Palantir’s market value skyrocketed. See how its revenue is still catching up.

In a market full of stocks that are wildly expensive by historical standards, Palantir is a standout.

- Heather Somerville, Nate Rattner & Shane Shifflett [e-mail]

No other company currently in the S&P 500 hit a $490 billion valuation as quickly and with as little in sales as Palantir.

(REUTERS)

The Denver-based data analytics company is the 18th most valuable stock in America, eclipsing oil giants and most big banks.

Its share price—when compared with its sales—far exceeds Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon and Oracle. It blows away defense contractors.

Palantir Chief Executive Alex Karp has consistently punched back against anyone who questions its ascendance, arguing analysts don’t know how to assess a company like his. “I would tell you I don’t know nor does anyone else know what Palantir is actually worth,” Karp said in an interview.

No other company currently in the S&P 500 hit a $490 billion valuation as quickly and with as little in sales as Palantir did on Monday, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis of inflation-adjusted FactSet market data going back to 1984.