Planet Labs (PL) Deepens AI Bet With Pelican Launches – But How Defensible Is Its Data Moat?

Simply Wall St · 2d ago
  • Planet Labs PBC recently launched its AI-enabled, high-resolution Pelican-5 and Pelican-6 satellites, along with 36 SuperDoves of Flock 4H, on SpaceX’s Transporter-15 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base, and has begun commissioning after establishing successful contact.
  • By adding 40 cm-class, NVIDIA Jetson-equipped Pelican satellites to its Gen 1 fleet and expanding its SuperDove monitoring constellation, Planet is reinforcing its role as a provider of higher-value, AI-ready geospatial data and rapid insights for customers.
  • We’ll now examine how the AI-enabled Pelican satellites’ edge-computing capabilities could reshape Planet Labs’ longer-term investment narrative and growth focus.

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Planet Labs PBC Investment Narrative Recap

To own Planet Labs, you need to believe that higher value, AI-ready geospatial “solutions” can scale fast enough to justify heavy investment and ongoing losses. The Pelican-5 and Pelican-6 launch strengthens that story technologically, but it does not materially change the near term tension between high capital spending and the path to free cash flow or the risk that AI initiatives take longer than hoped to meaningfully add revenue.

The recent Tanager-1 general availability announcement ties directly into this theme, as it broadens Planet’s data products into methane and CO₂ monitoring while complementing Pelican and SuperDove imagery. Together, these newer constellations are central to the push toward larger, solution-focused contracts that could improve revenue quality and support the company’s ambition to move closer to financial self sufficiency.

Yet, in contrast to the technological progress, investors still need to be aware of how Planet’s significant capital expenditures and new satellite fleets could...

Read the full narrative on Planet Labs PBC (it's free!)

Planet Labs PBC’s narrative projects $409.3 million revenue and $29.2 million earnings by 2028. This requires 17.8% yearly revenue growth and about a $135.7 million earnings increase from -$106.5 million today.

Uncover how Planet Labs PBC's forecasts yield a $14.55 fair value, a 14% upside to its current price.

Exploring Other Perspectives

PL Community Fair Values as at Dec 2025
PL Community Fair Values as at Dec 2025

Eleven fair value estimates from the Simply Wall St Community span roughly US$0.23 to US$14.55 per share, highlighting sharply different views on Planet Labs’ potential. You can weigh those opinions against the company’s heavy satellite investment program, which may support long term growth but also keeps profitability and cash flow risks firmly in focus.

Explore 11 other fair value estimates on Planet Labs PBC - why the stock might be worth less than half the current price!

Build Your Own Planet Labs PBC Narrative

Disagree with existing narratives? Create your own in under 3 minutes - extraordinary investment returns rarely come from following the herd.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.