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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.

Company profile comparison for AppLovin (APP) and Circle Internet (CRCL)
Profile ItemAPPCRCL
NameAppLovin Corporation Class A Common StockCircle Internet Group, Inc. Class A
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupSoftware & ServicesSoftware & Services
GICS IndustrySoftwareSoftware
GICS Sub-IndustryApplication SoftwareApplication Software
Market Capitalization129.62 billion USD17.41 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateApril 15, 2021June 5, 2025
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

APP
CRCL
GSPC
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AppLovin (APP) vs. Circle Internet (CRCL), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for AppLovin (APP) and Circle Internet (CRCL). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for AppLovin (APP) and Circle Internet (CRCL). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for AppLovin (APP) and Circle Internet (CRCL)
MetricAPPCRCL
Total Return (1Y)-34.71%-33.88%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)116.87%--
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)31.34%--

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

APP
CRCL
GSPC
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AppLovin (APP) vs. Circle Internet (CRCL), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for AppLovin (APP) and Circle Internet (CRCL). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

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.

Risk profile metrics for AppLovin (APP) and Circle Internet (CRCL)
MetricAPPCRCL
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)80.36%96.01%
Beta (5Y)2.250.84
Max Drawdown (5Y)-91.90%-80.93%
Avg. Volume (3M)5.33M12.74M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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APP and CRCL are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for AppLovin (APP) and Circle Internet (CRCL)
MetricAPPCRCL
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%
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AppLovin (APP) vs. Circle Internet (CRCL): A comparison of their ROE against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

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%
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AppLovin (APP) vs. Circle Internet (CRCL): A comparison of their net margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

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%
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AppLovin (APP) vs. Circle Internet (CRCL): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for AppLovin (APP) and Circle Internet (CRCL)
MetricAPPCRCL
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.

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AppLovin (APP) vs. Circle Internet (CRCL): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

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.

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AppLovin (APP) vs. Circle Internet (CRCL): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for AppLovin (APP) and Circle Internet (CRCL)
MetricAPPCRCL
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
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AppLovin (APP) vs. Circle Internet (CRCL): A comparison of their current ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

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
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AppLovin (APP) vs. Circle Internet (CRCL): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for AppLovin (APP) and Circle Internet (CRCL)
MetricAPPCRCL
Current Ratio (MRQ)3.811.04
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.070.00
Net Debt / EBITDA0.06-4.68

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%
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AppLovin (APP) vs. Circle Internet (CRCL): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

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%
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AppLovin (APP) vs. Circle Internet (CRCL): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for AppLovin (APP) and Circle Internet (CRCL)
MetricAPPCRCL
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
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AppLovin (APP) vs. Circle Internet (CRCL): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

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
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AppLovin (APP) vs. Circle Internet (CRCL): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

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
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AppLovin (APP) vs. Circle Internet (CRCL): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for AppLovin (APP) and Circle Internet (CRCL)
MetricAPPCRCL
P/E Ratio (TTM)26.3440.89
P/S Ratio (TTM)17.045.75
P/B Ratio (MRQ)39.294.50
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.87%1.43%