New York, Jan 21, 2026, 10:40 EST — Regular session
- AppLovin shares dropped roughly 4% in early trading after a short-seller report caught investors’ attention.
- CapitalWatch claimed the ad-tech firm’s platform was linked to illicit funds; AppLovin has yet to respond with a detailed rebuttal.
- A Piper Sandler analyst noted the report showed “little evidence,” maintaining an Overweight rating and an $800 target.
Shares of AppLovin Corp fell 3.9% to $543.48 on Wednesday, deepening losses after a short seller report from CapitalWatch accused the company of money laundering connections and lax compliance controls. 1
The fresh hit is significant because AppLovin has emerged as a key indicator for the “AI-driven” pitch in mobile advertising, where growth narratives can unravel fast once the focus shifts from revenue to regulatory scrutiny. The firm offers ad-buying and app monetization solutions, such as its AXON advertising engine and MAX in-app bidding product. 2
The move comes as AppLovin faces scrutiny from critics. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has been investigating the company’s data-collection practices, Reuters reported in October. This probe followed a whistleblower complaint and several short-seller reports that questioned how AppLovin collects and uses data. 3
CapitalWatch’s latest report went further, labeling AppLovin a “safe haven” for illicit funds and claiming its shareholder structure and ad systems facilitated moving “black money” into U.S. markets. The report also accused management of misleading regulators about the company’s presence in China and said it treated AML — anti-money-laundering rules designed to block dirty money from entering the financial system — as “non-existent.” AppLovin CEO Adam Foroughi called the short sellers’ accusations “false and misleading” and said they were “aimed at personal financial gain.” Still, the company hasn’t issued a formal rebuttal to the CapitalWatch report or responded to a request for comment, Investing.com reported. 4
Piper Sandler analyst James Callahan expects investors to largely dismiss the report, saying it offers “little evidence to support the claims.” He maintained an Overweight rating with an $800 price target. 5
Traders struggled to separate signal from noise. Short-seller campaigns — where investors wager a stock will drop — often trigger sudden, sharp moves even without confirmed allegations, especially in heavily held growth stocks.
The downside risk is clear: should regulators broaden their scrutiny or if key clients and platform partners challenge the sourcing and measurement of ad traffic, AppLovin might get stuck with a tough-to-shake slower-growth story. On the other hand, a thorough rebuttal or quiet from regulators could sap the energy from a short report almost as fast as it appeared.
AppLovin’s earnings report on Feb. 11 will be the next key event. Investors will focus on how the company addresses the CapitalWatch allegations and whether there’s evidence of trouble in its ad operations. 6
