Why AppLovin Stock Lost 30% in January

Core Viewpoint - AppLovin's stock experienced a significant decline in January 2026, dropping 30% due to a combination of short-seller attacks, scrutiny over software valuations, and competitive threats from Google's new AI game creation platform, Project Genie [2][4][6]. Group 1: Stock Performance - AppLovin's stock closed January down 30%, with a notable drop on the last day of the month following the launch of Project Genie [2]. - Despite a strong performance in 2025 where the stock doubled, concerns over valuation and market conditions led to a sell-off in January [4]. - The stock is currently trading at a price-to-sales ratio of 31, indicating high valuation concerns [4]. Group 2: Short-Seller Attacks and Investigations - The stock faced a short-seller attack on January 20, with allegations of the company circumventing anti-money-laundering controls [6]. - AppLovin has previously encountered similar allegations, which have not resulted in lasting impacts, and the company has labeled the claims as "false, misleading, and nonsensical" [6]. - Ongoing reports of an SEC investigation into its data collection practices are contributing to negative sentiment around the stock [5]. Group 3: Future Outlook - The recent sell-off may be misdirected as AppLovin is no longer focused on mobile games after divesting its apps business, and it now monetizes mobile games through adtech [7]. - The impact of Project Genie on the gaming industry remains uncertain, and the market may be overreacting to its launch [7]. - AppLovin is set to report its fourth-quarter earnings on February 11, with analysts expecting a revenue increase of 17% to $1.61 billion and adjusted earnings per share to rise from $1.73 to $2.95, which will be crucial for justifying its high valuation [8].