AppLovin Corporation (NASDAQ: APP) finished Monday’s session with another step higher—and then largely held steady in after-hours trading as investors head into Tuesday’s open with a packed premarket U.S. data slate and holiday-thinned liquidity.
AppLovin stock price after the bell: where APP stands tonight
AppLovin closed the regular session on Monday, Dec. 22, 2025 at $733.60, up about 1.7% on the day. [1]
In post-market trading, the stock was little changed, with different quote feeds showing APP hovering around the low-$733 area into the evening (for example, ~$733.15 after hours as of 6:59 p.m. ET on Google Finance). [2]
The key takeaway: no major after-hours shock (no headline-driven spike or dump) has shown up so far—so Tuesday’s direction may hinge more on macro prints, broader risk appetite, and technical follow-through than on a single company announcement.
Why AppLovin rose today: momentum plus a technical breakout narrative
Several market commentaries Monday pointed to continued momentum in APP:
- A Zacks note published late Monday highlighted that APP beat the broader market’s daily return and has gained about 38.66% over the past month. [3]
- Investor’s Business Daily (IBD) said APP broke out past a double-bottom base, flagging a 726.83 handle entry and placing the 5% buy zone up to 763.17. [4]
That “breakout + momentum” framing matters for tomorrow because, in holiday weeks, flows can amplify technical levels—breakouts can extend quickly on light volume, but they can also fail fast if risk sentiment turns.
The “AI adtech” story that’s powering the bull case
APP’s 2025 run has increasingly been tied to the market’s willingness to pay up for AI-linked advertising and monetization platforms.
A Barchart column published Monday morning argued AppLovin’s outperformance is being driven by AI-powered scaling and strong cash generation, noting APP is up about 122% year-to-date (by that publication’s measure). [5]
That same piece summarized what bulls cite from the most recent quarter:
- Q3 revenue up ~68% year-over-year to ~$1.4B
- Adjusted EBITDA ~$1.16B with ~82% margin
- Net income up ~92% to ~$836M
- Free cash flow ~$1.049B
- ~$1.7B cash at quarter-end
[6]
These are the kinds of fundamentals that can keep “story stocks” supported even when the tape turns choppy—especially when the company is demonstrating not just growth, but very high profitability and cash conversion.
What the latest forecasts say: earnings, revenue, and Wall Street targets
Near-term earnings expectations
Zacks’ consensus snapshot (as republished by Finviz) pegged AppLovin’s next results at:
- EPS: $2.89 (projected +67.05% vs. the year-ago quarter)
- Revenue: $1.6B (projected +16.86% year-over-year) [7]
Next earnings date: a clear catalyst on the horizon
Investing.com lists AppLovin’s next expected earnings release as Feb. 18, 2026 (period ending 12/2025), though dates can change. [8]
If you’re planning around volatility, that date—plus any guidance commentary—remains the next major “fundamental catalyst” beyond day-to-day macro noise.
Price targets and ratings: bullish, but not unanimous
One thing to watch with APP at these levels: consensus targets are starting to look mixed depending on the dataset.
- Stock Analysis shows 16 analysts with a “Strong Buy” consensus and an average target of $761.94 (low $650, high $860). [9]
- MarketBeat, using a broader set (24 analysts), shows a “Moderate Buy” consensus but an average target of $695.90—which is below Monday’s close (and implies downside from $733.60). [10]
This split is important for tomorrow: when a stock is trading above some consensus targets, it can become more sensitive to any negative surprise (macro, regulation, or execution) because the “easy upgrades” may already be behind it.
Valuation check: what investors are paying for AppLovin right now
At Monday’s close, valuation screens continue to flash “premium”:
- Zacks/Finviz cited a forward P/E of ~77.43 for APP versus an industry forward P/E of ~19.15, and a PEG of ~3.87. [11]
- Google Finance showed a trailing P/E around ~88.99, reinforcing that the market is pricing APP as a high-growth, high-expectations name. [12]
For Tuesday’s open, that premium matters because high-multiple stocks often react more sharply to:
- changes in rate expectations, and
- any “risk-off” macro surprise.
What to know before the market opens tomorrow (Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025)
1) Premarket U.S. economic data could move high-multiple tech and ad names
Multiple calendars flag Tuesday as a meaningful data morning—especially given recent shutdown-related delays in releases.
Investopedia’s week-ahead preview lists Q3 GDP plus “more data to watch,” including durable-goods orders, industrial production & capacity utilization, and consumer confidence. [13]
For timing, the Federal Reserve’s notice for the G.17 release states industrial production & capacity utilization is scheduled for 9:15 a.m. ET on Dec. 23, 2025, which is just 15 minutes before the opening bell. [14]
An Investing.com preview also lists key releases and emphasizes the premarket cluster (including GDP and durable goods) and the 9:15 a.m. industrial production print. [15]
Why this matters specifically for AppLovin (APP): when the market is paying a premium multiple for growth, macro surprises can quickly change the “multiple investors are willing to pay” even if the company-specific story hasn’t changed.
2) Holiday week liquidity can exaggerate moves
With Christmas week underway, trading conditions tend to be thinner. Investopedia notes the week is shortened and explicitly points out that U.S. stock markets close early (1 p.m. ET) on Wednesday, Dec. 24, with markets closed Thursday for Christmas. [16]
Even if Tuesday is a normal session, positioning ahead of the early close can affect flows—particularly in big momentum names.
3) Watch for “no-news” volatility and headline risk
AppLovin has been an “attention stock” in 2025. Two headline buckets investors still track:
- Regulatory scrutiny: Reuters previously reported (via a Bloomberg News reference) that the U.S. SEC was investigating AppLovin over data-collection practices tied to a whistleblower complaint and short-seller allegations. [17]
- Insider selling and positioning: MarketBeat’s Dec. 22 write-up pointed to notable insider sales over the past three months (as characterized by that outlet) while also noting the stock’s strong operating performance. [18]
Whether or not these themes drive trading tomorrow, they are the kind of topics that can re-surface quickly in headlines—and high-valuation stocks can react disproportionately.
A quick “before the bell” checklist for APP stock (Dec. 23 open)
If you’re tracking AppLovin into Tuesday’s session, here are the practical items to monitor in order:
- APP after-hours / premarket stability: The stock ended Monday around $733.60 and was roughly flat after hours—any sharp move before 9:30 a.m. ET usually signals a new catalyst. [19]
- 8:30 a.m. ET macro prints (notably GDP and durable goods, per major calendars) and 9:15 a.m. ET industrial production (Fed’s schedule)—these can swing index futures into the open. [20]
- Technical follow-through above the breakout area: IBD’s cited entry level (726.83) and referenced buy-zone ceiling (763.17) are levels many traders will have on their screens. [21]
- Any fresh analyst notes or target changes: recent data sets show targets ranging up to $860, but consensus levels vary by source—so “tone shifts” matter as much as the number. [22]
References
1. finviz.com, 2. www.google.com, 3. finviz.com, 4. www.investors.com, 5. www.barchart.com, 6. www.barchart.com, 7. finviz.com, 8. www.investing.com, 9. stockanalysis.com, 10. www.marketbeat.com, 11. finviz.com, 12. www.google.com, 13. www.investopedia.com, 14. www.federalreserve.gov, 15. www.investing.com, 16. www.investopedia.com, 17. www.reuters.com, 18. www.marketbeat.com, 19. www.google.com, 20. www.investopedia.com, 21. www.investors.com, 22. stockanalysis.com
