APP vs. CRCL: AppLovin vs. Circle Internet Stock Comparison
How do AppLovin (APP) and Circle Internet (CRCL) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
AppLovin (APP) and Circle Internet (CRCL) are both classified in the Application Software sub-industry within the broader Software industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
| Profile Item | APP | CRCL |
|---|---|---|
| Name | AppLovin Corporation Class A Common Stock | Circle Internet Group, Inc. Class A |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Information Technology | Information Technology |
| GICS Industry Group | Software & Services | Software & Services |
| GICS Industry | Software | Software |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Application Software | Application Software |
| Market Capitalization | 129.62 billion USD | 17.41 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | April 15, 2021 | June 5, 2025 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | APP | CRCL |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -34.71% | -33.88% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 116.87% | -- |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 31.34% | -- |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
AppLovin (APP) carries a highly aggressive beta of 2.25, indicating much higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, whereas Circle Internet (CRCL) is closer to market-like at 0.84 — a noticeable difference in market-sensitivity profile.
| Metric | APP | CRCL |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 80.36% | 96.01% |
| Beta (5Y) | 2.25 | 0.84 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -91.90% | -80.93% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 5.33M | 12.74M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | APP | CRCL |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.49 | -0.40 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.69 | -0.61 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
AppLovin (APP) at 210.09% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than Circle Internet (CRCL) at 13.44%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
APP
Software & Services industry group
210.09%
- APP
- 210.09%
- Max
- 53.85%
- Q3
- 17.90%
- Median
- 6.59%
- Q1
- -9.59%
- Min
- -50.52%
CRCL
Software & Services industry group
13.44%
- Max
- 53.85%
- Q3
- 17.90%
- CRCL
- 13.44%
- Median
- 6.59%
- Q1
- -9.59%
- Min
- -50.52%
Net Margin (TTM)
AppLovin (APP) at 65.89% converts revenue to bottom-line profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while Circle Internet (CRCL) at 15.28% keeps roughly the typical share for its industry.
APP
Software & Services industry group
65.89%
- APP
- 65.89%
- Max
- 41.17%
- Q3
- 15.28%
- Median
- 4.63%
- Q1
- -5.42%
- Min
- -33.17%
CRCL
Software & Services industry group
15.28%
- Max
- 41.17%
- CRCL
- 15.28%
- Q3
- 15.28%
- Median
- 4.63%
- Q1
- -5.42%
- Min
- -33.17%
Operating Margin (TTM)
AppLovin (APP) at 78.22% shows unusually strong operating efficiency — above its industry’s operating margin range — and Circle Internet (CRCL) at 24.09% also operates in the top quartile.
APP
Software & Services industry group
78.22%
- APP
- 78.22%
- Max
- 46.89%
- Q3
- 17.64%
- Median
- 8.73%
- Q1
- -2.13%
- Min
- -30.45%
CRCL
Software & Services industry group
24.09%
- Max
- 46.89%
- CRCL
- 24.09%
- Q3
- 17.64%
- Median
- 8.73%
- Q1
- -2.13%
- Min
- -30.45%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | APP | CRCL |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 210.09% | 13.44% |
| ROA (TTM) | 49.57% | 0.28% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 65.89% | 15.28% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 78.22% | 24.09% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 88.78% | 26.58% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both AppLovin (APP) at 69.99% and Circle Internet (CRCL) at 63.86% are expanding revenue faster than their entire industry benchmark ranges for revenue growth — exceptional top-line momentum on both sides, though growth that far above the peer range is worth checking for one-off boosts such as acquisitions.
EPS Growth
AppLovin (APP) at 115.23% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Circle Internet (CRCL) at -640.54% falls below its industry range — a large difference in per-share earnings trajectories.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | APP | CRCL |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 69.99% | 63.86% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 24.84% | 52.66% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 115.23% | -640.54% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Circle Internet (CRCL) at 1.04 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while AppLovin (APP) at 3.81 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets relative to peers.
APP
Software & Services industry group
3.81
- Max
- 5.11
- APP
- 3.81
- Q3
- 2.77
- Median
- 1.67
- Q1
- 1.01
- Min
- 0.03
CRCL
Software & Services industry group
1.04
- Max
- 5.11
- Q3
- 2.77
- Median
- 1.67
- CRCL
- 1.04
- Q1
- 1.01
- Min
- 0.03
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Circle Internet (CRCL) at 0.00 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while AppLovin (APP) at 1.07 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.
APP
Software & Services industry group
1.07
- Max
- 2.52
- Q3
- 1.13
- APP
- 1.07
- Median
- 0.40
- Q1
- 0.07
- Min
- 0.00
CRCL
Software & Services industry group
0.00
- Max
- 2.52
- Q3
- 1.13
- Median
- 0.40
- Q1
- 0.07
- CRCL
- 0.00
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | APP | CRCL |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 3.81 | 1.04 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.07 | 0.00 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.06 | -4.68 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Neither AppLovin (APP) nor Circle Internet (CRCL) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.
APP
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- APP
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
CRCL
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- CRCL
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Neither AppLovin (APP) nor Circle Internet (CRCL) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.
APP
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- APP
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
CRCL
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- CRCL
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | APP | CRCL |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both AppLovin (APP) at 26.34 and Circle Internet (CRCL) at 40.89 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
APP
Software & Services industry group
26.34
- Max
- 112.94
- Q3
- 60.32
- Median
- 32.91
- APP
- 26.34
- Q1
- 18.77
- Min
- 6.69
CRCL
Software & Services industry group
40.89
- Max
- 112.94
- Q3
- 60.32
- CRCL
- 40.89
- Median
- 32.91
- Q1
- 18.77
- Min
- 6.69
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Circle Internet (CRCL) at 5.75 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while AppLovin (APP) at 17.04 sits in the pricier quartile — APP costs more per dollar of sales.
APP
Software & Services industry group
17.04
- Max
- 17.91
- APP
- 17.04
- Q3
- 8.78
- Median
- 4.25
- Q1
- 2.23
- Min
- 0.02
CRCL
Software & Services industry group
5.75
- Max
- 17.91
- Q3
- 8.78
- CRCL
- 5.75
- Median
- 4.25
- Q1
- 2.23
- Min
- 0.02
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Circle Internet (CRCL) at 4.50 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while AppLovin (APP) at 39.29 prices above its benchmark range — APP looks rich relative to book.
APP
Software & Services industry group
39.29
- APP
- 39.29
- Max
- 16.63
- Q3
- 8.50
- Median
- 4.30
- Q1
- 1.92
- Min
- -3.90
CRCL
Software & Services industry group
4.50
- Max
- 16.63
- Q3
- 8.50
- CRCL
- 4.50
- Median
- 4.30
- Q1
- 1.92
- Min
- -3.90
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | APP | CRCL |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 26.34 | 40.89 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 17.04 | 5.75 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 39.29 | 4.50 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 2.87% | 1.43% |