In its fourth-quarter (Q4) earnings call Thursday evening, Planet Labs PBC (NYSE:PL) outlined its shift from satellite company to data-intelligence provider. 

Investors responded by piling into the defense tech stock, sending it soaring in Friday's early trading. 

PL stock is climbing. See the chart and price action here. 

‘Intersection of Space and AI'

As Planet reported record annual revenue of $308 million and its first full year of adjusted EBITDA profitability, the narrative centered on a powerful new fusion of industries.

"We sit uniquely at the intersection of space and AI revolutions, and Planet Labs PBC is the first space-and-AI company," CEO Will Marshall declared on the call.  

This isn’t branding, but a response to a geopolitical landscape defined by volatility. 

Marshall noted that in an increasingly complex world, static maps are insufficient. And governments and defense agencies are seeking predictive power. 

According to Marshall, “Our ...