May 9 (Reuters) - $Palantir Technologies(PLTR.US)$ forecast second-quarter revenue below Wall Street expectations on Monday, indicating slowing sales growth, as the data analytics software firm ramps up its salesforce to sign more deals amid rising competition.
However, the company, known for its work with the U.S. Army and the Central Intelligence Agency, said it sees a "wide range" of potential upside to its forecast driven by opportunities arising from "developing geopolitical events", with the Ukraine war likely to boost defense spending by governments.
But slowing revenue growth at the software maker's government business, which rose 16% in the first quarter, also raised concerns.
On the Europe crisis, Chief Operating Officer Shyam Sankar said nothing as a result of the war is reflected in the first quarter, but Palantir has been working and investing in anticipation of contract awards from governments and expects "marginal impact" in the second quarter and more growth beyond that.
Analysts have raised concerns over Palantir's large dependence on government contracts and so, the company, which only provides its software to the United States and "its allies", has shifted its focus on signing more deals with commercial customers and has been ramping up its sales force.
The company posted first-quarter revenue of $446.4 million, above Refinitiv IBES estimates of $443.4 million, driven by strength in its U.S. commercial business. However, it forecast weaker margins on increased sales and marketing spend.
The company forecast adjusted operating margin of 20% for the current quarter, compared with 31% last year.
Net loss narrowed to $101.4 million, or 5 cents per share, from $123.5 million, or 7 cents per share, a year earlier.
The company forecast second-quarter revenue of $470 million, implying a growth of just 25% year-over-year, compared with 49% growth a year earlier. Analysts on average expected a revenue of $483.9 million.
(Reporting by Chavi Mehta in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich)
路透5月9日电-$Palantir Technologies(PLTR.US)$周一，这家数据分析软件公司预测第二季度营收低于华尔街预期，表明销售增长放缓，因为在竞争日益激烈的情况下，这家数据分析软件公司增加了销售队伍，以签署更多交易。
然而，这家以与美国陆军和中央情报局(CIA)合作而闻名的公司表示，它认为其预测存在“广泛的潜在上行空间”，原因是“不断发展的地缘政治事件”带来的机遇，乌克兰战争可能会增加各国政府的国防开支。
但这家软件制造商政府业务的收入增长放缓也引发了人们的担忧。今年第一季度，该业务的收入增长了16%。
在谈到欧洲危机时，首席运营官Shyam Sankar表示，第一季度没有反映出战争的结果，但Palantir一直在工作和投资，以期获得政府授予的合同，并预计第二季度将产生“微乎其微的影响”，此后将出现更多增长。
分析人士对Palantir对政府合同的严重依赖表示担忧，因此，该公司已经将重点转移到与商业客户签署更多协议上，并一直在加大销售力度。该公司只向美国及其“盟友”提供软件。
该公司公布第一季度营收为4.464亿美元，高于Refinitiv IBES预期的4.434亿美元，得益于其美国商业业务的强劲表现。然而，该公司预计，由于销售和营销支出增加，利润率将下降。
该公司预计本季度调整后的营业利润率为20%，而去年为31%。
净亏损收窄至1.014亿美元，合每股亏损5美分，上年同期为1.235亿美元，合每股亏损7美分。
该公司预计第二季度营收为4.7亿美元，这意味着同比仅增长25%，而去年同期的增幅为49%。分析师平均预期营收为4.839亿美元。
(Chavi Mehta在孟加拉国报道；Rashmi Aich编辑)
