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APP vs. IT: AppLovin vs. Gartner Stock Comparison

How do AppLovin (APP) and Gartner (IT) 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 Gartner (IT) both fall under the Software & Services industry group, but APP is classified in Software while IT is classified in IT Services.

Gartner (IT) has more than two decades of public-market history since October 5, 1993, whereas AppLovin (APP) listed on April 15, 2021 and has a much shorter record to draw on.

Company profile comparison for AppLovin (APP) and Gartner (IT)
Profile ItemAPPIT
NameAppLovin Corporation Class A Common StockGartner Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupSoftware & ServicesSoftware & Services
GICS IndustrySoftwareIT Services
GICS Sub-IndustryApplication SoftwareIT Consulting & Other Services
Market Capitalization129.62 billion USD11.99 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNYSE
Listing DateApril 15, 2021October 5, 1993
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

APP
IT
GSPC
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AppLovin (APP) vs. Gartner (IT), 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 Gartner (IT). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for AppLovin (APP) and Gartner (IT)
MetricAPPIT
Total Return (1Y)-34.71%-17.60%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)116.87%-22.07%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)31.34%-10.95%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

APP
IT
GSPC
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AppLovin (APP) vs. Gartner (IT), 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 Gartner (IT). 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 Gartner (IT) is closer to market-like at 0.95 — a noticeable difference in market-sensitivity profile.

Risk profile metrics for AppLovin (APP) and Gartner (IT)
MetricAPPIT
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)80.36%58.29%
Beta (5Y)2.250.95
Max Drawdown (5Y)-91.90%-77.21%
Avg. Volume (3M)5.33M1.14M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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APP and IT 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 Gartner (IT)
MetricAPPIT
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.49-0.38
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.69-0.54

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both AppLovin (APP) at 210.09% and Gartner (IT) at 365.76% turn shareholders’ equity into profit at rates above their industry benchmark ranges for ROE. That is a strong capital-efficiency signal, though leverage and the equity base still matter.

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%

IT

Software & Services industry group

365.76%

IT
365.76%
Max
53.85%
Q3
17.90%
Median
6.59%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%
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AppLovin (APP) vs. Gartner (IT): 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 Gartner (IT) at 14.81% 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%

IT

Software & Services industry group

14.81%

Max
41.17%
Q3
15.28%
IT
14.81%
Median
4.63%
Q1
-5.42%
Min
-33.17%
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AppLovin (APP) vs. Gartner (IT): 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 Gartner (IT) at 18.58% 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%

IT

Software & Services industry group

18.58%

Max
46.89%
IT
18.58%
Q3
17.64%
Median
8.73%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%
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AppLovin (APP) vs. Gartner (IT): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for AppLovin (APP) and Gartner (IT)
MetricAPPIT
ROE (TTM)210.09%365.76%
ROA (TTM)49.57%11.33%
Net Margin (TTM)65.89%14.81%
Operating Margin (TTM)78.22%18.58%
Gross Margin (TTM)88.78%70.18%

Growth

Revenue Growth

AppLovin (APP) at 69.99% delivers above-range revenue growth, while Gartner (IT) at 3.67% falls into the bottom quartile — a wide split in revenue momentum.

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AppLovin (APP) vs. Gartner (IT): 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 Gartner (IT) at -39.69% is in the bottom quartile, showing a clear gap in earnings momentum.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for AppLovin (APP) and Gartner (IT)
MetricAPPIT
Revenue Growth (YoY)69.99%3.67%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)24.84%5.87%
EPS Growth (YoY)115.23%-39.69%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)---1.05%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

AppLovin (APP) at 3.81 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while Gartner (IT) at 0.91 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

IT

Software & Services industry group

0.91

Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
Median
1.67
Q1
1.01
IT
0.91
Min
0.03
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AppLovin (APP) vs. Gartner (IT): A comparison of their current ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Only one side’s leverage can be read here: AppLovin (APP) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 1.07 against its industry range, while Gartner (IT) reports no figure this period.

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

IT

Software & Services industry group

--

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
Median
0.40
Q1
0.07
Min
0.00
IT
--
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AppLovin (APP) vs. Gartner (IT): IT does not report debt-to-equity ratio, so it has no value marker; APP is benchmarked against the Software & Services industry group.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for AppLovin (APP) and Gartner (IT)
MetricAPPIT
Current Ratio (MRQ)3.810.91
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.07--
Net Debt / EBITDA0.061.18

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Neither AppLovin (APP) nor Gartner (IT) 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%

IT

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

IT
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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AppLovin (APP) vs. Gartner (IT): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Neither AppLovin (APP) nor Gartner (IT) 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%

IT

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

IT
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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AppLovin (APP) vs. Gartner (IT): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for AppLovin (APP) and Gartner (IT)
MetricAPPIT
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Gartner (IT) at 13.62 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while AppLovin (APP) at 26.34 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for IT, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

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

IT

Software & Services industry group

13.62

Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
Median
32.91
Q1
18.77
IT
13.62
Min
6.69
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AppLovin (APP) vs. Gartner (IT): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Gartner (IT) at 1.86 looks cheap on sales in the lower P/S ratio quartile, while AppLovin (APP) at 17.04 looks rich in the upper quartile — a clear gap in price per dollar of revenue.

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

IT

Software & Services industry group

1.86

Max
17.91
Q3
8.78
Median
4.25
Q1
2.23
IT
1.86
Min
0.02
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AppLovin (APP) vs. Gartner (IT): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Gartner (IT) reports a negative P/B ratio of -348.81, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile AppLovin (APP) reports 39.29, ranking against industry peers normally.

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

IT

Software & Services industry group

-348.81

Max
16.63
Q3
8.50
Median
4.30
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90
IT
-348.81
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AppLovin (APP) vs. Gartner (IT): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for AppLovin (APP) and Gartner (IT)
MetricAPPIT
P/E Ratio (TTM)26.3413.62
P/S Ratio (TTM)17.041.86
P/B Ratio (MRQ)39.29-348.81
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.87%8.90%