AppLovin Corporation (NASDAQ:APP) is one of the 15 Best Performing AI Stocks Heading into 2026. On November 21, Citi reiterated its Buy rating on AppLovin Corporation (NASDAQ:APP) with a price target of $820. Earlier, on November 7, Wells Fargo increased its price target on AppLovin Corporation (NASDAQ:APP) from $633 to $721 and kept an Overweight rating. Wells Fargo noted that mobile gaming, rather than web ads, played a key role in the company’s strong Q3 performance and Q4 guidance. AppLovin (APP) See ...

Market Overview - U.S. stock markets closed higher on November 28, 2025, with all three major indexes extending a multi-day rally, driven by hopes for future interest rate cuts and positive economic data [1][12] - The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) rose 0.6% to 47,427.12, the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) increased by 0.7% to 23,214.69, and the S&P 500 (SPX) gained 0.5% to 6,812.61, marking the fifth consecutive session of increases for all three benchmarks [2] Weekly Performance - For the week, the Nasdaq surged 4.9%, the S&P 500 was up approximately 3.7%, and the Dow gained about 3.2% [3] - November was mixed; while the S&P 500 and Dow extended their winning streaks to seven months, the Nasdaq ended down 1.5%, attributed to reassessment of profitability timelines for major AI companies [3] Economic Data - Initial jobless claims decreased by 6,000 to 216,000, below the consensus estimate of 229,000, indicating a strong labor market [5] - Orders for durable goods rose by 0.5% in September, missing estimates, while non-defense capital goods orders increased by 0.9%, a key indicator for business spending [5] Upcoming Events - Market participants are monitoring the potential for another interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve next month, which is a significant driver of market optimism [4] - Kevin Hassett is a key contender for the next Fed Chairman, with an announcement expected from President Trump before Christmas, which could influence monetary policy expectations [4] Individual Stock Performance - Intel (INTC) surged 10.2%, leading the S&P 500, following speculation it could become a foundry supplier for Apple (AAPL) processors [7] - Eli Lilly (LLY) shares slipped 2.6%, giving back some recent gains despite a market cap exceeding $1 trillion due to sales of weight-loss drugs [8] - Nvidia (NVDA) shares slid 1.8% amid competitive concerns, while other tech stocks like Microsoft (MSFT) and Amazon (AMZN) saw gains of 1.3% and 1.8%, respectively [9] Sector Performance - Retailers performed well on Black Friday, with Walmart (WMT), Target (TGT), and Amazon (AMZN) finishing up roughly 1% to 2% [10] - Cryptocurrency-related stocks rose as Bitcoin moved above $90,000, with Marathon Digital Holdings (MARA), MicroStrategy (MSTR), and Coinbase Global (COIN) up by 7%, 5%, and 5%, respectively [11]

Palo Alto, California-based AppLovin Corporation (APP) builds software-based platforms for advertisers to enhance the marketing and monetization of their content in the United States and internationally. With a market cap of $198.2 billion, the company operates through the Advertising and Apps segments. Companies worth $10 billion or more are generally referred to as “large-cap stocks.” Applovin fits right into that category, its market cap exceeding the threshold, reflecting its substantial size, influen ...

Core Insights - Sands Capital Select Growth Strategy reported a portfolio return of 6.3% in Q3 2025, underperforming the benchmark's 10.5% gain, driven by strong corporate earnings and AI enthusiasm [1] Company Overview - AppLovin Corporation (NASDAQ:APP) is a leading provider of advertising solutions for mobile game developers, with a one-month return of -7.10% and a 52-week gain of 78.47% [2][3] - As of November 26, 2025, AppLovin's stock closed at $586.37, with a market capitalization of $198.34 billion [2] Financial Performance - AppLovin's revenue increased by 68% year-over-year to approximately $1.405 billion in Q3 2025, with EBITDA margins reaching 81%, reflecting a 900 basis point expansion compared to the previous year [4] Strategic Initiatives - AppLovin plans to launch a self-serve ad manager in beta during Q4 2025, aiming to expand its reach beyond gaming into e-commerce, which is seen as a significant growth opportunity [3] - The company is adopting an AI-first approach, focusing on automation and AI-driven creative tools rather than relying on a large sales force [3]

Torsten Asmus/iStock via Getty Images Dear Co-Investor Our letter to you is arriving somewhat later in the quarter than usual. Admittedly, it has been a busy earnings season, but the more honest answer is that we have been working on some very intriguing potential investments for next year. As ever, we are unrepentant opportunists . We end up pulling on a thread of an idea and suddenly find ourselves tumbling down the rabbit hole. Over the years, we have trained our noses to follow the subtle scent of o ...

Core Insights - AppLovin Corporation (APP) and Arm Holdings plc (ARM) are both positioned as leaders in the rapidly growing artificial intelligence sector, despite operating in different segments of the technology ecosystem [1][2] AppLovin Corporation (APP) - AppLovin is enhancing its advertising performance through advanced machine learning systems, focusing on app monetization and marketing automation [2] - The company is prioritizing improvements in advertiser onboarding, AI-based support tools, generative AI for ad creation, and marketing for its Axon Ads platform [3] - AppLovin is transitioning from a gaming-centric business to a more sophisticated digital advertising platform, utilizing machine learning to predict user behavior and optimize ad placements [4] - The company reported Q3 revenues of $1.41 billion, a 68% increase year-over-year, with adjusted EBITDA rising 79% to $1.16 billion, reflecting an 82% margin [6] - Free cash flow surged 92% to $1.05 billion, indicating strong cash generation capabilities [6] - AppLovin's MAX platform is experiencing growth due to rising advertiser demand and effective campaigns, solidifying its position in app-based advertising [7] - The company is projected to achieve 18% revenue growth and a 106% increase in earnings this year, showcasing significant operational leverage [14] Arm Holdings plc (ARM) - Arm Holdings is expanding its ecosystem and forming partnerships, such as with Meta, to enhance AI efficiency across various computing platforms [8] - The company is a key technology partner for major hyperscalers, with its designs contributing to improved energy efficiency and cost performance in chips [10] - Arm's Compute Subsystem (CSS) designs are streamlining chip development, reducing time-to-market and technical risks for manufacturers [11] - The Lumex CSS platform is set to power flagship devices from OPPO and vivo, enhancing mobile AI capabilities [12] - Arm reported Q2 revenues of $1.14 billion, a 34% year-over-year increase, with operating income rising 43% to achieve a 41.1% margin [13] - The company is projected to deliver 21.5% revenue growth but only a 5.5% increase in EPS, indicating a more gradual earnings expansion [17] Valuation Perspective - AppLovin trades at a forward P/E of 38.55x, slightly below its median, while Arm trades at 65.71x, reflecting high expectations for long-term AI and IoT opportunities [21] - AppLovin's stronger earnings growth and operational efficiency make its valuation more compelling compared to Arm [21] - Investors seeking near-term upside may find AppLovin to be a more attractive option, while Arm remains a strong long-term play in AI chip adoption [22]

Group 1 - AppLovin Corporation (NASDAQ:APP) is recognized as one of the best communication and media stocks to buy, with recent buy ratings from analysts at Citi and Phillip Securities, although price targets have been adjusted downwards [1][2] - The company reported a significant earnings beat for fiscal Q3 2025, with revenue growth of 68% year-over-year, reaching $1.41 billion, which exceeded estimates by $62.88 million [2] - Earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter was $2.45, surpassing estimates by $0.06, while net income grew by 92% year-over-year to $836 million [2] Group 2 - AppLovin's advertising business is experiencing solid growth, driven by AI-driven targeting and expansion beyond the gaming sector [3] - The company anticipates Q4 2025 revenue to be between $1.57 billion and $1.6 billion, with adjusted EBITDA margins projected between 82% and 83% [3] - AppLovin provides end-to-end software and AI solutions for businesses to effectively reach, monetize, and grow their audiences [4]

Core Insights - AppLovin Corporation's stock has declined nearly 35% from its September 2025 highs, indicating a challenging investment environment for those who purchased shares at that time [1] Group 1: Analyst Profile - JR Research is recognized as a Top Analyst by TipRanks and Seeking Alpha, focusing on technology, software, and internet sectors [1] - The analyst identifies attractive risk/reward opportunities supported by strong price action, aiming to generate alpha above the S&P 500 [1] - The investment strategy emphasizes growth opportunities with significant upside potential, avoiding overhyped stocks while targeting beaten-down stocks [1] Group 2: Investment Strategy - The investment group Ultimate Growth Investing specializes in identifying high-potential opportunities across various sectors [1] - The focus is on stocks with strong growth potential and turnaround plays, with an investment horizon of 18 to 24 months [1] - The group targets growth stocks with robust fundamentals and attractive valuations, aiming to capitalize on buying momentum [1]

Core Insights - AppLovin Corporation's stock has declined nearly 35% from its September 2025 highs, indicating a challenging investment environment for those who purchased shares at that time [1] Group 1: Analyst Profile - JR Research is recognized as a Top Analyst by TipRanks and Seeking Alpha, focusing on technology, software, and internet sectors [1] - The analyst specializes in identifying attractive risk/reward opportunities that can potentially generate alpha above the S&P 500 [1] - The investment strategy combines price action analysis with fundamental investing, avoiding overhyped stocks while targeting undervalued ones with recovery potential [1] Group 2: Investment Strategy - The investment group Ultimate Growth Investing aims to identify high-potential opportunities across various sectors, focusing on growth stocks with strong fundamentals [1] - The group targets ideas with significant upside potential and contrarian plays, with an investment horizon of 18 to 24 months [1] - The strategy emphasizes capitalizing on growth stocks that exhibit buying momentum and turnaround potential at attractive valuations [1]

Core Insights - AppLovin and Shopify are projected to potentially surpass Palantir's current market value of $369 billion within three years, driven by strong growth in earnings and innovative technologies [1] AppLovin - AppLovin specializes in adtech software utilizing advanced artificial intelligence models, primarily generating revenue from mobile games and recently launching an e-commerce advertising platform that achieved a billion-dollar revenue run rate shortly after its introduction [2] - The company has introduced a self-service dashboard that enhances automation and client onboarding, with expectations of unlocking significant opportunities globally [3] - AppLovin's Axon recommendation engine, which utilizes machine learning, has led to a fourfold increase in ad spend since its launch in mid-2023, and analysts regard it as a top-tier machine learning ad engine [3] - Wall Street anticipates AppLovin's earnings to grow at an annual rate of 53% over the next three years, potentially increasing its market value by 110% to $370 billion while reducing its valuation to 39 times earnings [3][4] Shopify - Shopify offers a comprehensive solution for omnichannel commerce, enabling merchants to manage their operations across various channels from a single platform, including essential services like payment processing and logistics [5][6] - The company has been recognized as a leader in e-commerce and wholesale commerce solutions, securing a strong market position through its user-friendly approach [6] - Shopify employs artificial intelligence in various capacities, including conversational shopping interfaces, workflow automation for merchants, and enhancing developer productivity [7] - Wall Street projects Shopify's earnings to grow at an annual rate of 32% over the next three years, which could lead to a 93% increase in its market value to $370 billion, while its valuation would adjust to 90 times earnings [8] Comparative Analysis - AppLovin is viewed as having a better chance of exceeding Palantir's market value due to its more favorable valuation, while Shopify has a history of exceeding earnings estimates and could capitalize on opportunities in larger enterprises and international markets [9]