New York, Feb 8, 2026, 05:04 (EST) — Market closed.
AppLovin Corp (APP.O) closed Friday up 8.39% at $406.72. With U.S. markets shut for the weekend, the question into Monday is whether buyers keep showing up — or whether the stock slips back into the software sector’s broader churn. 1
That churn is being driven less by one company and more by the AI money trade. A planned $600 billion artificial intelligence spending push by big tech in 2026 has sharpened nerves around cash flow and who wins when the bill comes due. Andrew Wells, chief investment officer at SanJac Alpha, said the AI build-out trade had “got too pricey.” 2
Software has been the fault line. The S&P 500 software and services index has tumbled 15% in a little over a week, and the mood has shifted from “everything gets a lift” to picking winners and losers, a Reuters Week Ahead column said. Angelo Kourkafas, senior global investment strategist at Edward Jones, warned “the bar of expectations seems to be so high for tech,” as money rotates — shifts — from big growth stocks into more old-economy sectors. The week ahead includes earnings from AppLovin and Datadog, plus U.S. payrolls data on Wednesday and the CPI inflation report on Friday. 3
Friday’s rebound showed how fast sentiment can flip. The Dow broke above 50,000 for the first time, while the Nasdaq rose 2.18% as chip stocks rallied on expectations they benefit from heavy AI data-center spending, a Reuters report showed. Ross Mayfield, investment strategy analyst at Baird, said there was “real demand for AI products,” describing a level where investors step in after sharp selloffs. 4
AppLovin is due to report fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results on Wednesday, Feb. 11 after the U.S. stock market closes, the company said. Management will discuss results on a webcast at 5 p.m. ET, led by CEO Adam Foroughi and CFO Matthew Stumpf. 5
Investors will be listening for signs that ad budgets are steady and that AppLovin’s tools are still driving measurable performance for marketers. They will also focus on “guidance” — the company’s outlook — because in this tape, outlook often matters more than the quarter that just ended.
The stock’s move has also become a proxy for how traders feel about software risk more broadly. If the sector keeps swinging with the AI debate, AppLovin can trade like a theme rather than a single name.
But it can go the other way, fast. A soft outlook, cautious commentary on advertiser demand, or any hint that competition is biting could bring selling back, especially with investors quick to cut positions in expensive tech when the mood turns.
The next fixed point is Feb. 11 at 2 p.m. PT, when AppLovin is scheduled to hold its earnings call. 6
