New York, March 10, 2026, 11:00 EDT
AppLovin has teamed up with marketing network Stagwell, announcing the partnership on Tuesday to broaden agency access to its Axon ad platform. According to Stagwell, the agreement will let clients tap into Axon’s audience—over 1 billion daily users on mobile apps and connected TV, those internet-enabled televisions.
AppLovin is pushing to persuade brands that mobile gaming does more than rack up app installs. According to a Kantar study commissioned by Axon—findings dropped separately Tuesday—AppLovin reported almost 40% of mobile gamers made a purchase within three months after seeing an ad in a game.
Stagwell, known for its focus on performance marketing—ads that target specific actions like sales—said it’s bringing AppLovin’s reporting and optimization tools into its media lineup. “AppLovin’s platform offers powerful reach and performance capabilities for our clients looking to drive measurable outcomes in mobile environments,” said Stagwell Chairman and CEO Mark Penn. ACCESS Newswire
AppLovin’s Adjust division reported Tuesday that global gaming-app sessions climbed in 2025, with strategy games up 57%. “As mobile gaming matures, growth is becoming less about scale alone and more about precision,” said Tiahn Wetzler, Adjust’s marketing director, in a statement. Business Wire
AppLovin just wrapped up a standout quarter, posting fourth-quarter revenue of $1.66 billion—a 66% jump over last year. Net income surged 84% to $1.10 billion. Looking ahead, the company sees first-quarter revenue between $1.745 billion and $1.775 billion. CEO Adam Foroughi told investors on the February earnings call that AppLovin is turning in the “strongest operating performance in our history.” Business Wire
But pushing further into brand budgets means AppLovin is facing off with larger competitors for those same ad dollars. Back in February, Reuters noted Jefferies flagged Meta’s ramped-up bidding on Apple’s iOS traffic as a significant threat—more crowded auctions could drive up ad prices, making margins tighter.
But scaling up doesn’t come without risks. AppLovin, in its annual report, flagged its reliance on outside platforms and the uncertainties tied to privacy and tracking rules—Apple’s app-tracking policies included—that could hit ad performance. Last month, Reuters noted the SEC described its AppLovin probe as “active and ongoing” to Bloomberg, though regulators haven’t alleged wrongdoing by the company or its leadership. SEC
AppLovin fell roughly 4.2% in late-morning trading Tuesday. The stock has seen big moves throughout the year—part of a broader software rout as investors worry artificial intelligence could disrupt existing business models.
