Market Minute ⏱️ 8/5/25: Markets Waffle, While AI Darling Palantir Delivers

Mike Larson | Editor-in-Chief

Markets are waffling today after equities caught a big bump on Monday. Gold and silver are mixed, while crude oil is lower. The dollar is modestly higher along with interest rates.

Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR) has been the poster child of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) boom, with its shares surging 112% year-to-date and 549% over the past 12 months amid booming demand for its AI-driven data-analytics software and services. Late yesterday, it reported Q2 earnings that blew away estimates, with profit up 33% to $327 million. Quarterly revenue topped $1 billion for the first time ever. PLTR also raised its full-year sales estimate to around $4.15 billion. 

PLTR, CAT, PFE (YTD % Change)

Three employees of contract chipmaking giant Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSM) were arrested on suspicion of stealing company trade secrets. Taiwanese police detained the unnamed suspects after the firm reportedly discovered employees trying to dig into its next-generation 2-nanometer chips. Several of the world’s biggest technology companies, from Nvidia Corp. (NVDA) to Apple Inc. (AAPL), use TSM to manufacture at least some of their semiconductors.

Finally, among other brand-name companies reporting earnings, Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) missed estimates amid rising tariff-related costs and weak construction-related sales. The heavy equipment manufacturer added that it faces tariff expenses of up to $1.5 billion in the current year.

Meanwhile, drugmaker Pfizer Inc. (PFE) beat estimates by a wide margin. It also raised its adjusted earnings-per-share forecast range for 2025 to $2.90 to $3.10. PFE added that various initiatives would cut costs by $7.2 billion through year-end 2027.

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