AppLovin Corporation (APP): A Bull Case Theory

Core Thesis - AppLovin Corporation is positioned as a strong player in the digital advertising space, competing effectively with major companies like Meta, Snap, and TikTok, with significant growth potential and a lean operating model [2][3][4] Financial Performance - As of December 1st, AppLovin's share price was $623.59, with trailing and forward P/E ratios of 73.54 and 43.48 respectively [1] - The company reported over $11 billion in gross ad spend as of Q1, indicating a scale comparable to the combined revenues of Pinterest, Snap, and Twitter [2] - AppLovin has achieved EBITDA margins of 80–85% and converts over 50% of EBITDA to free cash flow, showcasing its ability to generate durable cash flow [4] Market Position and Strategy - AppLovin currently commands a 3–5% budget share among surveyed customers, ranking just behind Meta and Google, with significant room for market expansion [3] - The company's capital allocation strategy focuses on deploying all free cash flow toward share buybacks, reflecting confidence in its intrinsic value [3] Growth Opportunities - The company identifies a substantial untapped opportunity in in-game advertising, estimating that this could unlock an additional $100 billion in total addressable market [4] - Future marketing efforts, including large-scale campaigns, are expected to further accelerate customer growth [4] Historical Context - The stock has appreciated approximately 141.92% since a previous bullish thesis in March 2025, indicating strong market performance driven by its software-driven growth strategy [5]