Jim Cramer Says the Executioner Is “Axing Palantir and Apple.” What Investors Should Make of It
Jim Cramer cryptically warned that an unnamed 'executioner' is selling Palantir and Apple right after both companies beat earnings estimates, and his mysterious song lyric at the end may tell investors exactly what to do next.
Jim Cramer gave investors a riddle Tuesday morning. In a post on X dated November 3, 2026, he wrote: “The Executioner’s Face is Always Well Hidden, but he is axing Palantir and Apple… Love the One You’re With”
He did not name the “executioner” or explain the song lyric at the end. The most likely reading is that an unknown large seller is selling both Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ:PLTR | PLTR Price Prediction) and Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) right after their earnings reports, and that investors should stay with quality companies they already own. That is an interpretation, and Cramer has not confirmed it.
Price Data Supports the Selling Read
Both stocks were lower on Tuesday. As of 10:43 AM ET, Palantir was down 3.98% at $171.24, and Apple was down 2.55% at $329.68. Both companies reported on November 2.
The longer trends look very different. Palantir has dropped 13.88% over the past week and is down 3.66% year to date. Apple is still up 21.6% in 2026 even after slipping 4.14% this week. Whoever the seller is, they are selling two companies that just topped estimates.
Palantir Beat on Nearly Every Line Except Bookings
According to Palantir’s third-quarter release filed with the SEC, revenue came in at $2.31 billion against a $2.18 billion estimate, up 95.87% from a year earlier. Adjusted EPS was $0.44 versus $0.41 expected. U.S. commercial revenue of $984 million rose 148% and passed U.S. government revenue ($953 million) for the first time. Management raised full-year revenue guidance to about $8.53 billion.
The main risk is how much the stock already prices in. Palantir trades at about 252x trailing earnings, while total contract value grew only 6%. Following the report, analysts pointed to that slowdown, according to CNBC. Management said it “signed multiple eight-figure deals in the quarter that were shorter in duration than usual” and expects contract duration and size to grow over time. Investors will have to judge that claim against future bookings.
Apple Posted Records but Guided to Thinner Margins
Apple’s fiscal fourth-quarter revenue reached $114.48 billion against a $113.36 billion estimate, and EPS of $2.10 topped the $1.98 consensus. iPhone revenue of $57.58 billion set a September-quarter record, and Services reached a new peak of $31.57 billion. This was CEO John Ternus’s first earnings call in the role.
The results had a few soft spots. EPS included a $0.05 one-time benefit from tariff refunds. For the December quarter, Apple guided gross margin to 45% to 46%, below the September quarter’s 47.9%, and called memory pricing “unprecedented.” It also expects Services growth to slow to 8% to 9%. At about 44x trailing earnings, the stock leaves little room for margin disappointments.
What This Selling Signal Means for Retirees
One session of post-earnings selling by an unknown seller says little on its own about a long-term plan. Large holders trim positions for many reasons, including rebalancing, taking gains and redemptions, and those reasons may have nothing to do with the business. A better question is whether each holding still fits your risk budget.
Palantir has returned 555.59% over five years yet is down 14.58% over the past year. Swings that large can weigh heavily on a portfolio that funds retirement income, especially in the first years of withdrawals, when a drawdown does permanent damage (we walked through that sequence-of-returns problem in a free guide: here). Apple is the steadier of the two and pays a $0.27 quarterly dividend, though its yield is only about 0.31%.
Two things are worth watching next. For Palantir, it’s whether contract value picks up to support fourth-quarter revenue guidance of $2.65 billion. For Apple, it’s whether December-quarter margins hold as memory costs rise. Cramer’s sign-off, “Love the One You’re With,” seems to point the same way, toward considering the business case over a single day of heavy selling.
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Chris Lange is a financial and geopolitical writer with more than a decade of experience covering a myriad of topics. He has published thousands of articles for 24/7 Wall St., with past coverage focused heavily on stocks, IPOs, healthcare, defense, global affairs, and technology.
His work has been quoted, or referenced by a number of outlets including Business Insider, USA Today, Yahoo Finance, MSN, The Motley Fool, and many other publications. A graduate of Southwestern University, he studied business with a focus on investments and has previous experience in banking and startups.
When not reading or writing the news, he is following his passion for Lacrosse, playing chess, or building solar projects with his dad.
