Morgan Stanley reiterates AppLovin stock rating on conversion growth potential

INVESTING.COMMay 27, 12:56 PM UTC

Key insights

  • Morgan Stanley reiterates an Overweight rating on AppLovin (APP), citing significant conversion rate expansion potential. A 10x gap exists between AppLovin and market leaders, implying substantial growth headroom. MS estimates each additional 10 basis points of conversion rate improvement would drive 17 points of net revenue growth. Piper Sandler and Wolfe Research also raised their price targets after strong Q1 2026 results.
Morgan Stanley reiterates AppLovin stock rating on conversion growth potential

Investing.com - Morgan Stanley reiterated an Overweight rating on AppLovin Corp (NASDAQ:APP) with a $720.00 price target. The company, valued at $172.75 billion, has demonstrated exceptional growth with revenue surging 66% over the last twelve months to $6.16 billion, though InvestingPro analysis indicates the stock is currently overvalued relative to its Fair Value.

The firm said AppLovin can sustain above-market growth by continuing to expand its conversion rate, as approximately 99% of its ads still do not generate a conversion.

Morgan Stanley noted a 10x conversion rate gap exists between AppLovin and market leaders, which implies significant headroom to expand. Improvements would stem from the company’s scale and data advantages, continued mix shift into non-endemic ads, and lower repeat rates.

AppLovin’s conversion rate has expanded 30 basis points over the last 18 months. Morgan Stanley estimates that each additional 10 basis points would drive 17 points of net revenue growth.

If AppLovin maintains 20 basis points of annual conversion rate expansion, it could see revenue and EBITDA approximately 50% above consensus by 2030 and put Morgan Stanley’s $1,100 bull case valuation in play. The company’s impressive 88% gross profit margin supports its ability to invest in conversion optimization. For deeper insights, investors can access AppLovin’s comprehensive Pro Research Report on InvestingPro, one of 1,400+ US equities covered with expert analysis.

In other recent news, AppLovin Corporation reported robust financial results for the first quarter of 2026, surpassing both earnings and revenue forecasts. The company’s earnings per share reached $3.56, exceeding the expected $3.42, while revenue totaled $1.84 billion, above the forecasted $1.78 billion. Piper Sandler responded by raising its price target for AppLovin shares to $665, emphasizing the company’s significant revenue beat and strong fundamentals. Wolfe Research also increased its price target to $580, noting the company’s impressive first-quarter results with quarter-over-quarter revenue growth of 11% and year-over-year growth of 59%.

Goldman Sachs adjusted its price target to $585, highlighting the strong advertising revenue performance in the core gaming ads vertical. Meanwhile, Jefferies reiterated a Buy rating with a $700 price target, citing the company’s first-quarter results and optimistic second-quarter guidance. AppLovin’s management attributed the success to mobile gaming advertising, e-commerce, and ad ecosystem optimization. The company projected a 4% to 6% quarter-over-quarter growth for the second quarter, despite it being a seasonally weaker period. These developments reflect a positive outlook from several analyst firms on AppLovin’s financial health and growth prospects.

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