AppLovin and Unity Shares Hit by New AI Startup
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 05 2026
0mins
Source: seekingalpha
- Market Pressure Analysis: Shares of AppLovin and Unity were significantly impacted after the launch of CloudX, a new AI startup, with analysts noting that despite the pressure, the structural moats of mobile tech firms remain 'intact.'
- Competitive Threat: Wedbush Securities indicated that the sharp decline in AppLovin's stock may stem from concerns over e-commerce churn, SEC-related issues, and 'competitive optionality,' with CloudX potentially breaking AppLovin's 'walled garden' moat.
- Advertising Market Potential: CloudX aims to run ad auctions transparently using Trusted Execution Environments, and analysts believe that if successful, it could not only affect gaming ad revenues but also unlock a massive dormant brand advertising market that has avoided mobile gaming due to opacity.
- Financial Outlook Adjustment: Wedbush reiterated its 'Outperform' ratings on AppLovin and Unity but lowered their price targets to $465 and $37, respectively, suggesting that the upcoming earnings reports will be critical in distinguishing structural signals from market noise.
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Analyst Views on APP
Wall Street analysts forecast APP stock price to rise
15 Analyst Rating
15 Buy
0 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 391.210
Low
465.00
Averages
745.50
High
860.00
Current: 391.210
Low
465.00
Averages
745.50
High
860.00
About APP
AppLovin Corporation is a marketing platform. The Company provides end-to-end software and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for businesses to reach, monetize and grow their global audiences. Its advertising solutions include a comprehensive suite of tools including AppDiscovery, MAX, Adjust, Wurl and Axon Ads Manager. AppDiscovery is powered by AXON, its AI-powered advertising engine, and matches advertiser demand with publisher supply through auctions at vast scale and at microsecond-level speeds. MAX is its monetization solution, utilizing an advanced in-app bidding technology that optimizes the value of a publisher’s advertising inventory by running a real-time competitive auction, driving more competition, and higher returns for publishers. Adjust is its measurement and analytics marketing platform which provides marketers with the visibility, insights, and data needed to scale their apps marketing and drive more informed results. Wurl is its connected TV (CTV) platform.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Competitive Pressure: In the highly competitive ad tech sector, Axon's obscurity could pose challenges in attracting new clients and retaining existing ones, thereby impacting the company's overall revenue growth.
- Need for Brand Awareness: To enhance Axon's market position, AppLovin may need to increase its marketing and branding efforts to build advertisers' awareness and trust in its product.
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- Applovin Options Activity: Concurrently, Applovin (APP) options trading volume reached 59,544 contracts, or approximately 6.0 million shares, which is 118.2% of its average daily trading volume over the past month, reflecting heightened market attention to its potential volatility.
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See More
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See More
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