Planet Labs PBC Class A (PL)

Planet Labs PBC (PL) stock has experienced a 66% increase over the last quarter and a 374.74% rise over the past year. The company reported record second-quarter revenue of $73.4 million, a 20% year-over-year increase. The company's backlog grew by 245% year-over-year to $736.1 million, and remaining performance obligations (RPOs) surged by 516% to $690.1 million. Planet Labs generated $85.1 million in year-to-date net cash from operating activities and delivered positive free cash flow of $54.3 million. The successful launch of additional high-resolution Pelican satellites during Q2 FY26 further strengthened its Earth observation capabilities. Pivotal contracts with the German government, NATO, and the U.S. Department of Defense were highlighted as key drivers of growth. While NEM reiterated a "buy" rating, Goldman Sachs downgraded the stock to "neutral".

While specific details on demand seasonality are not extensively detailed, Planet Labs PBC's applications in agriculture, forestry, and land use suggest potential seasonal patterns. Agricultural and environmental monitoring activities often exhibit seasonal cycles, which could translate into seasonal fluctuations in demand for Planet Labs' imagery and analytics. Seeking Alpha provides a "PL Seasonality" tool that displays mean and median monthly returns for Planet Labs PBC to identify seasonal patterns in its stock performance.

Planet Labs PBC is an American Earth imaging company that designs, builds, and operates Earth observation satellites, providing daily imagery and geospatial solutions. The company operates in the Media and Information Services (B2B) and Aerospace and Defense sectors, focusing on spacecraft design, Earth observation satellites, and image processing. It images the entire Earth daily and delivers geospatial data to customers through an online platform. Major products and services include Planet Monitoring, Planet Tasking, Planet Analytic Feeds, Planetary Variables, Planet Basemaps, Planet Insights, and Satellite Constellations. Planet Labs' solutions cater to industries like agriculture, civil government, defense, energy, forestry, mapping, and sustainability.

Headquartered in San Francisco, California, Planet Labs PBC serves a worldwide customer base. The company has contracts with international entities, including the German government, NATO, and the U.S. Department of Defense. Planet also provides access to high-resolution basemaps of 64 tropical countries to aid in combating deforestation through a deal funded by Norway's Climate and Forests Initiative.

Planet Labs PBC maintains a strong and positive brand reputation, driven by its innovative technology, critical data provision, and significant partnerships. Securing and expanding contracts with entities like the German government, NATO, the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Navy, and the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) underscores its reliability. Collaborations such as the $230 million contract with JSAT and the partnership with Carbon Mapper enhance its standing as a key data provider. Planet Labs' satellite imagery is frequently used in news reporting, demonstrating the real-world impact and credibility of its data. The continuous launch of advanced satellites like Pelican and Tanager reinforces its position as a leader in Earth observation.

Institutions hold between 45% and 59% of Planet Labs PBC's shares. Alphabet (Google) holds over 10% of the shares. Other major institutional holders include BlackRock, Vanguard, State Street, Canada Pension Plan, Capricorn Investment Group, and Draper Fisher Jurvetson. Insider ownership is estimated to be between 4% and 15%, with co-founder William Marshall holding a notable stake. Retail investors are estimated to hold the remaining shares, possibly around 40%.