APP vs. CRM: AppLovin vs. Salesforce Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do AppLovin (APP) and Salesforce (CRM) 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 Salesforce (CRM) are both classified in the Application Software sub-industry within the broader Software industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Salesforce (CRM) has more than two decades of public-market history since June 23, 2004, whereas AppLovin (APP) listed on April 15, 2021 and has a much shorter record to draw on.

Company profile comparison for AppLovin (APP) and Salesforce (CRM)
Profile Item	APP	CRM
Name	AppLovin Corporation Class A Common Stock	Salesforce, Inc.
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	175.83 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	Nasdaq	NYSE
Listing Date	April 15, 2021	June 23, 2004
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

APP

CRM

GSPC

AppLovin (APP) vs. Salesforce (CRM), 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 Salesforce (CRM). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for AppLovin (APP) and Salesforce (CRM)
Metric	APP	CRM
Total Return (1Y)	-34.71%	-9.04%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	116.87%	1.64%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	31.34%	-6.57%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

APP

CRM

GSPC

AppLovin (APP) vs. Salesforce (CRM), 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 Salesforce (CRM). 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 Salesforce (CRM) is closer to market-like at 1.24 — a noticeable difference in market-sensitivity profile.

Risk profile metrics for AppLovin (APP) and Salesforce (CRM)
Metric	APP	CRM
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	80.36%	47.53%
Beta (5Y)	2.25	1.24
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-91.90%	-58.67%
Avg. Volume (3M)	5.33M	11.36M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

APP and CRM 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 Salesforce (CRM)
Metric	APP	CRM
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.49	-0.28
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.69	-0.45

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but AppLovin (APP) at 210.09% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Salesforce (CRM) at 19.38% also sits in the top quartile.

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%

CRM

Software & Services industry group

19.38%

Max: 53.85%
CRM: 19.38%
Q3: 17.90%
Median: 6.59%
Q1: -9.59%
Min: -50.52%

AppLovin (APP) vs. Salesforce (CRM): A comparison of their ROE against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

AppLovin (APP) at 65.89% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and Salesforce (CRM) at 21.99% also retains a top-quartile share.

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%

CRM

Software & Services industry group

21.99%

Max: 41.17%
CRM: 21.99%
Q3: 15.28%
Median: 4.63%
Q1: -5.42%
Min: -33.17%

AppLovin (APP) vs. Salesforce (CRM): 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 Salesforce (CRM) at 21.38% 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%

CRM

Software & Services industry group

21.38%

Max: 46.89%
CRM: 21.38%
Q3: 17.64%
Median: 8.73%
Q1: -2.13%
Min: -30.45%

AppLovin (APP) vs. Salesforce (CRM): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for AppLovin (APP) and Salesforce (CRM)
Metric	APP	CRM
ROE (TTM)	210.09%	19.38%
ROA (TTM)	49.57%	5.70%
Net Margin (TTM)	65.89%	21.99%
Operating Margin (TTM)	78.22%	21.38%
Gross Margin (TTM)	88.78%	77.28%

Growth

Revenue Growth

AppLovin (APP) at 69.99% clears its industry range for revenue growth, far stronger top-line momentum than Salesforce (CRM) at 9.58%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

AppLovin (APP) vs. Salesforce (CRM): 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 Salesforce (CRM) at 22.64% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for APP.

AppLovin (APP) vs. Salesforce (CRM): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for AppLovin (APP) and Salesforce (CRM)
Metric	APP	CRM
Revenue Growth (YoY)	69.99%	9.58%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	24.84%	9.82%
EPS Growth (YoY)	115.23%	22.64%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	--	233.65%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

AppLovin (APP) at 3.81 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while Salesforce (CRM) at 0.84 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — different working-capital profiles, both worth examining.

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

CRM

Software & Services industry group

0.84

Max: 5.11
Q3: 2.77
Median: 1.67
Q1: 1.01
CRM: 0.84
Min: 0.03

AppLovin (APP) vs. Salesforce (CRM): A comparison of their current ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both AppLovin (APP) at 1.07 and Salesforce (CRM) at 1.10 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

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

CRM

Software & Services industry group

1.10

Max: 2.52
Q3: 1.13
CRM: 1.10
Median: 0.40
Q1: 0.07
Min: 0.00

AppLovin (APP) vs. Salesforce (CRM): 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 Salesforce (CRM)
Metric	APP	CRM
Current Ratio (MRQ)	3.81	0.84
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.07	1.10
Net Debt / EBITDA	0.06	2.40

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

AppLovin (APP) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Salesforce (CRM) reports a yield of 0.77%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

CRM

Software & Services industry group

0.77%

CRM: 0.77%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

AppLovin (APP) vs. Salesforce (CRM): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

AppLovin (APP) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Salesforce (CRM) reports a payout of 15.66%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

CRM

Software & Services industry group

15.66%

CRM: 15.66%
Max: 0.00%
Q3: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

AppLovin (APP) vs. Salesforce (CRM): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for AppLovin (APP) and Salesforce (CRM)
Metric	APP	CRM
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.00%	0.77%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	0.00%	15.66%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both AppLovin (APP) at 26.34 and Salesforce (CRM) at 19.55 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

CRM

Software & Services industry group

19.55

Max: 112.94
Q3: 60.32
Median: 32.91
CRM: 19.55
Q1: 18.77
Min: 6.69

AppLovin (APP) vs. Salesforce (CRM): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Salesforce (CRM) at 4.00 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

CRM

Software & Services industry group

4.00

Max: 17.91
Q3: 8.78
Median: 4.25
CRM: 4.00
Q1: 2.23
Min: 0.02

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Salesforce (CRM) at 4.58 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

CRM

Software & Services industry group

4.58

Max: 16.63
Q3: 8.50
CRM: 4.58
Median: 4.30
Q1: 1.92
Min: -3.90

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for AppLovin (APP) and Salesforce (CRM)
Metric	APP	CRM
P/E Ratio (TTM)	26.34	19.55
P/S Ratio (TTM)	17.04	4.00
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	39.29	4.58
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	2.87%	10.08%