Applovin (APP) Emerges As Nasdaq 100’s Dark Horse In A Market Fixated On Nvidia, Tesla, Palantir – AppLovin (NASDAQ:APP)

Photo of author

By Ronald Tech

In a market obsessed with the usual suspects—Nvidia Corp, Tesla Inc and Palantir Technologies Inc — one stock has been quietly stealing the show: AppLovin Corp. APP.

While Wall Street fawns over AI chips and self-driving tech, APP has been quietly outperforming nearly every major stock in the Nasdaq 100—and it’s not even close.

Let’s Talk Numbers

Over the past year, APP stock has soared 698%, making it the top-performing stock in the Nasdaq 100. Even in the last six months, it’s up a staggering 466%, comfortably beating Palantir’s 323% and MicroStrategy Inc’s 161%. Big-name AI darlings like Nvidia and Tesla? They aren’t even in the same league.

So, what’s fueling this relentless rally?

AI-powered mobile advertising.

Headquartered in Palo Alto, AppLovin has found its sweet spot in the mobile app ecosystem, helping businesses reach and monetize audiences through its AI-driven marketing software. And with digital ad spending continuing to climb, AppLovin is cashing in big.

Read Also: Jim Cramer Says This Tech Stock Is Speculative But He Likes It

Technicals Are Screaming ‘Bullish’

APP stock isn’t just riding hype—it’s riding strong technical momentum.

Chart created using Benzinga Pro

APP stock is currently trading at $380.63, well above key moving averages:

  • Eight-day SMA: $369.60
  • 20-day SMA: $350.97
  • 50-day SMA: $344.82
  • 200-day SMA: $171.10

Add in a MACD (moving average convergence/divergence) of 12.08 and an RSI (relative strength index) of 61.64, and APP stock is flashing bullish signals across the board.

Translation? Buyers are in control, and momentum remains strong.

The Big Test: Q4 Earnings

The next major catalyst? Fourth quarter earnings on Feb. 12. Wall Street is eyeing $1.24 EPS on $1.26 billion in revenue according to Benzinga Pro data. Given AppLovin’s track record, a blowout quarter could send shares even higher.

See also  In the Realm of Billionaire Favorites: Unveiling the Top Stocks They Embrace New Heights for Alphabet Inc.

When billionaires make investment decisions, the world takes notice. It's more than money; it's a statement. They choose to lead, not follow, armed with knowledge few possess. Keeping an eye on their investments is a crafty move for everyday investors.

Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL), Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN), and Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) are among Wall Street's beloved stocks, hitting record highs recently. These tech giants boast rich histories and a penchant for innovation, attracting the attention of financial elite. Here's a closer look at why these stocks are adored by the affluent and how retail investors can emulate their strategies.

The Rise of Alphabet

Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) stands as a tech behemoth, tracing its origins back to 1998 in Mountain View, California. Known as Google's parent company, Alphabet shines with a market cap of $2.3 trillion, driven by iconic products like Google Search, YouTube, and Android. With a focus on artificial intelligence (AI) since 2016, Alphabet leads the way in AI innovations with Google AI and DeepMind, shaping the digital landscape we inhabit today.

Recently, Alphabet hit a new high of $191.75, marking a series of peak performances. Over the past 52 weeks, GOOGL stock surged by 48.7%, eclipsing the S&P 500 Index's 25% returns during the same period.

www.barchart.com

Moreover, Alphabet declared its first quarterly dividend of $0.20 per share. This move, coupled with a forward yield of 0.42% at current levels, hints at Alphabet's investor-friendly stance.

Trading at 24.39 times forward earnings, GOOGL stock sits below its five-year average of 25.69x. The company's recent Q1 earnings exceeded expectations, with revenue climbing by 15.4% annually to $80.5 billion and EPS rising by 61.5% year over year to $1.89.

Analysts anticipate the unveiling of Alphabet's Q2 earnings after the market closes on Tuesday, July 23, with an expected surge of 27.8% in EPS year over year. Looking into the future, fiscal 2024 EPS is projected to rise by 31.2% annually to $7.61, followed by a 13.1% increase to $8.61 in fiscal 2025.

Billionaires Bullish on Alphabet

In the realm of high-stakes investments, billionaire Daniel Sundheim, heralded as the "LeBron James of investing," increased his stake in Alphabet by over 20% in fiscal Q1. His hedge fund, D1 Capital Partners, upped its holdings to 2.37 million shares, solidifying GOOGL as the fifth-largest position in D1's portfolio at 5.5%.

Meanwhile, the legendary investor George Soros, known for his unique investment approach rooted in chaos theory and reflexivity, bolstered his Alphabet holdings by acquiring 271,549 shares in Q1. This move raised his total shares to 1.5 million, accentuating Alphabet's weight in his portfolio at 3.7%.

Pershing Square’s Bill Ackman also placed his bet on GOOGL, owning 9.4 million Class C shares and 4.4 million Class A shares. Alphabet's dominance in internet search, expansion into high-growth sectors like Google Cloud, robust revenue growth, and strategic dividends make it a darling among top hedge fund managers.

www.barchart.com

With an overall "Strong Buy" rating, GOOGL has analysts' favor, with 34 recommending "Strong Buy," three suggesting "Moderate Buy," and seven opting for "Hold." The average price target for Alphabet is $198.34, indicating a potential 6.3% upside, while the Street-high target of $225 implies a 20.6% potential gain.

The Ascendancy of Amazon

At Washington-based Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN), boasting a $2 trillion market cap, the story is one of e-commerce and tech dominance. Founded in 1994, Amazon's reach extends to entertainment with Prime Video, Amazon Music, Prime Gaming, and Twitch, showcasing its multifaceted prowess. Additionally, Amazon Web Services (AWS) holds sway in enterprise cloud software and AI, underpinning Amazon's clout across various sectors.

Amazon's stock is on a relentless upswing, climbing by 43% over the past 52 weeks, with a 26.8% rise year to date, outperforming the broader market. Notably, Amazon hit a new all-time high last week at $201.20.

www.barchart.com

Priced at 41.35 times forward earnings, Amazon's stock trades at a discount to its five-year average of 182.49x.

Technology Titans' Financial FortunesTechnology Titans' Financial Fortunes: Amazon and Microsoft Hit Stride

At this pace, AppLovin is rewriting the script on Nasdaq 100 winners—and proving that sometimes, the best bets aren’t the most obvious ones.

Read Next:

This illustration was generated using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs