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BBAI vs PLTR
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Software - Infrastructure
BBAI vs PLTR — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Information Technology Services | Software - Infrastructure |
| Market Cap | $19.58B | $311.44B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $127M | $5.22B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $-289M | $2.28B |
| Gross Margin | 25.8% | 84.1% |
| Operating Margin | -68.3% | 38.1% |
| Forward P/E | — | 106.2x |
| Total Debt | $24M | $229M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $87M | $1.42B |
BBAI vs PLTR — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | Apr 21 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| BigBear.ai Holdings… (BBAI) | 100 | 42.6 | -57.4% |
| Palantir Technologi… (PLTR) | 100 | 589.9 | +489.9% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: BBAI vs PLTR
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
BBAI is the clearest fit if your priority is momentum.
- +29.0% vs PLTR's +9.8%
PLTR carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- beta 1.91
- Rev growth 56.2%, EPS growth 231.6%, 3Y rev CAGR 32.9%
- 13.3% 10Y total return vs BBAI's -57.9%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 56.2% revenue growth vs BBAI's -19.3% | |
| Quality / Margins | 43.7% margin vs BBAI's -226.7% | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 1.91 vs BBAI's 3.31, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither stock pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | +29.0% vs PLTR's +9.8% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 26.4% ROA vs BBAI's -35.3%, ROIC 22.3% vs -19.5% |
BBAI vs PLTR — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
BBAI vs PLTR — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
PLTR leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
PLTR is the larger business by revenue, generating $5.2B annually — 41.0x BBAI's $127M. PLTR is the more profitable business, keeping 43.7% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to BBAI's -2.3%. On growth, PLTR holds the edge at +84.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $127M | $5.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$75M | $2.0B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$289M | $2.3B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$56M | $2.7B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +25.8% | +84.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -68.3% | +38.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -2.3% | +43.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -44.3% | +51.5% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -0.9% | +84.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +52.0% | +3.1% |
Valuation Metrics
BBAI leads this category, winning 2 of 3 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $19.6B | $311.4B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $19.5B | $310.2B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -5.05x | 215.73x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 106.22x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 215.42x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 153.40x | 69.59x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 24.28x | 46.56x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 148.26x |
Profitability & Efficiency
PLTR leads this category, winning 7 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
PLTR delivers a 31.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $32 in annual profit, vs $-51 for BBAI. PLTR carries lower financial leverage with a 0.03x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to BBAI's 0.04x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), PLTR scores 8/9 vs BBAI's 4/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -50.7% | +31.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -35.3% | +26.4% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -19.5% | +22.3% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -19.6% | +21.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 8 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.04x | 0.03x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$63M | -$1.2B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $87M | $1.4B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $24M | $229M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -16.44x | — |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
PLTR leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in PLTR five years ago would be worth $64,262 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $4,281 for BBAI. Over the past 12 months, BBAI leads with a +29.0% total return vs PLTR's +9.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors PLTR at 163.7% vs BBAI's 14.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -29.1% | -19.0% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +29.0% | +9.8% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +51.1% | +1734.2% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -57.2% | +542.6% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -57.9% | +1330.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +14.7% | +163.7% |
Risk & Volatility
PLTR leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
PLTR is the less volatile stock with a 1.91 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than BBAI's 3.31 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. PLTR currently trades 65.5% from its 52-week high vs BBAI's 44.1% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 3.31x | 1.91x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $9.39 | $207.52 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $2.96 | $105.32 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +44.1% | +65.5% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 59.4 | 52.6 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 33.8M | 46.3M |
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates BBAI as "Hold" and PLTR as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 44.9% upside for BBAI (target: $6) vs 43.1% for PLTR (target: $195).
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $6.00 | $194.53 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 4 | 26 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +0.0% |
PLTR leads in 4 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). BBAI leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics).
BBAI vs PLTR: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is BBAI or PLTR a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Palantir Technologies Inc.
(PLTR) is the stronger pick with 56. 2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -19. 3% for BigBear. ai Holdings, Inc. (BBAI). Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR) offers the better valuation at 215. 7x trailing P/E (106. 2x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate BigBear. ai Holdings, Inc. (BBAI) a "Hold" — based on 4 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.
02Which is the better long-term investment — BBAI or PLTR?
Over the past 5 years, Palantir Technologies Inc.
(PLTR) delivered a total return of +542. 6%, compared to -57. 2% for BigBear. ai Holdings, Inc. (BBAI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PLTR returned +1331% versus BBAI's -57. 9%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — BBAI or PLTR?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Palantir Technologies Inc.
(PLTR) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 91β versus BigBear. ai Holdings, Inc. 's 3. 31β — meaning BBAI is approximately 74% more volatile than PLTR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 4% for BigBear. ai Holdings, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which is growing faster — BBAI or PLTR?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Palantir Technologies Inc.
(PLTR) is pulling ahead at 56. 2% versus -19. 3% for BigBear. ai Holdings, Inc. (BBAI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Palantir Technologies Inc. grew EPS 231. 6% year-over-year, compared to 35. 4% for BigBear. ai 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.
05Which has better profit margins — BBAI or PLTR?
Palantir Technologies Inc.
(PLTR) is the more profitable company, earning 36. 3% net margin versus -230. 2% for BigBear. ai 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 -65. 3% for BBAI. 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.
06Is BBAI or PLTR more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for BBAI: 44.
9% to $6. 00.
07Which pays a better dividend — BBAI or PLTR?
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.
08Is BBAI or PLTR better for a retirement portfolio?
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 (+1331% 10Y return). BigBear. ai Holdings, Inc. (BBAI) carries a higher beta of 3. 31 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (PLTR: +1331%, BBAI: -57. 9%), 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.
09What are the main differences between BBAI and PLTR?
Both stocks operate in the Technology sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
In terms of investment character: BBAI is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; PLTR is a large-cap high-growth stock. 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.
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