AppLovin jumps ~35% on record Q3: revenue +55% to $2.18B, net income +72%, $3.6B buyback authorization
What happened
AppLovin (APP) reported record third-quarter 2026 results after Wednesday's close: revenue of $2.18 billion, up 55% year over year, and net income of $1.44 billion, up 72%, for an industry-leading 66% net income margin. Adjusted EBITDA reached $1.84 billion, up 59%, an 84% margin, and diluted EPS was $4.30, beating the roughly $4.03 consensus. Revenue exceeded the high end of guidance by about $100 million. The company guided Q4 revenue to $2.365-$2.395 billion with adjusted EBITDA of $1.995-$2.025 billion, and its board approved a further $3.2 billion in buybacks, taking total authorization to $3.6 billion. AppLovin was among Thursday's biggest premarket gainers, with shares up roughly 35% on the print.
Why it matters & what’s next are part of Pro, along with the audio summary.
Start your free 14-day trialWho’s affected & sources
Who’s affected
- AppLovin (APP) — direct, sharp upside on the record quarter and buyback. Ad-tech and digital advertising peers (e.g. Trade Desk, Meta, Alphabet) — modest positive read-through on AI-driven ad targeting monetization. Mobile gaming advertisers — positive, as AppLovin's gaming demand signals healthy mobile ad spend.