APP vs. U: AppLovin vs. Unity Software Stock Comparison
How do AppLovin (APP) and Unity Software (U) 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 Unity Software (U) 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 | U |
|---|---|---|
| Name | AppLovin Corporation Class A Common Stock | Unity Software 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 | 22.85 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | April 15, 2021 | September 18, 2020 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | APP | U |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -34.71% | 30.56% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 116.87% | 27.46% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 31.34% | -21.16% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | APP | U |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 80.36% | 71.11% |
| Beta (5Y) | 2.25 | 1.97 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -91.90% | -93.07% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 5.33M | 10.92M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | APP | U |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.49 | 0.37 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.69 | 0.51 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Unity Software (U) reports a negative ROE of -9.66%; negative ROE can reflect losses or negative shareholders’ equity, so it is harder to read as capital efficiency. Meanwhile AppLovin (APP) reports 210.09%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
U
Software & Services industry group
-9.66%
- Max
- 53.85%
- Q3
- 17.90%
- Median
- 6.59%
- Q1
- -9.59%
- U
- -9.66%
- Min
- -50.52%
Net Margin (TTM)
Unity Software (U) reports a negative net margin of -15.60%, 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%
U
Software & Services industry group
-15.60%
- Max
- 41.17%
- Q3
- 15.28%
- Median
- 4.63%
- Q1
- -5.42%
- U
- -15.60%
- Min
- -33.17%
Operating Margin (TTM)
AppLovin (APP) at 78.22% turns sales into operating profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while Unity Software (U) at 16.95% 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%
U
Software & Services industry group
16.95%
- Max
- 46.89%
- Q3
- 17.64%
- U
- 16.95%
- Median
- 8.73%
- Q1
- -2.13%
- Min
- -30.45%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | APP | U |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 210.09% | -9.66% |
| ROA (TTM) | 49.57% | -0.45% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 65.89% | -15.60% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 78.22% | 16.95% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | 88.78% | 78.49% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
AppLovin (APP) at 69.99% delivers above-range revenue growth, while Unity Software (U) at 2.01% falls into the bottom quartile — a wide split in revenue momentum.
EPS Growth
Only one side can be read here: AppLovin (APP) reports EPS growth of 115.23%, ranked against its industry; Unity Software (U) has no EPS growth figure this period.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | APP | U |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 69.99% | 2.01% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 24.84% | 9.96% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 115.23% | -- |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Unity Software (U) at 2.17 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while AppLovin (APP) at 3.81 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets relative to peers.
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
U
Software & Services industry group
2.17
- Max
- 5.11
- Q3
- 2.77
- U
- 2.17
- Median
- 1.67
- Q1
- 1.01
- Min
- 0.03
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
Both AppLovin (APP) at 1.07 and Unity Software (U) at 0.66 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
U
Software & Services industry group
0.66
- Max
- 2.52
- Q3
- 1.13
- U
- 0.66
- Median
- 0.40
- Q1
- 0.07
- Min
- 0.00
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | APP | U |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 3.81 | 2.17 |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | 1.07 | 0.66 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.06 | -0.86 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Neither AppLovin (APP) nor Unity Software (U) 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%
U
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- U
- 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 Unity Software (U) 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%
U
Software & Services industry group
0.00%
- U
- 0.00%
- Max
- 0.00%
- Q3
- 0.00%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | APP | U |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
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 Unity Software (U) 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
U
Software & Services industry group
--
- Max
- 112.94
- Q3
- 60.32
- Median
- 32.91
- Q1
- 18.77
- Min
- 6.69
- U
- --
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both AppLovin (APP) at 17.04 and Unity Software (U) at 10.48 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.
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
U
Software & Services industry group
10.48
- Max
- 17.91
- U
- 10.48
- Q3
- 8.78
- Median
- 4.25
- Q1
- 2.23
- Min
- 0.02
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Unity Software (U) at 7.03 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
U
Software & Services industry group
7.03
- Max
- 16.63
- Q3
- 8.50
- U
- 7.03
- Median
- 4.30
- Q1
- 1.92
- Min
- -3.90
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | APP | U |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 26.34 | -- |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 17.04 | 10.48 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 39.29 | 7.03 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | 2.87% | 2.76% |