Overview
- Shares rose about 13% Monday to $460.38 after CapitalWatch apologized and retracted personal money-laundering allegations against major shareholder Hao Tang.
- CapitalWatch said its broader concerns about AppLovin’s complex financial structure still warrant scrutiny even as it corrected the attribution.
- Jefferies kept a Buy rating with an $860 price target, calling the roughly 40% year-to-date slide a buying opportunity and expecting a Q4 revenue beat on February 11.
- Analyst views remain divided, with Wedbush cutting its target to $465 while maintaining Outperform and Needham upgrading to Buy with a $700 target and higher 2026 e-commerce estimates.
- Debate continues over AI-driven competitive threats versus confidence in growth from e-commerce and Connected TV that bulls say can offset pressures.