Core Viewpoint - AppLovin Corporation is currently under investigation by the SEC regarding its data collection practices, which has led to a significant drop in its stock price despite a strong performance earlier in the year [2][6]. Company Overview - AppLovin Corporation, founded in 2012 and based in Palo Alto, California, is a mobile technology company that provides developers with tools for marketing, monetization, analysis, and publishing of apps through platforms like MAX, AppDiscovery, and SparkLabs [1]. Stock Performance - Following the SEC investigation news, AppLovin's stock fell by 14% during regular trading and an additional 5% in after-hours trading. However, the stock has increased approximately 80% this year, building on a more than 700% increase in 2024 [2][6]. Technological Advancements - The company's growth has been attributed to advancements in artificial intelligence, which have improved its ad targeting capabilities [3]. Market Position - AppLovin was recently added to the S&P 500 index, replacing MarketAxess Holdings, indicating a strong market position [3]. Regulatory Scrutiny - The SEC's investigation is a response to a whistleblower complaint and multiple short-seller reports, adding to the scrutiny over AppLovin's data collection and advertising practices [2][6].

Core Insights - Thematic ETFs have gained traction, particularly the VanEck Video Gaming and eSports ETF (ESPO), which has seen significant growth in assets under management (AUM) this year [1][3][5] Group 1: ETF Overview - The VanEck Video Gaming and eSports ETF (ESPO) launched prior to the 2021 ETF rule and charges 56 basis points, tracking the MVIS Global Video Gaming & eSports index [2] - The index consists of fewer than 30 companies, focusing on subsectors like gaming hardware and software, providing concentrated exposure [2] Group 2: Performance Metrics - ESPO's AUM has increased from approximately $279 million to $496 million year-to-date, with about $70 million in net inflows, driven by price appreciation [3] - The ETF has delivered a year-to-date return of 45.5%, outperforming its category and segment averages [4] Group 3: Notable Holdings - AppLovin Corp (APP), the largest holding in ESPO, has achieved a 100% return year-to-date, with a return on equity of 259% and a year-over-year quarterly revenue growth of 77% [4] - Other significant holdings include Nintendo and Unity Software, enhancing the ETF's focus on gaming software and development [4]

Industry Insights - Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly integrated into daily business operations, with Goldman Sachs estimating that 9.2% of U.S. companies currently utilize AI, a significant increase from the previous year [1] - Morgan Stanley projects that AI software sales will surge by 580% over the next three years, reaching over $400 billion by 2028 [1] Company Analysis: AppLovin - AppLovin specializes in adtech software, initially focusing on game developers but has recently expanded to e-commerce brands with its AI-driven targeting engine, Axon [4] - Morgan Stanley identifies AppLovin as well-positioned to benefit from rising AI software spending, highlighting Axon as a "best in class machine learning ad engine" that enhances return on ad spend [5] - AppLovin's Q1 financial results showed a 40% increase in total revenue to $1.4 billion, driven by strong advertising sales, while GAAP earnings rose 149% to $1.67 per diluted share [6] - Analysts have a median target price of $470 per share for AppLovin, indicating a potential upside of 29% from its current price of $364 [7] - Earnings are expected to grow by 55% annually through 2026, making the current valuation of 66 times earnings appear reasonable [8] Company Analysis: HubSpot - HubSpot develops CRM software tailored for mid-market businesses, differentiating itself from larger competitors like Salesforce [9] - The platform incorporates an AI engine named Breeze, which enhances various functionalities such as summarizing records, drafting emails, and providing customer support [10] - HubSpot's Q1 results were mixed, with revenue increasing 16% to $714 million, but average customer spending declining by 4% [11] - Positive updates on AI adoption were shared, with significant increases in Content Hub attach rates and Service Hub adoption due to embedded AI [12] - Wall Street estimates HubSpot's adjusted earnings will grow by 19% annually through 2026, although the current valuation of 66 times adjusted earnings may seem high [13]

Group 1: Industry Overview - The introduction of generative AI is expected to lead to significant wealth creation, with Morgan Stanley estimating revenue across software and internet companies to increase over 600% to approximately $1.1 trillion by 2028 [2] Group 2: AppLovin - AppLovin specializes in adtech software, allowing developers to market and monetize applications, with a recent expansion into e-commerce advertising [4] - The company utilizes a "best-in-class" AI recommendation engine called Axon for targeted advertising campaigns and employs generative AI through its creative agency, SparkLabs, to create personalized ad content [5] - In Q1, AppLovin reported a 40% increase in total revenue to $1.4 billion, with GAAP earnings rising 149% to $1.67 per diluted share, and management forecasts a 69% growth in advertising sales for Q2 [6] - The recent sale of its mobile games portfolio for $800 million allows AppLovin to focus on its core adtech business and eliminate a declining segment [7] - Wall Street projects AppLovin's earnings to grow at 43% annually through 2026, making its current valuation of 64 times earnings appear reasonable [8] Group 3: CoreWeave - CoreWeave provides cloud infrastructure and software services, focusing on GPU cloud solutions tailored for AI applications, exclusively using Nvidia GPUs [10] - The company has achieved strong results in MLPerf benchmarks and is often the first to deploy new Nvidia technology, contributing to its rapid growth [11][12] - In Q1, CoreWeave's revenue surged 420% to $981 million, with adjusted operating income rising 550% to $162 million, although it reported a non-GAAP loss of $150 million due to significant long-term debt [13] - The current price-to-sales ratio of 21 is considered neither cheap nor excessively expensive for a company with triple-digit sales growth and a 73% gross margin [14]