 with backlog increasing 72% year over year to more than $906 million, providing strong revenue visibility and supporting expectations for faster growth. Management projects fiscal 2027 revenues of $425-$441 million.
Planet Labs has increasingly prioritized large government and defense contracts, which offer greater revenue stability and long-term visibility. Although this business remains its primary growth driver, management continues to view the commercial market as a significant long-term opportunity. Ongoing enhancements to its platform are expected to broaden commercial adoption. In particular, AI-powered analytics, initially developed for government customers, are creating new commercial opportunities across supply chain monitoring, surveillance, operational optimization, insurance risk assessment, financial analysis, energy management and agriculture.
Despite these growth prospects, Planet Labs remains unprofitable, and meaningful profitability is unlikely in the near term. Continued investments in satellite infrastructure, elevated research and development spending, and high operating expenses continue to put pressure on margins. After five consecutive years of losses, the company is expected to remain in the red through fiscal 2027, while returns on equity and invested capital remain well below industry averages. For fiscal 2027, management expects a non-GAAP gross margin of 52-54% and adjusted EBITDA ranging from breakeven to a profit of $10 million, indicating that sustained profitability is still some distance away.
Planet Labs Growth ProjectionsThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2027 revenues indicates a 41.9% year-over-year increase, while that for earnings suggests a 75% year-over-year decline. The consensus estimate for fiscal 2028 revenues indicates a 32.2% year-over-year increase, while that for earnings suggests an increase of 138.1% year over year.
The consensus estimate for fiscal 2027 and 2028 earnings has moved south in the past 30 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The consensus estimate for 2026 earnings of RKLB has moved south in the past 30 days, while that for BKSY has witnessed no movement in the same time frame.
Parting Thoughts on PL SharesPlanet Labs, a data-driven company focused on Earth-observation imagery and analytics, is poised to grow, given the rising global demand for commercial satellites.
However, current factors warrant caution. With the stock trading at a premium, returns on capital comparing unfavorably with the industry, looming near-term earnings pressure, pessimistic analyst sentiment and a VGM Score of F, it is better to avoid this Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) stock for now.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Planet Labs v 1. čtvrtletí zvýšila tržby na rekordních 94,15 mil. USD a hrubá marže podle GAAP dosáhla 54 %. Backlog přesáhl 906 mil. USD, což zvyšuje viditelnost budoucích tržeb.
SpaceX is dominating financial headlines with a record-breaking IPO, a rumored $2 trillion valuation, and a Starlink/Starship hype loop that has retirement-focused investors scrambling for pre-IPO access. The more compelling opportunity sits in plain sight on the public market.
The SpaceX trade fails the retirement portfolio test on arithmetic alone. Retail buyers cannot touch the shares directly, secondary-market vehicles charge punitive premiums, and the offering is priced at a dangerous, highly speculative revenue multiple that leaves retail buyers with zero margin of safety ahead of its August lock-up expiration. Insiders exit, retail holds the bag. That movie has run before.
The better ticker is already public, already profitable, and already selling the data a launch business cannot monetize. Planet Labs (NYSE:PL) runs the picks-and-shovels layer of the space economy: an Earth-observation satellite fleet plus an AI-enabled geospatial data subscription business.
1. A high-margin subscription model that funds itself Planet Labs is a software business wrapped inside a satellite operator. In Q1 FY2027, revenue hit a record $94.15 million, up 42% YoY, with GAAP gross margin at 54% and non-GAAP gross margin at 56%. About 99% of annual contract value is recurring. Non-GAAP EPS came in at -$0.03, with the reported GAAP loss distorted by a $106.47 million non-cash warrant revaluation that is now behind the company.
2. A backlog that reads like a defense contractor Forward visibility is the number retirement investors should care about. Planet exited the quarter with backlog above $906 million, up 72% YoY, and remaining performance obligations of $816.01 million, up 81% YoY. The customer roster includes a €240 million German government deal, Sweden’s first sovereign reconnaissance satellite, NATO expansions, NGA, NRO, and the U.S. Navy. Signed contracts backed by government budgets carry different risk than IPO speculation.
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3. AI optionality built into the data layer CEO Will Marshall summarized the strategy in the most recent quarter: “By investing in AI, we are positioning Planet at the forefront of the industry and pioneering ways to make planetary-scale insights available and actionable to more users than ever before.” The company has an R&D partnership with Google on Project Suncatcher data centers in space, a natural-language query beta, SuperRes AI upscaling, and Pelican satellites moving toward 30cm-class imagery. Every rocket the launch industry puts in orbit ultimately feeds a data layer this business already owns.
The profitability inflection closes the case. FY2026 delivered $52.87 million in free cash flow and $15.49 million of adjusted EBITDA profit, the first full year of both. FY2027 guidance calls for $425 million to $441 million in revenue and up to $10 million of adjusted EBITDA profit.
The obvious pushback is BlackSky Technology (NYSE:BKSY), the smaller pure-play competitor. BlackSky’s Q1 2026 revenue was $20.77 million, down 29.7% YoY, missing expectations by 23.8%, with EPS of -$0.82 against a consensus of -$0.40. Roughly one-tenth Planet Labs’ $10.64 billion market cap, negative operating cash flow at -$2.36 million, and revenue moving the wrong direction.
For investors weighing the SpaceX pre-IPO scramble, Planet Labs belongs on the research short list.
Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Planet Labs didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.
Planet Labs se mění v AI geoinformační platformu s rostoucí expozicí vůči obraně. Tržby divize Defense & Intelligence vzrostly ve fiskálním 1. čtvrtletí 2027 o více než 65 %.
Key Takeaways Planet Labs is evolving into an AI-driven geospatial intelligence platform with defense exposure.AI tools, including Claude AI, help Planet Labs turn satellite imagery into actionable insights.Defense & Intelligence revenues rose more than 65%, driven by data subscriptions and satellite services. Planet Labs (PL - Free Report) is evolving from a traditional satellite-imagery company into an AI-driven geospatial intelligence platform with growing exposure to the global defense market. Leveraging one of the world’s largest Earth-observation datasets, the company combines satellite imagery, artificial intelligence, machine learning and advanced analytics to deliver higher-value intelligence solutions for governments and enterprises.
The company operates the largest fleet of Earth-observation satellites globally, generating a continuous stream of real-time geospatial data. This extensive dataset creates a competitive advantage, as AI models improve with access to large volumes of frequently updated information. To enhance its capabilities, Planet Labs has integrated AI into its platform, including a partnership with Anthropic that incorporates Claude AI to help customers transform raw satellite imagery into actionable insights more efficiently.
Planet Labs is also expanding its role in defense and intelligence. Recent contract wins include a €240 million agreement supported by Germany, expanded work with the U.S. Department of Defense, an eight-figure contract extension with the U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, a NATO surveillance agreement and maritime monitoring contracts with the U.S. Navy. These awards underscore the growing importance of the company’s technology in national security, surveillance and situational awareness.
Demand within the Defense & Intelligence segment remains strong, with revenues increasing more than 65% in fiscal first quarter 2027, fueled by growth in data subscriptions and satellite services. As governments adopt AI-enabled monitoring and intelligence systems, PL is increasingly transitioning toward a software-and-services model characterized by recurring revenues, improving margins and greater long-term strategic value.
What About Its Peers?Rocket Lab (RKLB - Free Report) benefits from diversified government and commercial demand. Rocket Lab has secured contracts across defense, NASA, and private space markets. Rocket Lab is also expanding AI capabilities through automation, machine learning, and advanced analytics, strengthening operational efficiency and positioning itself for higher-value defense and autonomous space opportunities.
BlackSky (BKSY - Free Report) is expanding its AI capabilities through real-time geospatial analytics, automated intelligence and machine learning-driven monitoring solutions. BlackSky is increasingly benefiting from rising defense and national security demand. BKSY’s AI-powered Earth-observation platform positions it for higher-margin government and intelligence contracts.
PL’s Price PerformancePL has gained 37.6% year to date, outperforming the industry.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
PL’s Expensive ValuationThe stock is overvalued compared with its industry. It is currently trading at a price-to-sales multiple of 20.67, higher than the industry average of 3.06.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Estimate Movement for PLThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for PL’s fiscal second-quarter and third-quarter 2027 EPS witnessed no movement in the last seven days. The same holds true for fiscal 2027 and 2028.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The consensus estimates for PL’s 2027 and 2028 revenues indicate year-over-year increases. While the estimate for fiscal 2027 earnings indicates a year-over-year decline, the same for fiscal 2028 indicates a year-over-year increase.
PL stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
