AMTM vs PLTR

For growth investors, Amentum Holdings, Inc.

(AMTM) is the stronger pick with 71. 6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 56. 2% for Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR). Amentum Holdings, Inc. (AMTM) offers the better valuation at 90. 9x trailing P/E (10. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Amentum Holdings, Inc. (AMTM) a "Hold" — based on 11 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Amentum Holdings, Inc.

(AMTM) is the cheapest at 90. 9x versus Palantir Technologies Inc. at 217. 6x. On forward P/E, Amentum Holdings, Inc. is actually cheaper at 10. 2x.

Over the past 5 years, Palantir Technologies Inc.

(PLTR) delivered a total return of +594. 0%, compared to -16. 8% for Amentum Holdings, Inc. (AMTM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PLTR returned +1343% versus AMTM's -16. 8%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Amentum Holdings, Inc.

(AMTM) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 17β versus Palantir Technologies Inc. 's 1. 91β — meaning PLTR is approximately 63% more volatile than AMTM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 94% for Amentum Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Amentum Holdings, Inc.

(AMTM) is pulling ahead at 71. 6% versus 56. 2% for Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Palantir Technologies Inc. grew EPS 231. 6% year-over-year, compared to 179. 4% for Amentum Holdings, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, PLTR leads at 32. 9% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Palantir Technologies Inc.

(PLTR) is the more profitable company, earning 36. 3% net margin versus 0. 5% for Amentum Holdings, Inc. — meaning it keeps 36. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PLTR leads at 31. 6% versus 3. 5% for AMTM. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PLTR leads at 82. 4%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, Amentum Holdings, Inc.

(AMTM) trades at 10. 2x forward P/E versus 107. 1x for Palantir Technologies Inc. — 96. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AMTM: 47. 8% to $36. 29.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Palantir Technologies Inc.

(PLTR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+1343% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (PLTR: +1343%, AMTM: -16. 8%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

These companies operate in different sectors (AMTM (Industrials) and PLTR (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.