MarketBeatยท2025-09-10 23:31Core Insights - Robinhood Markets and AppLovin have been included in the S&P 500 Index, marking a significant milestone for both companies after a long wait [1][2] - The market capitalizations of Robinhood and AppLovin at the start of 2025 were $33 billion and $109 billion, respectively, with approximately 25% of S&P 500 stocks having lower market caps [2] - Following the announcement, Robinhood's shares rose nearly 16% and AppLovin's shares increased by almost 12% [2] Group 1: Financial Performance and Validation - The inclusion of Robinhood and AppLovin in the S&P 500 serves as validation of their underlying businesses, with Robinhood's shares having increased by approximately 496% and AppLovin's by 520% over the past 52 weeks [3][4] - Both companies have demonstrated consistent GAAP profitability, with Robinhood achieving positive GAAP net income for the last seven quarters and AppLovin for the last nine quarters [5][6] Group 2: Comparison with Other Stocks - The consistent profitability of Robinhood and AppLovin contrasts with the performance of MicroStrategy, which has a market capitalization of around $93 billion but has only shown positive GAAP net income in two of the last eight quarters [7][8] Group 3: Anticipated Market Activity - The inclusion in the S&P 500 will lead to substantial buying from major financial firms like BlackRock and Vanguard, which manage trillions in assets [9][10] - Active managers are likely to adjust their holdings to include Robinhood and AppLovin, adding incremental demand for their shares [11] Group 4: Long-term Outlook - While the S&P 500 inclusion is a significant win for both companies, the long-term success will depend on their ability to maintain impressive earnings and business expansion [12]