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APP vs. PS: AppLovin vs. Pershing Square Stock Comparison

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

AppLovin (APP) has traded publicly since April 15, 2021, giving it several years of listed trading history, while Pershing Square (PS) only listed on April 29, 2026 and has a limited public-market record.

Company profile comparison for AppLovin (APP) and Pershing Square (PS)
Profile ItemAPPPS
NameAppLovin Corporation Class A Common StockPluralsight Inc
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupSoftware & ServicesSoftware & Services
GICS IndustrySoftwareSoftware
GICS Sub-IndustryApplication SoftwareApplication Software
Market Capitalization129.62 billion USD20.58 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateApril 15, 2021April 29, 2026
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

APP
PS
GSPC
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AppLovin (APP) vs. Pershing Square (PS), 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 Pershing Square (PS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for AppLovin (APP) and Pershing Square (PS)
MetricAPPPS
Total Return (1Y)-34.71%--
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)116.87%--
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)31.34%--

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

APP
PS
GSPC
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AppLovin (APP) vs. Pershing Square (PS), 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 Pershing Square (PS). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for AppLovin (APP) and Pershing Square (PS)
MetricAPPPS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)80.36%100.16%
Beta (5Y)2.256.25
Max Drawdown (5Y)-91.90%-43.14%
Avg. Volume (3M)5.33M428.47K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Both APP and PS need 1-year volatility and 1-year return to plot risk-return positioning.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for AppLovin (APP) and Pershing Square (PS)
MetricAPPPS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.49--
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.69--

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: AppLovin (APP) earns 210.09% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Pershing Square (PS) has no ROE this period.

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%

PS

Software & Services industry group

--

Max
53.85%
Q3
17.90%
Median
6.59%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%
PS
--
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AppLovin (APP) vs. Pershing Square (PS): PS does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; APP is benchmarked against the Software & Services industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

Pershing Square (PS) reports a negative net margin of -20.98%, usually indicating a net loss over the period. Meanwhile AppLovin (APP) reports 65.89%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

PS

Software & Services industry group

-20.98%

Max
41.17%
Q3
15.28%
Median
4.63%
Q1
-5.42%
PS
-20.98%
Min
-33.17%
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AppLovin (APP) vs. Pershing Square (PS): A comparison of their net margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Pershing Square (PS) reports a negative operating margin of -35.45%, usually indicating that operating costs exceeded revenue at the operating-income line. Meanwhile AppLovin (APP) reports 78.22%, ranking against industry peers normally.

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%

PS

Software & Services industry group

-35.45%

Max
46.89%
Q3
17.64%
Median
8.73%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%
PS
-35.45%
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AppLovin (APP) vs. Pershing Square (PS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for AppLovin (APP) and Pershing Square (PS)
MetricAPPPS
ROE (TTM)210.09%--
ROA (TTM)49.57%--
Net Margin (TTM)65.89%-20.98%
Operating Margin (TTM)78.22%-35.45%
Gross Margin (TTM)88.78%24.74%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both AppLovin (APP) at 69.99% and Pershing Square (PS) at 64.66% 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. Pershing Square (PS): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: AppLovin (APP) reports EPS growth of 115.23%, ranked against its industry; Pershing Square (PS) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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AppLovin (APP) vs. Pershing Square (PS): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for AppLovin (APP) and Pershing Square (PS)
MetricAPPPS
Revenue Growth (YoY)69.99%64.66%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)24.84%--
EPS Growth (YoY)115.23%--
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)----

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Short-term liquidity can only be read on one side of this pairing: AppLovin (APP) shows current ratio of 3.81 against its industry benchmark, while Pershing Square (PS) has no reading this period.

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

PS

Software & Services industry group

--

Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
Median
1.67
Q1
1.01
Min
0.03
PS
--
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AppLovin (APP) vs. Pershing Square (PS): PS does not report current ratio, so it has no value marker; APP is benchmarked against the Software & Services industry group.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both AppLovin (APP) at 1.07 and Pershing Square (PS) at 0.18 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

PS

Software & Services industry group

0.18

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
Median
0.40
PS
0.18
Q1
0.07
Min
0.00
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AppLovin (APP) vs. Pershing Square (PS): 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 Pershing Square (PS)
MetricAPPPS
Current Ratio (MRQ)3.81--
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.070.18
Net Debt / EBITDA0.064.35

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 Pershing Square (PS) reports a yield of 0.24%, 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%

PS

Software & Services industry group

0.24%

PS
0.24%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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AppLovin (APP) vs. Pershing Square (PS): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Pershing Square (PS) reports a negative payout ratio of -10.99%, usually because earnings are negative; AppLovin (APP) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%).

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%

PS

Software & Services industry group

-10.99%

Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
PS
-10.99%
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AppLovin (APP) vs. Pershing Square (PS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for AppLovin (APP) and Pershing Square (PS)
MetricAPPPS
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.24%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%-10.99%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

An earnings multiple is available for just one side: AppLovin (APP) trades at 26.34 times trailing earnings, ranked against its peers, while Pershing Square (PS) has no P/E ratio this period.

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

PS

Software & Services industry group

--

Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
Median
32.91
Q1
18.77
Min
6.69
PS
--
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AppLovin (APP) vs. Pershing Square (PS): PS does not report P/E ratio, so it has no value marker; APP is benchmarked against the Software & Services industry group.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both look expensive on sales: AppLovin (APP) at 17.04 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and Pershing Square (PS) at 27.11 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

PS

Software & Services industry group

27.11

PS
27.11
Max
17.91
Q3
8.78
Median
4.25
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02
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AppLovin (APP) vs. Pershing Square (PS): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both look rich against book: Pershing Square (PS) at 15.12 sits in the upper P/B ratio quartile, and AppLovin (APP) at 39.29 prices even higher, above its industry 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

PS

Software & Services industry group

15.12

Max
16.63
PS
15.12
Q3
8.50
Median
4.30
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90
Loading chart…
AppLovin (APP) vs. Pershing Square (PS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for AppLovin (APP) and Pershing Square (PS)
MetricAPPPS
P/E Ratio (TTM)26.34--
P/S Ratio (TTM)17.0427.11
P/B Ratio (MRQ)39.2915.12
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.87%--