APP vs. PLTR: AppLovin vs. Palantir Stock Comparison
How do AppLovin (APP) and Palantir (PLTR) 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 Palantir (PLTR) 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 | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| Name | AppLovin Corporation Class A Common Stock | Palantir Technologies Inc. Class A Common Stock |
| 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 | 386.44 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | April 15, 2021 | September 30, 2020 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | APP | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -34.71% | -4.94% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 116.87% | 109.97% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 31.34% | 47.47% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | APP | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 80.36% | 60.50% |
| Beta (5Y) | 2.25 | 1.63 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -91.90% | -75.26% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 5.33M | 27.20M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | APP | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.49 | -0.15 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.69 | -0.24 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both companies show strong equity returns, but AppLovin (APP) at 210.09% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Palantir (PLTR) at 40.91% 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%
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
40.91%
- Max
- 53.85%
- PLTR
- 40.91%
- Q3
- 17.90%
- Median
- 6.59%
- Q1
- -9.59%
- Min
- -50.52%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both AppLovin (APP) at 65.89% and Palantir (PLTR) at 50.34% keep an unusually large share of revenue as bottom-line profit — each net margin clears its industry’s benchmark range.
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%
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
50.34%
- PLTR
- 50.34%
- Max
- 41.17%
- 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 Palantir (PLTR) at 46.89% 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%
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
46.89%
- PLTR
- 46.89%
- Max
- 46.89%
- Q3
- 17.64%
- Median
- 8.73%
- Q1
- -2.13%
- Min
- -30.45%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | APP | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 210.09% | 40.91% |
| ROA (TTM) | 49.57% | 19.31% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 65.89% | 50.34% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 78.22% | 46.89% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 88.78% | 84.74% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both AppLovin (APP) at 69.99% and Palantir (PLTR) at 56.18% 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
Both companies show strong earnings momentum, but Palantir (PLTR) at 231.06% is the standout with EPS growth above its industry range; AppLovin (APP) at 115.23% also sits in the top quartile.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | APP | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 69.99% | 56.18% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 24.84% | 32.92% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 115.23% | 231.06% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both AppLovin (APP) at 3.81 and Palantir (PLTR) at 7.10 post current ratio above their industries’ typical mid-ranges — short-term liquidity appears comfortable, though unusually high readings can point to idle current assets.
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
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
7.10
- PLTR
- 7.10
- Max
- 5.11
- Q3
- 2.77
- Median
- 1.67
- Q1
- 1.01
- Min
- 0.03
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Palantir (PLTR) at 0.02 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
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
0.02
- Max
- 2.52
- Q3
- 1.13
- Median
- 0.40
- Q1
- 0.07
- PLTR
- 0.02
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | APP | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 3.81 | 7.10 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.07 | 0.02 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.06 | -3.08 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Neither AppLovin (APP) nor Palantir (PLTR) 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%
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- PLTR
- 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 Palantir (PLTR) 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%
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- PLTR
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | APP | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Palantir (PLTR) at 112.94 sits in the richer quartile — PLTR 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
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
112.94
- PLTR
- 112.94
- Max
- 112.94
- Q3
- 60.32
- Median
- 32.91
- Q1
- 18.77
- Min
- 6.69
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both look expensive on sales: AppLovin (APP) at 17.04 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and Palantir (PLTR) at 53.02 prices even higher, above its industry range.
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
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
53.02
- PLTR
- 53.02
- Max
- 17.91
- Q3
- 8.78
- Median
- 4.25
- Q1
- 2.23
- Min
- 0.02
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Measured against book value, both AppLovin (APP) at 39.29 and Palantir (PLTR) at 34.41 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.
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
PLTR
Software & Services industry group
34.41
- PLTR
- 34.41
- Max
- 16.63
- Q3
- 8.50
- Median
- 4.30
- Q1
- 1.92
- Min
- -3.90
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | APP | PLTR |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 26.34 | 112.94 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 17.04 | 53.02 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 39.29 | 34.41 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 2.87% | 0.69% |