Analyst Consensus ?
ConsensusBuy27 ratings
Bullish2177.8%
Neutral518.5%
Bearish13.7%
AppLovin Corporation · APP · FY2026 Q1 · Calendar Q2 2026
AppLovin Q1 2026: Revenue Jumps 59% YoY as AI Models and Axon Self-Serve Launch Fuel Growth
AppLovin's Q1 2026 results underscore a platform increasingly powered by proprietary AI. Revenue of $1.84B (+59% YoY) and adjusted EBITDA of $1.56B (+66% YoY) both exceeded guidance, while an 85% EBITDA margin signals operating leverage at scale. The Axon self-serve launch in June structurally expands the addressable market, and early AI creative tools are already driving measurable advertiser ROI. With $2.76B in cash and $1B in buybacks, the company is funding growth while returning capital. The key question is whether self-serve onboarding can scale without diluting ad spend quality.
Reported After market closeNASDAQTechnology
$138.65B market cap
90quality score
Company context
Snapshot as of publicationAppLovin Corporation provides a specialized software platform focused on empowering mobile application developers to enhance the marketing and revenue generation of their products. With operations spanning the United States and international markets, the company assists mobile app developers worldwide. Among its core software offerings is AppDiscovery, a marketing solution that intelligently connects advertiser demand with publisher supply through an auction-based model. Another key product is Adjust, an analytics platform that enables marketers to scale their mobile apps by offering capabilities for performance measurement, campaign optimization, and user data protection. Additionally, MAX is an in-app bidding software engineered to maximize the value derived from an app's advertising inventory by facilitating real-time competitive auctions. Its client base is broad, serving advertisers, publishers, internet platforms, and other stakeholders. Founded in 2011, the enterprise maintains its headquarters in Palo Alto, California.
Earnings scorecard
Reported versus consensus
Reported EPS
$3.56
Consensus $3
EPS surprise
+3.5%
Reported versus consensus
Reported revenue
$1.84B
Consensus $1.77B
Revenue surprise
+3.9%
Reported versus consensus
Earnings History
Estimate
Beat
Miss
Match
Analyst 52W Price Targets
$323.96Current
$14Low
$427.57Average
$860High
Latest persisted target per named analyst; persisted current price from FN2's market snapshot as of Sep 12, 2026. Not an FN2 forecast.
Firm-level rating actions
FMP grade actions identify the grading firm, not a named analyst.
| Firm | Rating | Prior rating | Action | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BTIG | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Sep 8, 2026 |
| Evercore ISI Group | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | Sep 1, 2026 |
| Needham | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Aug 26, 2026 |
| Piper Sandler | Neutral | Neutral | Maintain | Aug 21, 2026 |
| Wells Fargo | Equal Weight | Equal Weight | Maintain | Aug 19, 2026 |
| Benchmark | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Aug 17, 2026 |
| B of A Securities | Neutral | Buy | Downgrade | Aug 11, 2026 |
| Citigroup | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Aug 7, 2026 |
| Wedbush | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | Aug 6, 2026 |
| UBS | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Aug 6, 2026 |
| RBC Capital | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | Aug 6, 2026 |
| Morgan Stanley | Overweight | Overweight | Maintain | Aug 6, 2026 |
| Macquarie | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | Aug 6, 2026 |
| Goldman Sachs | Neutral | Neutral | Maintain | Aug 6, 2026 |
| JP Morgan | Neutral | Neutral | Maintain | May 7, 2026 |
| Oppenheimer | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | Mar 5, 2026 |
| Scotiabank | Sector Outperform | Sector Outperform | Maintain | Feb 12, 2026 |
| Jefferies | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Feb 12, 2026 |
| Loop Capital | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Feb 20, 2025 |
| Stifel | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Dec 5, 2024 |
| Daiwa Capital | Outperform | Neutral | Upgrade | Nov 8, 2024 |
| Truist Securities | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Aug 15, 2023 |
| DA Davidson | Buy | Buy | Maintain | Aug 11, 2023 |
| Credit Suisse | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | Aug 10, 2023 |
| Keybanc | Overweight | Overweight | Maintain | Feb 9, 2023 |
| Wolfe Research | Outperform | Outperform | Maintain | Aug 17, 2022 |
| Arete Research | Sell | Sell | Maintain | Nov 18, 2021 |
Named analyst price targets
Upside is calculated against the persisted current price $323.96. FMP does not supply a rating on these named-analyst rows.
| Firm | Analyst | 52W target | Price when posted | Upside | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BTIG | Analyst unavailable | $396 | $320.56 | +22.2% | Sep 8, 2026 |
| Evercore ISI | Robert Coolbrith | $510 | $312.06 | +57.4% | Sep 1, 2026 |
| Needham | Bernie McTernan | $475 | $310.54 | +46.6% | Aug 26, 2026 |
| Piper Sandler | Analyst unavailable | $325 | $308.77 | +0.3% | Aug 21, 2026 |
| Wells Fargo | Alec Brondolo | $325 | $307.26 | +0.3% | Aug 19, 2026 |
| William Blair | Analyst unavailable | $440 | $316.55 | +35.8% | Aug 17, 2026 |
| BTIG | Clark Lampen | $408 | $318.68 | +25.9% | Aug 12, 2026 |
| Wedbush | Analyst unavailable | $610 | $335.2 | +88.3% | Aug 6, 2026 |
| Needham | Bernie McTernan | $500 | $333.13 | +54.3% | Aug 6, 2026 |
| Scotiabank | Nathaniel Schindler | $515 | $417.8 | +59.0% | Aug 6, 2026 |
| UBS | Stephen Ju | $790 | $417.8 | +143.9% | Aug 6, 2026 |
| Wells Fargo | Alec Brondolo | $357 | $417.8 | +10.2% | Aug 6, 2026 |
| BTIG | Analyst unavailable | $574 | $417.8 | +77.2% | Aug 6, 2026 |
| Macquarie | Tim Nollen | $620 | $417.8 | +91.4% | Aug 6, 2026 |
| Piper Sandler | James Callahan | $385 | $417.8 | +18.8% | Aug 6, 2026 |
| Goldman Sachs | Analyst unavailable | $465 | $417.8 | +43.5% | Aug 6, 2026 |
| UBS | Analyst unavailable | $798 | $395.9 | +146.3% | Aug 3, 2026 |
| Wells Fargo | Analyst unavailable | $575 | $543.79 | +77.5% | Jul 7, 2026 |
| Raymond James | Analyst unavailable | $640 | $477.08 | +97.6% | Jun 29, 2026 |
| KeyBanc | Analyst unavailable | $775 | $512.1 | +139.2% | Jun 10, 2026 |
| Deutsche Bank | Analyst unavailable | $660 | $474.81 | +103.7% | May 7, 2026 |
| UBS | Analyst unavailable | $750 | $470.22 | +131.5% | May 7, 2026 |
| Piper Sandler | Analyst unavailable | $665 | $468.83 | +105.3% | May 7, 2026 |
| UBS | Analyst unavailable | $716 | $475.81 | +121.0% | May 5, 2026 |
| Argus Research | Analyst unavailable | $520 | $417.45 | +60.5% | Apr 14, 2026 |
| Macquarie | Aaron Lee | $710 | $391.2 | +119.2% | Apr 8, 2026 |
| Arete Research | David Mak | $340 | $434.77 | +5.0% | Mar 2, 2026 |
| Scotiabank | Analyst unavailable | $775 | $372.29 | +139.2% | Feb 12, 2026 |
| Wedbush | Michael Pachter | $640 | $370.91 | +97.6% | Feb 12, 2026 |
| Jefferies | Analyst unavailable | $700 | $388.38 | +116.1% | Feb 12, 2026 |
| Goldman Sachs | Analyst unavailable | $585 | $388.93 | +80.6% | Feb 12, 2026 |
| Piper Sandler | Analyst unavailable | $650 | $371.29 | +100.6% | Feb 12, 2026 |
| Morgan Stanley | Analyst unavailable | $720 | $456.81 | +122.2% | Feb 12, 2026 |
| UBS | Analyst unavailable | $740 | $456.81 | +128.4% | Feb 12, 2026 |
| BTIG | Analyst unavailable | $640 | $456.81 | +97.6% | Feb 12, 2026 |
| Wells Fargo | Analyst unavailable | $543 | $456.81 | +67.6% | Feb 12, 2026 |
| UBS | Analyst unavailable | $686 | $460.38 | +111.8% | Feb 10, 2026 |
| Wedbush | Michael Pachter | $465 | $385.29 | +43.5% | Feb 5, 2026 |
| Morgan Stanley | Matthew Cost | $800 | $387.34 | +146.9% | Feb 4, 2026 |
| Needham | Analyst unavailable | $700 | $524.41 | +116.1% | Jan 26, 2026 |
| Evercore ISI | Robert Coolbrith | $835 | $668.63 | +157.7% | Jan 14, 2026 |
| UBS | Analyst unavailable | $800 | $662.95 | +146.9% | Jan 13, 2026 |
| Wells Fargo | Alec Brondolo | $735 | $632.92 | +126.9% | Jan 8, 2026 |
| BTIG | Analyst unavailable | $771 | $677.3 | +138.0% | Dec 17, 2025 |
| Jefferies | James Heaney | $860 | $716.45 | +165.5% | Dec 11, 2025 |
| UBS | Analyst unavailable | $775 | $717.59 | +139.2% | Dec 11, 2025 |
| Scotiabank | Nat Schindler | $750 | $627.92 | +131.5% | Nov 6, 2025 |
| Piper Sandler | Analyst unavailable | $800 | $619.22 | +146.9% | Nov 6, 2025 |
| BTIG | Analyst unavailable | $693 | $620.62 | +113.9% | Oct 31, 2025 |
| Deutsche Bank | Analyst unavailable | $705 | $552.64 | +117.6% | Oct 22, 2025 |
| Goldman Sachs | Eric Sheridan | $630 | $590.03 | +94.5% | Oct 14, 2025 |
| Wells Fargo | Analyst unavailable | $633 | $590.11 | +95.4% | Oct 14, 2025 |
| RBC Capital | Matthew Swanson | $700 | $590.11 | +116.1% | Oct 13, 2025 |
| Wells Fargo | Analyst unavailable | $860 | $622.9 | +165.5% | Oct 8, 2025 |
| Oppenheimer | Analyst unavailable | $740 | $628.27 | +128.4% | Oct 7, 2025 |
| Morgan Stanley | Analyst unavailable | $750 | $669.86 | +131.5% | Sep 29, 2025 |
| UBS | Chris Kuntarich | $810 | $660.94 | +150.0% | Sep 26, 2025 |
| Piper Sandler | Analyst unavailable | $740 | $659.58 | +128.4% | Sep 26, 2025 |
| BTIG | Clark Lampen | $664 | $593.14 | +105.0% | Sep 15, 2025 |
| Scotiabank | Analyst unavailable | $575 | $482.78 | +77.5% | Aug 28, 2025 |
| Scotiabank | Nat Schindler | $430 | $352.74 | +32.7% | Jul 9, 2025 |
| Piper Sandler | James Callahan | $470 | $338.8 | +45.1% | Jun 26, 2025 |
| HSBC | Mohammed Khallouf | $436 | $252.35 | +34.6% | Apr 23, 2025 |
| Loop Capital Markets | Analyst unavailable | $650 | $272.38 | +100.6% | Mar 28, 2025 |
| FBN Securities | Matthew Thornton | $385 | $279.68 | +18.8% | Mar 28, 2025 |
| Oppenheimer | Analyst unavailable | $560 | $261.7 | +72.9% | Mar 27, 2025 |
| Arete Research | Analyst unavailable | $200 | $318 | -38.3% | Mar 5, 2025 |
| Wells Fargo | Analyst unavailable | $538 | $410.02 | +66.1% | Feb 27, 2025 |
| Stifel Nicolaus | Scott Devitt | $435 | $394.42 | +34.3% | Dec 5, 2024 |
| Piper Sandler | James Calla | $400 | $319 | +23.5% | Nov 27, 2024 |
| Loop Capital Markets | Rob Sanderson | $385 | $166.05 | +18.8% | Nov 11, 2024 |
| Wells Fargo | Alec Bonello | $200 | $166.18 | -38.3% | Oct 28, 2024 |
| Oppenheimer | Martin Yang | $180 | $158.95 | -44.4% | Oct 23, 2024 |
| Citigroup | Jason Bazinet | $185 | $158.95 | -42.9% | Oct 22, 2024 |
| Bank of America Securities | Omar Dessouky | $210 | $157.15 | -35.2% | Oct 21, 2024 |
| Goldman Sachs | Eric Sheridan | $147 | $147 | -54.6% | Oct 14, 2024 |
| Macquarie | Tim Nollen | $150 | $130.63 | -53.7% | Sep 25, 2024 |
| UBS | John Hodulik | $145 | $123.36 | -55.2% | Sep 17, 2024 |
| BTIG | Clark Lampen | $150 | $105.61 | -53.7% | Sep 13, 2024 |
| Bank of America Securities | Omar Dessouky | $120 | $86.23 | -63.0% | Sep 11, 2024 |
| Jefferies | James Heaney | $108 | $86.31 | -66.7% | Sep 10, 2024 |
| Wedbush | Nick McKay | $100 | $77.35 | -69.1% | Jun 11, 2024 |
| BTIG | Clark Lampen | $100 | $74 | -69.1% | May 9, 2024 |
| Daiwa | Jonathan Kees | $80 | $75.57 | -75.3% | Apr 15, 2024 |
| BTIG | Clark Lampen | $87 | $78.05 | -73.1% | Apr 9, 2024 |
| Oppenheimer | Martin Yang | $85 | $74.8 | -73.8% | Apr 8, 2024 |
| Stifel Nicolaus | David Pang | $36 | $31.43 | -88.9% | Aug 1, 2023 |
| Wedbush | Nick McKay | $23 | $16.42 | -92.9% | Feb 9, 2023 |
| Jefferies | Andrew Uerkwitz | $14 | $13.44 | -95.7% | Nov 30, 2022 |
| Oppenheimer | Analyst unavailable | $45 | $26.84 | -86.1% | Sep 13, 2022 |
| Citigroup | Analyst unavailable | $60 | $25.55 | -81.5% | Aug 23, 2022 |
| Wolfe Research | Gal Munda | $40 | $32.63 | -87.7% | Aug 16, 2022 |
| BTIG | Analyst unavailable | $53 | $35.71 | -83.6% | Aug 11, 2022 |
| Truist Financial | Analyst unavailable | $65 | $37.02 | -79.9% | Aug 11, 2022 |
| Credit Suisse | Stephen Ju | $80 | $40.07 | -75.3% | Aug 8, 2022 |
| Citigroup | Analyst unavailable | $62 | $35.88 | -80.9% | Jul 7, 2022 |
| Morgan Stanley | Analyst unavailable | $65 | $34.16 | -79.9% | Jun 13, 2022 |
| Goldman Sachs | Analyst unavailable | $58 | $40.3 | -82.1% | Jun 10, 2022 |
| Citigroup | Analyst unavailable | $68 | $40.3 | -79.0% | Jun 10, 2022 |
| Truist Financial | Youssef Squali | $77 | $36.99 | -76.2% | May 12, 2022 |
| Credit Suisse | Analyst unavailable | $100 | $36.48 | -69.1% | May 6, 2022 |
| J.P. Morgan | Analyst unavailable | $75 | $40.01 | -76.8% | May 3, 2022 |
| Stifel Nicolaus | Scott Devitt | $80 | $38.15 | -75.3% | May 2, 2022 |
| Stephens | Jacob Johnson | $47 | $37.42 | -85.5% | Apr 26, 2022 |
| Cannonball Research | Vasily Karasyov | $107 | $82.94 | -67.0% | Jan 10, 2022 |
| UBS | John Hodulik | $118 | $114.85 | -63.6% | Nov 11, 2021 |
| Macquarie | Tim Nollen | $90 | $70.4 | -72.2% | Aug 31, 2021 |
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Stock move
+6.4%
Event window
SPY move
-0.3%
Same window
Abnormal move
+6.7%
Stock minus SPY
Volume
3.1×
Versus trailing sessions
Subsequent drift
+11.7%
Up to 20 sessions
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Try FN2 freeTranscript intelligence
What changed
The headline shift is Axon's transition from a closed platform to public self-serve in June, opening AppLovin's ad engine to any advertiser. A new AI model released weeks ago delivered substantial uplift, helping the consumer vertical grow ~25% month-over-month to record advertiser spend. AI creative tools moved from concept to deployment — the interactive page generator is widely adopted, video generation is in testing. Management quantified the self-serve opportunity: at over $70,000 first-year revenue per new customer, 100,000 onboarded customers could translate to $7B in ad spend.
Guidance delta
Guidance sentiment was maintained. Management did not raise full-period guidance but struck a confident tone, with capex outlook increasing to fund GPU capacity and AI research. The June self-serve launch and continued AI model rollouts signal management's expectation of sustained demand, though no new explicit forward guidance numbers were disclosed in the analysis.
Key takeaways
- Q1 revenue of $1.84B (+59% YoY) and adjusted EBITDA of $1.56B (+66% YoY) at an 85% margin, surpassing guidance.
- Axon platform opens to all advertisers in June 2026, shifting from a closed to a public self-serve model.
- New AI model drove ~25% month-over-month growth in the consumer vertical to record advertiser spend.
- Strong balance sheet: $2.76B cash, $1.29B free cash flow, and $1B in share repurchases during the quarter.
- AI creative tools scaling — interactive page generator widely adopted, video generation in testing phase.
Management priorities
- Launch the Axon self-serve platform in June 2026.
- Roll out AI video generation and later playable ad generators to all advertisers.
- Introduce lead-generation ad models for verticals such as insurance and fintech.
- Develop and commercialize a connected-TV performance advertising solution.
- Continue investing in GPU capacity and AI research to sustain model improvements.
Sources
- Earnings call transcript and parsed analysis · 2026-05-11T10:29:34.698584+00:00
- FN2 earnings calendar · 2026-07-26T00:37:12.209961+00:00
- Polygon adjusted daily market bars · 2026-07-28T21:11:15.436928+00:00
- Financial Modeling Prep analyst price-target consensus and quote snapshot · 2026-07-28T21:11:15.433809+00:00
Methodology
Reported and consensus figures come from FN2's earnings event records. Market reaction and volume are calculated from daily adjusted bars around the event; abnormal move subtracts the SPY move over the same window.
Analyst target low, average, and high values are derived at request time from each named analyst's latest persisted FMP target. The current-price marker comes from FN2's persisted market snapshot. They are sell-side estimates, not an FN2 valuation or recommendation.
Transcript intelligence is a structured synthesis of the current and prior earnings-call analyses. Missing values stay missing and are never estimated.
By FN2 Research · Updated . For educational purposes only; not investment advice.