Planet Labs (PL) has been one of the most surprising winners in the market this year. The stock is up 74% year-to-date (YTD), wildly outperforming the S&P 500 Index ($SPX) and most big tech stocks. The current global scenario is stressful, with the U.S.-Iran-Israel war escalating, making real-time Earth observation mission-critical. Planet Labs, which operates a network of satellites that capture and analyze daily images of the Earth, has quietly built one of the most valuable AI-powered data platforms that governments can rely on.
While the 65% gain may entice investors to grab profits, Planet Labs could still be in the early innings of a much bigger story.
