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APP vs. ZM: AppLovin vs. Zoom Communications Stock Comparison

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

Company profile comparison for AppLovin (APP) and Zoom Communications (ZM)
Profile ItemAPPZM
NameAppLovin Corporation Class A Common StockZoom Communications, Inc. Class A Common Stock
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupSoftware & ServicesSoftware & Services
GICS IndustrySoftwareSoftware
GICS Sub-IndustryApplication SoftwareApplication Software
Market Capitalization129.62 billion USD26.23 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateApril 15, 2021April 18, 2019
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

APP
ZM
GSPC
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AppLovin (APP) vs. Zoom Communications (ZM), 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 Zoom Communications (ZM). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for AppLovin (APP) and Zoom Communications (ZM)
MetricAPPZM
Total Return (1Y)-34.71%12.58%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)116.87%14.89%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)31.34%-18.67%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

APP
ZM
GSPC
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AppLovin (APP) vs. Zoom Communications (ZM), 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 Zoom Communications (ZM). 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 Zoom Communications (ZM) is closer to market-like at 0.99 — a noticeable difference in market-sensitivity profile.

Risk profile metrics for AppLovin (APP) and Zoom Communications (ZM)
MetricAPPZM
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)80.36%45.03%
Beta (5Y)2.250.99
Max Drawdown (5Y)-91.90%-79.08%
Avg. Volume (3M)5.33M2.88M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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APP and ZM 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 Zoom Communications (ZM)
MetricAPPZM
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.490.18
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.690.28

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both companies show strong equity returns, but AppLovin (APP) at 210.09% is the standout with ROE above its industry range; Zoom Communications (ZM) at 32.14% 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%

ZM

Software & Services industry group

32.14%

Max
53.85%
ZM
32.14%
Q3
17.90%
Median
6.59%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%
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AppLovin (APP) vs. Zoom Communications (ZM): A comparison of their ROE against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both AppLovin (APP) at 65.89% and Zoom Communications (ZM) at 65.19% 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%

ZM

Software & Services industry group

65.19%

ZM
65.19%
Max
41.17%
Q3
15.28%
Median
4.63%
Q1
-5.42%
Min
-33.17%
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AppLovin (APP) vs. Zoom Communications (ZM): 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 Zoom Communications (ZM) at 24.61% 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%

ZM

Software & Services industry group

24.61%

Max
46.89%
ZM
24.61%
Q3
17.64%
Median
8.73%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%
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AppLovin (APP) vs. Zoom Communications (ZM): A comparison of their operating margin against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for AppLovin (APP) and Zoom Communications (ZM)
MetricAPPZM
ROE (TTM)210.09%32.14%
ROA (TTM)49.57%6.11%
Net Margin (TTM)65.89%65.19%
Operating Margin (TTM)78.22%24.61%
Gross Margin (TTM)88.78%77.66%

Growth

Revenue Growth

AppLovin (APP) at 69.99% delivers above-range revenue growth, while Zoom Communications (ZM) at 4.36% falls into the bottom quartile — a wide split in revenue momentum.

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AppLovin (APP) vs. Zoom Communications (ZM): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both AppLovin (APP) at 115.23% and Zoom Communications (ZM) at 92.52% sit in the top peer quartile for EPS growth, so each is compounding per-share earnings faster than typical industry peers.

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AppLovin (APP) vs. Zoom Communications (ZM): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for AppLovin (APP) and Zoom Communications (ZM)
MetricAPPZM
Revenue Growth (YoY)69.99%4.36%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)24.84%3.49%
EPS Growth (YoY)115.23%92.52%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)--162.93%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both AppLovin (APP) at 3.81 and Zoom Communications (ZM) at 3.83 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

ZM

Software & Services industry group

3.83

Max
5.11
ZM
3.83
Q3
2.77
Median
1.67
Q1
1.01
Min
0.03
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AppLovin (APP) vs. Zoom Communications (ZM): A comparison of their current ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Zoom Communications (ZM) at 0.01 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

ZM

Software & Services industry group

0.01

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
Median
0.40
Q1
0.07
ZM
0.01
Min
0.00
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AppLovin (APP) vs. Zoom Communications (ZM): 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 Zoom Communications (ZM)
MetricAPPZM
Current Ratio (MRQ)3.813.83
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.070.01
Net Debt / EBITDA0.06-5.39

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Neither AppLovin (APP) nor Zoom Communications (ZM) 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%

ZM

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Neither AppLovin (APP) nor Zoom Communications (ZM) 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%

ZM

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for AppLovin (APP) and Zoom Communications (ZM)
MetricAPPZM
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Zoom Communications (ZM) at 8.34 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 ZM, 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

ZM

Software & Services industry group

8.34

Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
Median
32.91
Q1
18.77
ZM
8.34
Min
6.69
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AppLovin (APP) vs. Zoom Communications (ZM): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Zoom Communications (ZM) at 5.25 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

ZM

Software & Services industry group

5.25

Max
17.91
Q3
8.78
ZM
5.25
Median
4.25
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02
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AppLovin (APP) vs. Zoom Communications (ZM): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Zoom Communications (ZM) at 2.32 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

ZM

Software & Services industry group

2.32

Max
16.63
Q3
8.50
Median
4.30
ZM
2.32
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90
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AppLovin (APP) vs. Zoom Communications (ZM): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Software & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for AppLovin (APP) and Zoom Communications (ZM)
MetricAPPZM
P/E Ratio (TTM)26.348.34
P/S Ratio (TTM)17.045.25
P/B Ratio (MRQ)39.292.32
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)2.87%7.53%