Planet Labs Shares Jump 8% After‑Hours on Blowout Q2 Results

Planet Labs (PL) surprised everyone on Thursday night – and not just the analysts glued to their screens. The space‑data firm reported second‑quarter revenue of $116.1 million, up a staggering 58% from a year ago, easily eclipsing the consensus $104.22 million. That alone felt like a win, but the real kicker was the earnings per share: a modest $0.02 adjusted EPS versus the expected loss of $0.02. In short, the company delivered a double‑digit beat.

What does that mean for the stock? In after‑hours trading the ticker jumped more than 8%, a move that caught the eye of retail traders on platforms like Stocktwits. The sentiment there stayed "extremely bullish," with many users posting excited notes about the "clean beat" and the massive backlog the company holds.

Speaking in a post‑earnings call, co‑founder and CEO Will Marshall bragged about the fourth straight quarter that met or beat the famed Rule of 40. "Record revenue, solid earnings, and a backlog that still reads $814.9 million – half of which is locked in for the next 12 months – give us confidence the ride is just getting started," he said, with a smile that could be heard through the audio.

Still, the celebration wasn’t without a hint of caution. When Planet Labs looked ahead to Q3 FY 2027 (ending Oct 31, 2026), it forecast revenue of $101 million‑$105 million, well under Wall Street’s $114.49 million consensus. Adjusted EBITDA is projected to be a small loss between $6 million and $1 million, and capex will sit around $30 million‑$37 million. The guidance reflects timing of contracts and continued investment – not a collapse in demand, according to a few traders who pointed out the nuance.

For the full fiscal year, the company nudged its outlook a touch higher, expecting $430 million‑$441 million in revenue (versus the $435.91 million estimate) and a modest adjusted EBITDA profit of $3 million‑$10 million. Capital spending is slated at $100 million‑$115 million, a sign that Planet Labs is still pouring money into its satellite constellation and data platforms.

Retail chatter on Stocktwits paints a vivid picture. One user called the report "a massive beat – you can’t get better than this," while another reminded everyone that the softer Q3 numbers are simply a function of contract timing, not a fading market. Even with the Q3 cloud, the overall sentiment remains upbeat, and the stock’s year‑to‑date decline of 2.7% looks like a buying opportunity to some.

Bottom line: Planet Labs turned in a record‑breaking quarter, beating revenue and earnings expectations hand‑over‑hand. The after‑hours rally reflects that surprise, and while the near‑term guidance is modest, the company’s long‑term play in the booming space‑data arena keeps investors watching closely.