Palantir (PLTR) Shares: Analysts Forecast 47% Upside Potential as FAA Deal Nears

TLDR

• The FAA is collaborating with Palantir, Thales, and Air Space Intelligence to develop an AI tool for managing air traffic.
• Congress has allocated $12.5 billion to the FAA for the overhaul, but the agency reportedly requires an additional $20 billion to finish the system upgrade.
• This AI tool has the potential to decrease flight congestion and notify controllers if aircraft approach each other too closely.
• On April 10, Wedbush reaffirmed its Outperform rating for PLTR with a $230 price target, remaining optimistic even amid concerns about competition from Anthropic.
• Among the 32 analysts covering PLTR, 63% currently rate it a Buy, and the average 12-month price target suggests upside of more than 47%.

(SeaPRwire) –   The Federal Aviation Administration is undertaking one of the most significant infrastructure upgrades in the history of U.S. aviation, and Palantir is seeking to be involved.

The FAA has brought in Palantir, Thales and Air Space Intelligence to compete on a new artificial intelligence tool for air traffic management https://t.co/KfjRiKVLF8

— Bloomberg (@business) April 17, 2026

A source cited by Bloomberg indicates the agency has enlisted Palantir Technologies (PLTR), Thales (THLLY), and Air Space Intelligence to bid on a contract for a new AI-driven air traffic management tool.

This initiative is a component of a wider effort to update the nation’s outdated air traffic control system, which is under increasing strain from growing flight numbers and technologically obsolete equipment.

Palantir Technologies Inc., PLTR

For this modernization project, Congress has already provided the FAA with $12.5 billion. However, the agency calculates it needs approximately $20 billion more to complete the work.

This shortfall in funding heightens the urgency of finding more intelligent and efficient solutions.

The AI tool under consideration could perform various practical tasks. For example, it could identify situations where excessive departures or arrivals are scheduled simultaneously, providing controllers with advance notice to alleviate congestion before it escalates.

The system might also alert controllers when aircraft are on trajectories that bring them too near one another—a safety enhancement that would allow for more response time during critical moments.

Wedbush Stays Bullish

Wedbush reiterated its Outperform rating for PLTR on April 10, alongside a $230 price target. The firm expressed continued confidence in Palantir, dismissing worries that rivals such as Anthropic might encroach on its market share.

Anthropic has expanded rapidly—its annual recurring revenue surged from $9 billion to $30 billion since the beginning of 2026. Yet, Wedbush contends this growth has not negatively impacted Palantir.

The firm highlighted Palantir’s AIP offerings and its data-centric methodology as significant, difficult-to-copy strengths. It characterized the company as a frontrunner in the AI revolution rather than a victim of it.

What Analysts Are Saying

Sentiment on Wall Street toward PLTR is generally favorable at present. Of the 32 analysts tracking the stock, 63% maintain a Buy recommendation.

The average price target for the next 12 months points to a gain exceeding 47% from current prices.

Data from TipRanks reveals a Moderate Buy consensus rating, derived from 14 Buy ratings, five Holds, and two Sells over the last three months. The average price target among these analysts is $194.06.

At the time of publication, PLTR shares were trading 2.54% higher.