Key Takeaways
- Palantir Technologies (PLTR) reported stronger-than-expected Q3 2025 earnings, with revenue reaching $1.18 billion and adjusted EPS of 21 cents, leading to a raised full-year revenue outlook to $4.4 billion driven by "accelerating and otherworldly" AI and defense growth.
- Microsoft (MSFT) announced an investment of over $15 billion in the UAE and secured crucial US export licenses for Nvidia (NVDA) chips, signaling a strategic expansion in the region.
- Williams Companies (WMB) posted Q3 2025 earnings that saw revenue of $2.92 billion and adjusted EPS of 49 cents, both slightly missing analyst estimates, though adjusted EBITDA of $1.92 billion met expectations.
- Ørsted is set to sell a 50% stake in the world's largest wind farm to Apollo (APO) for $6.5 billion, indicating significant activity in renewable energy infrastructure.
- A Delaware judge has scheduled a Tuesday hearing on Pfizer's (PFE) claims challenging Novo Nordisk's (NVO) bid for Metsera, highlighting an intensifying legal battle in the pharmaceutical sector.
Palantir Soars on Robust AI and Defense Demand, Raises Outlook
Palantir Technologies (PLTR) delivered a strong performance in the third quarter of 2025, surpassing analyst expectations for both revenue and earnings. The data analytics company reported Q3 revenue of $1.18 billion, significantly above the estimated $1.09 billion, representing a 63% year-over-year increase. Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) came in at 21 cents, beating the consensus estimate of 17 cents.
The company's growth was broad-based, with U.S. revenue jumping 77% year-over-year to $883 million. This surge was primarily fueled by a 121% increase in U.S. Commercial revenue to $397 million, alongside a 52% rise in U.S. Government revenue to $486 million. Palantir attributed this impressive growth to "accelerating and otherworldly" demand for its Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) and data analytics products, particularly in defense work.
Looking ahead, Palantir raised its full-year 2025 revenue guidance to a range of $4.396 billion to $4.4 billion, up from its previous outlook of $4.14 billion to $4.15 billion. The company also provided an optimistic Q4 revenue outlook of $1.327 billion to $1.331 billion, exceeding analyst estimates of $1.19 billion. Adjusted EBITDA reached $606.5 million, surpassing estimates of $502.1 million, while adjusted operating profit is now projected between $2.15 billion and $2.16 billion for the full year.
Microsoft to Invest Over $15 Billion in UAE, Secures Nvidia Chip Licenses
Microsoft (MSFT) announced a significant strategic investment of over $15 billion in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) between 2023 and the end of 2029. This substantial commitment aims to expand AI data centers across the UAE, addressing the growing demand for artificial intelligence capabilities in the region.
Crucially, Microsoft has secured US export licenses for Nvidia (NVDA) chips, including advanced GB300 GPUs, for its data centers in the UAE. This development is a key enabler for the UAE's ambition to become a global AI hub. Microsoft's Vice Chair and President Brad Smith highlighted that approximately $7.3 billion of this investment will have been deployed by the end of 2024, with another $7.9 billion earmarked through 2029 for ongoing and planned AI and cloud infrastructure expansion.
Williams Companies Q3 Earnings Fall Slightly Short of Estimates
Williams Companies (WMB), a leading energy infrastructure company, reported its third-quarter 2025 financial results. The company posted revenue of $2.92 billion, which was slightly below the analyst estimate of $2.94 billion. Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) came in at 49 cents, missing the expected 52 cents.
Despite the slight misses on revenue and adjusted EPS, Williams Companies' adjusted EBITDA for the quarter matched expectations at $1.92 billion. The company is a key player in natural gas and natural gas liquids infrastructure.
Ørsted Sells Half of World's Largest Wind Farm to Apollo in $6.5 Billion Deal
In a major move within the renewable energy sector, Ørsted has agreed to sell a 50% stake in its Hornsea 3 offshore wind project to Apollo (APO) for $6.5 billion. Hornsea 3, located in the North Sea, is set to be the world's largest offshore wind farm with a planned capacity of 2.9 gigawatts, capable of powering over 3 million UK households.
The deal is structured with Apollo investing approximately $3.25 billion at closing, with the remaining $3.25 billion to be funded as the project achieves specific construction milestones. Ørsted will retain control over the construction and long-term operations and maintenance of the wind farm. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and is anticipated to close before the end of 2025.
Pfizer and Novo Nordisk Lock Horns in Delaware Court Over Metsera Bid
A significant legal battle is unfolding in the pharmaceutical industry as Pfizer (PFE) has filed a lawsuit against Metsera, Inc. and Novo Nordisk (NVO) in the Delaware Court of Chancery. The lawsuit alleges that Metsera breached its merger agreement with Pfizer by declaring Novo Nordisk's $8.5 billion bid for the obesity drug developer as a "superior offer."
Pfizer's claims include breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty by Metsera's directors, and tortious interference in contract by Novo Nordisk. Pfizer argues that Novo Nordisk's proposal is an "illegal attempt by a dominant market player to suppress competition" and employs an "unprecedented structure designed to deliberately evade antitrust review." This legal action is part of a fierce competition for market share in the rapidly expanding $150 billion obesity drug market. A Delaware judge has scheduled a hearing for Tuesday, with Pfizer seeking a temporary restraining order to prevent Metsera from terminating their original merger agreement.
US Steel Capacity Utilization Holds Steady
The utilization rate of US steel capacity reached 76% in the week ending November 1, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). This figure provides insight into the operational health of the domestic steel industry.
Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications.