Disney Taps Parks Chief to be CEO, Palantir Gives Strong Sales Outlook - bloomberg-technology Recap

Podcast: bloomberg-technology

Published: 2026-02-03

Duration: 44 minutes

Guests: Greg Moskovitz, Ryan Fesssedica, Lauren Grush, James Gorman, Jennifer Huddleston, Stephanie Bunk, Jason Schreyer

Summary

Palantir's impressive revenue forecast boosts its shares, while Disney appoints Josh D'Amaro as its new CEO. Elon Musk plans a major merger between SpaceX and xAI, valuing the combined entity at $1.25 trillion.

What Happened

Palantir Technologies has exceeded Wall Street expectations with a robust revenue forecast for fiscal 2026, projected between $7.1 and $9 billion, which pushed its stock prices higher. The company reported a 70% year-over-year growth and is forecasting a 56% free cash flow margin, though it still faces challenges in acquiring new customers due to the high cost and investment needed to adopt its software.

Disney has announced that Josh D'Amaro, the current head of Disney Parks, will succeed Bob Iger as CEO in March. This decision came after a global search headed by Disney Chairman James Gorman, who praised D'Amaro as a standout executive. His appointment is seen as an effort to continue the strong legacy of leadership at Disney.

Elon Musk confirmed plans to merge SpaceX and xAI, creating a vertically integrated company valued at $1.25 trillion. This merger aims to leverage space for AI purposes, with a specific focus on building data centers in space for complex AI computing.

Despite Palantir's optimistic numbers, the company is facing hurdles in expanding its customer base, with net new customers down by about 40 compared to the previous year. This issue is partly attributed to the high cost of Palantir's software, which may deter new clients.

Concerns have emerged in the software industry after Anthropic launched a new AI tool, causing investor anxiety about potential disruptions. Meanwhile, Microsoft's stock has taken a hit, dropping 10% following underwhelming Azure growth figures.

On the media front, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos is under scrutiny as he prepares to be questioned by a Senate subcommittee about Netflix's plan to acquire Warner Brothers Discovery Studio. The potential merger raises significant antitrust questions, particularly in Europe and South Korea.

Amazon continues to experience workforce reductions, laying off 30,000 employees recently, reflecting broader economic pressures and shifts in workforce dynamics. Meanwhile, Overland AI has secured $100 million to enhance its autonomous vehicle operations, primarily for military applications, which reduces human risk in dangerous tasks.

Key Insights