Latest news with #AdamForoughi
Business Wire
2 hours ago
- Business
- Business Wire
AppLovin to Announce Second Quarter 2025 Results
PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AppLovin Corporation, (NASDAQ: APP) ('AppLovin' or the 'Company') the leading marketing platform, today announced it will report financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2025 on Wednesday, August 6, 2025 after the U.S. stock market closes. An accompanying webinar will take place at 2:00 PM PT / 5:00 PM ET on August 6, 2025 during which management will discuss the Company's second quarterly results and provide commentary on business performance. The webinar will be hosted by Adam Foroughi, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, and Matthew Stumpf, Chief Financial Officer. The webinar may be accessed on the Company's website at: or via webinar registration. A replay of the webcast will also be available under the Events & Presentations section of the Company's Investor Relations website. About AppLovin AppLovin makes technologies that help businesses of every size connect to their ideal customers. The company provides end-to-end software and AI solutions for businesses to reach, monetize and grow their global audiences. For more information about AppLovin, visit: Source: AppLovin Corp.
Business Wire
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
AppLovin Completes Sale of Mobile Gaming Business to Tripledot Studios
PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AppLovin Corporation (NASDAQ: APP) ("AppLovin"), a leading marketing platform, today announced the successful completion of the sale of its mobile gaming business to Tripledot Studios for $400.0 million in cash, subject to closing adjustments, and equity consideration representing approximately 20% of Tripledot's fully-diluted equity at the time of closing. No promissory note was issued as part of the transaction. The transaction, which was originally announced on May 7, 2025, closed June 30, 2025, following the satisfaction of all customary closing conditions and regulatory requirements. 'We would like to extend our gratitude to our game studios who were an instrumental part of AppLovin's journey,' said Adam Foroughi, Co-founder and CEO of AppLovin. Share 'We would like to extend our gratitude to our game studios who were an instrumental part of AppLovin's journey,' said Adam Foroughi, Co-founder and CEO of AppLovin. 'Their love for mobile games fueled our growth, and we wish them continued success with Tripledot Studios. The closing of this transaction streamlines the Company to its core business and allows us to fully focus on the exciting opportunities that will shape and define the future of our company.' Under the terms of the purchase agreement, AppLovin divested its mobile gaming business, including 10 game studios and their popular mobile gaming franchises, to Tripledot Studios. The gaming studios included in the transaction are Athena Studio, Belka Games, Clipwire Games, Leyi, Lion Studios, Machine Zone, Magic Tavern, PeopleFun, Zenlife Games, and Zeroo Gravity, which collectively develop popular mobile games across various genres including Hexa Sort, Wordscapes, Clockmaker, Cooking Madness, West Game, Project Makeover and others. Aream & Co acted as lead financial advisor, and GoodGame Advisors LLC and Belzberg Capital LLC also served as financial advisors to AppLovin. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati acted as lead counsel, and Dissmann Orth, Wolff Schultze Kieferle, and Maples Group acted as local counsel to AppLovin. About AppLovin AppLovin makes technologies that help businesses of every size connect to their ideal customers. The company provides end-to-end software and AI solutions for businesses to reach, monetize and grow their global audiences. For more information about AppLovin, visit: Source: AppLovin Corp.
Miami Herald
13-06-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Short seller makes scathing accusations against popular tech company
Culpepper Research has levied harsh accusations at a popular digital technology company, and not for the first time this year. The activist short-selling firm recently laid out a detailed case against Applovin (APP) , a fast-growing company in the mobile technology space that has enjoyed explosive growth over the past year. Culpepper revealed a short position in APP stock, though, alleging that the tech company is engaged in highly nefarious activity. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter While APP stock is up almost 400% for the year, it has struggled recently, dipping 10% over the past week. This is likely partially due to the company being excluded from the most recent S&P 500 quarterly rebalance. However, Applovin may have bigger problems if the harsh accusations made by Culpepper Research turn out to be true. The short-seller doesn't just see the tech firm as a poor investment; it believes it may be a national security risk. Applovin is a company focused primarily on digital apps, specifically helping businesses connect with new customers through various digital platforms. Its services measure apps' performance, as well as user acquisition and monetization. The stock offers investors exposure to multiple tech markets, including digital game development and in-app advertising. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter While its shares have risen steadily over the past year, Culpepper Research has been conducting an investigation, culminating in two detailed reports. In February 2025, the short-selling firm accused Applovin of illicit backdoor app installations, claiming that each one helped the company profit. Now it seems to be doubling down on the short position. In its more recent report, Culpepper zeroed in on Applovin's alleged ties to Chinese investors, speculating that the company has misrepresented "the scope of both its Chinese shareholders and its Chinese operations," compromising U.S. national security. It adds that "undisclosed to AppLovin investors, Tang has entered into various margin loan agreements and share forward transactions that our checks indicate remain open as of at least May 2025." Culpepper also points out that Applovin CEO Adam Foroughi has repeatedly denied any claims of Chinese ownership or operational ties regarding his company. It cites an April 2025 Fox News interview in which he stated, "I don't know any [investors] that make up a material part of our cap table. Everyone's small." More Tech Stock News: Tech IPO smash reveals something shockingBroadcom could blow past Nvidia, expert predictsVeteran analyst unveils bold price target for Tempus AI stock The short report's authors state, though, that in their view, the company's history disproves the CEO's claims regarding his knowledge of any investors, Chinese or otherwise. In their eyes, it is clear that under his leadership, Applovin has been less than truthful with the disclosures it provides for investors. The bulk of Culpepper's bearish thesis centers around Hao Tang and his alleged ties to Applovin, specifically his controlling stake. However, it also highlights Applovin's quest to acquire TikTok's former China assets, which Foroughi framed earlier this year as an opportunity ripe with potential. Related: Heavily shorted AI stock is rapidly climbing the Fortune 500 In any case, the short-seller sees Applovin's ties to Tang as the most concerning element of its business. As the report states: "Tang's network is involved in money laundering, human trafficking, illegal gambling, and data-harvesting. These are all activities the U.S. government has time and time again called out in China. In our view, Tang's background disqualifies AppLovin's pursuit of TikTok's ex-China business, and AppLovin's misleading disclosures around Tang's ownership suggests a cover-up." Culpepper adds that it believes federal regulators will need to assess if a major tech company can be trusted with the data of many Americans if it harbors ties to actors like Tang, who are connected to the Chinese Communist Party. So far, Applovin has issued no statement in response to the accusations made against it in the short report. Related: Veteran analyst who predicted quantum computing stocks rally unveils IonQ stock price target The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
2 High-Flying Stocks Worth Your Attention and 1 to Brush Off
Expensive stocks typically earn their valuations through superior growth rates that other companies simply can't match. The flip side though is that these lofty expectations make them particularly susceptible to drawdowns when market sentiment shifts. Separating true intrinsic value from speculation isn't easy, especially during bull markets. That's where StockStory comes in - to help you find high-quality companies that will stand the test of time. Keeping that in mind, here are two high-flying stocks to hold for the long term and one where the price is not right. Forward P/E Ratio: 31x Founded in 1919, Hilton Worldwide (NYSE:HLT) is a global hospitality company with a portfolio of hotel brands. Why Are We Wary of HLT? Large revenue base makes it harder to increase sales quickly, and its annual revenue growth of 4.3% over the last five years was below our standards for the consumer discretionary sector Weak revenue per room over the past two years indicates challenges in maintaining pricing power and occupancy rates Estimated sales growth of 6.8% for the next 12 months implies demand will slow from its two-year trend Hilton is trading at $252.81 per share, or 31x forward P/E. If you're considering HLT for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more. Forward P/S Ratio: 25.3x Co-founded by Adam Foroughi, who was frustrated with not being able to find a good solution to market his own dating app, AppLovin (NASDAQ:APP) is both a mobile game studio and provider of marketing and monetization tools for mobile app developers. Why Does APP Catch Our Eye? Well-designed software integrates seamlessly with other workflows, enabling swift payback periods on marketing expenses and customer growth at scale Excellent operating margin of 42.8% highlights the efficiency of its business model, and its profits increased over the last year as it scaled Robust free cash flow margin of 49.3% gives it many options for capital deployment AppLovin's stock price of $394.74 implies a valuation ratio of 25.3x forward price-to-sales. Is now the time to initiate a position? Find out in our full research report, it's free. Forward P/E Ratio: 38.3x With its proprietary MetaPlus formula as the basis for key products, Celsius (NASDAQ:CELH) offers energy drinks that feature natural ingredients to help in fitness and weight management. Why Is CELH Interesting? Impressive 49.5% annual revenue growth over the last three years indicates it's winning market share Earnings per share grew by 77.6% annually over the last three years and trumped its peers CELH is a free cash flow machine with the flexibility to invest in growth initiatives or return capital to shareholders At $40.49 per share, Celsius trades at 38.3x forward P/E. Is now the right time to buy? See for yourself in our comprehensive research report, it's free. The market surged in 2024 and reached record highs after Donald Trump's presidential victory in November, but questions about new economic policies are adding much uncertainty for 2025. While the crowd speculates what might happen next, we're homing in on the companies that can succeed regardless of the political or macroeconomic environment. Put yourself in the driver's seat and build a durable portfolio by checking out our Top 5 Growth Stocks for this month. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025). Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-micro-cap company Tecnoglass (+1,754% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today for free.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Is AppLovin a Buy Today?
AppLovin stock is up nearly 400% over the past year. Management has openly expressed interest in acquiring TikTok. The company was the target of a recent short report. 10 stocks we like better than AppLovin › AppLovin (NASDAQ: APP) stock has had a roller-coaster 2025, reaching an all-time high before being cut in half after it came under scrutiny in a short-seller report. Since then, the stock has recovered most of those losses after the advertising tech company posted blowout earnings and made a bold move to publicly bid on acquiring TikTok. Let's examine the recent news and determine whether the stock is overhyped or if its lofty valuation is justified. AppLovin recently reported its results for the first quarter of 2025, and the company did not disappoint. Total revenue rose 40% year over year to $1.48 billion, driven by its advertising segment, which matches advertisers and app publishers via auctions at a large scale and microsecond speeds. The mobile tech company has accelerated its revenue by shifting its primary focus from gaming advertising to the broader global advertising economy, which opens up an opportunity for 10 million advertisers globally, according to management. During the first quarter, the company's advertising revenue increased to $1.16 billion, representing a 71% year-over-year rise. Meanwhile, AppLovin generated $826 million in free cash flow, a key profitability metric, representing a 114% year-over-year increase. With its positive free cash flow, management has elected to repurchase its stock aggressively rather than pay down its $3.2 billion in net debt. Specifically, the company spent $1.2 billion in the first quarter, nearly $400 more than the company generated in free cash flow. Over the past three years, management has reduced its share count by 9.3%, which not only increases existing shareholders' ownership stake, but also suggests management is bullish on the company's long-term prospects. In other developments, AppLovin sold its declining mobile gaming division to Tripledot Studios for $400 million in cash, along with an estimated 20% equity stake. The deal is expected to close as early as Q2 2025, further signaling management's confidence in its strategic pivot to advertising. The most headline-grabbing move of 2025, however, wasn't AppLovin's earnings report or the sale of its gaming division; it was when the company disclosed that it is prepared to make a serious offer to acquire TikTok's global operations, should regulatory pressure force a divestiture. The bid would allow Chinese investors to retain a stake in TikTok, while AppLovin would manage its global operations. In CEO Adam Foroughi's words, AppLovin can offer a "much stronger bid than others" thanks to its technical infrastructure, monetization expertise, and real-time ad marketplace. The price tag would likely be costly for the social media platform, with a reported 1.6 billion global users generating an estimated $23 billion in revenue in 2024. It could also be a lengthy and politically fraught acquisition process. Still, the possible move is exciting for investors to dream about and could spur the next phase of growth for AppLovin, which had a recent market capitalization of $140 billion. Of course, fast-growing tech companies often attract critics, and AppLovin is no exception. Recent short reports, including one from the investigative investment company Muddy Waters Research, accused AppLovin of violating the terms of service of key platform partners, resulting in an observed 23% client churn rate in the first quarter of 2025. In an open-letter rebuttal, Foroughi addressed the claims head-on, arguing that "a few nefarious short-sellers are making false and misleading claims aimed at undermining our success." Furthermore, Foroughi called the report "littered with inaccuracies and false assertions," and emphasized that the company operates in full compliance with App Store policies, stressing that "there has been no churn" among its advertising clients. For investors, it's important to understand that companies publishing short reports typically hold short positions in the companies they investigate. This means they are financially incentivized to release negative research -- whether or not it's fully substantiated. Notably, AppLovin's stock dropped nearly $66 to $261.70 per share after the report was published in March, but has since recovered and then some to over $414 per share as of this writing. Before buying any stock, it's essential to consider its valuation -- especially with high-growth tech companies, which often trade at premium levels due to their long-term potential. AppLovin is no exception, currently trading at 56.6 times its trailing-12-month free cash flow of $2.5 billion. However, that premium appears more reasonable given that free cash flow has grown nearly 80% year over year. The stock is also trading about 33% below its peak price-to-free-cash-flow multiple, suggesting a slight discount for new investors. For growth investors who think long-term and believe in the power of scalable software and monetization, AppLovin remains a buy, regardless of whether or not TikTok is involved. Before you buy stock in AppLovin, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and AppLovin wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $669,517!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $868,615!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 792% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 173% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 2, 2025 Collin Brantmeyer has positions in AppLovin. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends AppLovin. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Is AppLovin a Buy Today? was originally published by The Motley Fool Sign in to access your portfolio
