Palantir’s Sky-High Stock Just Took a Dive—Is There More Pain Ahead?

Wednesday, August 20, 2025

Palantir has long been one of Wall Street’s favorite software darlings, the kind of stock that made investors feel invincible. But gravity always wins—and this week, Palantir’s shares got a harsh reminder of that truth.

On Tuesday, Palantir stock tumbled nearly 10% to $157.75, erasing the big post-earnings bounce it scored earlier this month. Just last week it was flirting with fresh 52-week highs. Now? It’s 16% off that peak and looking wobbly.

So, what’s going on?

The Bigger Tech Picture Isn’t Pretty

Software stocks across the board have been slipping, and the decline isn’t just about Palantir. The entire iShares Expanded Tech-Software ETF—a benchmark for the sector—slid 1.6% to $106.58, dropping below its 50-day moving average for the first time since February. The last time that happened, the fund kept falling for six of the next seven weeks, shedding nearly 10% before finding its footing .

This time, the chart is flashing similar warning signs. Traders are whispering about the dreaded “waterfall” decline—a fast, ugly selloff that leaves little room for buyers to catch their breath.

Why Palantir Looks Vulnerable

As the ETF’s biggest holding, Palantir was the name keeping the fund afloat. But Tuesday’s slump filled the gap left from its Aug. 4 rally, suggesting that momentum is officially broken.

The next logical stop? The 50-day moving average near $150. That’s where buyers could step in—unless, of course, the floor gives way. If it does, the stock could easily sink toward $140. History isn’t encouraging either: the last 50-day test in February failed, and the stock slid further after that .

Intuit’s Trouble Adds to the Mess

Palantir isn’t alone. Intuit—another heavyweight in the ETF—has been quietly unraveling too. The stock just dropped 2.3% to $701.03 and has been red in nine of the past 14 sessions. It’s stuck in a bearish “flag” pattern, and if it breaks below $700, traders see a quick 100-point decline on the table .

That’s bad news for an already fragile sector: when your strongest players start limping, the whole team struggles.

A Bright Spot? Synopsys Holds Up

Not everything is doom and gloom. Synopsys, another top holding, has been flexing some rare strength. It’s still up 26% for the year—way ahead of the software ETF’s 7% gain—and holding comfortably above both its 50- and 200-day averages. Traders are eyeing the $600 level as support, and if momentum carries, Synopsys could run toward $815 in 2026 .

Bottom Line

Palantir’s sharp drop may just be the start of a deeper correction, especially if sector weakness snowballs. The charts suggest caution: $150 is the immediate battleground, $140 looms below, and investor confidence is shaky at best.

​For now, the software party looks like it’s over—and everyone’s watching to see if Palantir can stop the bleeding before the next leg down.