NEW YORK, Feb 17, 2026, 05:51 ET — Premarket
- BigBear.ai slipped roughly 0.2% ahead of the bell.
- Investors will vote on a proposal that would double the company’s authorized share count.
- After a shortened kickoff to the week, U.S. markets are back open.
BigBear.ai Holdings edged down 0.2% to $4.08 in premarket trading Tuesday, just under its previous $4.09 close. Investors zeroed in on a shareholder vote that may clear the way for the company to expand its stock issuance.
The company wants the green light to double its authorized common shares, pushing the cap from 500 million up to 1 billion, proxy materials show. Shareholders have until 11:59 p.m. ET on Feb. 17 to cast their ballots, just before a special meeting picks back up on Feb. 18. The board is pressing for a “for” vote on the proposal. (BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc.)
U.S. equity markets are back after the Washington’s Birthday closure on Monday, a shift that sometimes jolts thinner, lightly traded stocks as full volume resumes. (New York Stock Exchange)
Boosting the number of authorized shares doesn’t instantly send new stock into the market. What it does do: open the door for a company to potentially raise cash, issue stock to employees, or strike equity-based deals. All these moves, if done in large amounts, can dilute current shareholders.
BigBear.ai has been active on the M&A front. Late last year, it wrapped up its $250 million buyout of Ask Sage. Chief Executive Kevin McAleenan described the deal as delivering “mission-ready AI that customers can deploy with confidence.” (BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc.)
Back in January, the company reported it had swapped every one of its 6.00% convertible senior secured notes due 2029 for common shares, wiping out roughly $125 million in debt attached to those notes and doing so without any “material cash outlay.” (BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc.)
Early action in the broader market was choppy. The SPDR S&P 500 ETF edged up roughly 0.03%, with the Invesco QQQ Trust showing a 0.18% lift. Small caps outperformed—iShares Russell 2000 ETF added around 1.3%. AI names showed more muscle: Palantir rose approximately 1.8%, and C3.ai jumped 3.9%.
The vote cuts both ways. If it passes, dilution fears could resurface and hang over BigBear.ai shares, as investors might brace for a possible equity offering. On the flip side, a “no” vote would tie the company’s hands if it needs to tap equity markets or issue retention awards down the line.
Eyes will be on Wednesday’s reconvened special meeting to see what comes out of it, along with any fresh updates from the company. (BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc.)
