APP vs. NOW: AppLovin vs. ServiceNow Stock Comparison
How do AppLovin (APP) and ServiceNow (NOW) 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 ServiceNow (NOW) both belong to the Software industry, though APP is classified under Application Software while NOW falls under Systems Software.
| Profile Item | APP | NOW |
|---|---|---|
| Name | AppLovin Corporation Class A Common Stock | ServiceNow 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 | Systems Software |
| Market Capitalization | 129.62 billion USD | 105.84 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | April 15, 2021 | June 29, 2012 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | APP | NOW |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -34.71% | -39.72% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 116.87% | -5.71% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 31.34% | -5.55% |
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 ServiceNow (NOW) is closer to market-like at 0.98 — a noticeable difference in market-sensitivity profile.
| Metric | APP | NOW |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 80.36% | 64.49% |
| Beta (5Y) | 2.25 | 0.98 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -91.90% | -64.54% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 5.33M | 15.74M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | APP | NOW |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.49 | -0.68 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.69 | -0.89 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
AppLovin (APP) at 210.09% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than ServiceNow (NOW) at 11.85%, 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%
NOW
Software & Services industry group
11.85%
- Max
- 53.85%
- Q3
- 17.90%
- NOW
- 11.85%
- 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 ServiceNow (NOW) at 9.36% 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%
NOW
Software & Services industry group
9.36%
- Max
- 41.17%
- Q3
- 15.28%
- NOW
- 9.36%
- Median
- 4.63%
- Q1
- -5.42%
- Min
- -33.17%
Operating Margin (TTM)
AppLovin (APP) at 78.22% turns sales into operating profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while ServiceNow (NOW) at 17.39% operates around its industry’s norm.
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%
NOW
Software & Services industry group
17.39%
- Max
- 46.89%
- Q3
- 17.64%
- NOW
- 17.39%
- Median
- 8.73%
- Q1
- -2.13%
- Min
- -30.45%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | APP | NOW |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 210.09% | 11.85% |
| ROA (TTM) | 49.57% | 4.59% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 65.89% | 9.36% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 78.22% | 17.39% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 88.78% | 73.08% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
AppLovin (APP) at 69.99% clears its industry range for revenue growth, far stronger top-line momentum than ServiceNow (NOW) at 20.88%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
EPS Growth
AppLovin (APP) at 115.23% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while ServiceNow (NOW) at 22.08% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for APP.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | APP | NOW |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 69.99% | 20.88% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 24.84% | 22.38% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 115.23% | 22.08% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | 73.46% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
AppLovin (APP) at 3.81 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while ServiceNow (NOW) at 0.72 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
NOW
Software & Services industry group
0.72
- Max
- 5.11
- Q3
- 2.77
- Median
- 1.67
- Q1
- 1.01
- NOW
- 0.72
- Min
- 0.03
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both AppLovin (APP) at 1.07 and ServiceNow (NOW) at 0.64 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
NOW
Software & Services industry group
0.64
- Max
- 2.52
- Q3
- 1.13
- NOW
- 0.64
- Median
- 0.40
- Q1
- 0.07
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | APP | NOW |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 3.81 | 0.72 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.07 | 0.64 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.06 | 1.18 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Neither AppLovin (APP) nor ServiceNow (NOW) 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%
NOW
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- NOW
- 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 ServiceNow (NOW) 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%
NOW
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- NOW
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | APP | NOW |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
AppLovin (APP) at 26.34 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while ServiceNow (NOW) at 73.36 sits in the richer quartile — NOW needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.
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
NOW
Software & Services industry group
73.36
- Max
- 112.94
- NOW
- 73.36
- Q3
- 60.32
- Median
- 32.91
- Q1
- 18.77
- Min
- 6.69
P/S Ratio (TTM)
ServiceNow (NOW) at 6.86 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
NOW
Software & Services industry group
6.86
- Max
- 17.91
- Q3
- 8.78
- NOW
- 6.86
- Median
- 4.25
- Q1
- 2.23
- Min
- 0.02
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
ServiceNow (NOW) at 8.08 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
NOW
Software & Services industry group
8.08
- Max
- 16.63
- Q3
- 8.50
- NOW
- 8.08
- Median
- 4.30
- Q1
- 1.92
- Min
- -3.90
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | APP | NOW |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 26.34 | 73.36 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 17.04 | 6.86 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 39.29 | 8.08 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 2.87% | 5.44% |