NEW YORK, Feb 16, 2026, 16:29 EST — The session wrapped up and the market is now closed.
- No trading on Monday—U.S. markets are closed for Presidents Day. They’ll pick back up Tuesday.
- AppLovin ended Friday at $390.55, notching a 6.4% gain after tumbling earlier this week following its earnings.
- Traders are eyeing APP’s bounce to see if it sticks, with new economic numbers set for release Tuesday morning.
Tuesday shapes up as a key moment for AppLovin shares, with trading set to resume after Nasdaq’s Presidents Day break—right on the heels of last week’s sharp swings.
The shares finished Friday at $390.55, tacking on 6.4% for the day. That partial rebound followed Thursday’s nearly 20% tumble. Even with Friday’s gain, the stock remains around 17% off its Feb. 10 close, which was the last session before quarterly results hit.
Right now, AppLovin stands out as a high-beta proxy for ad-tech sentiment. When the market chases growth, the stock can rocket. When risk appetite fades, it drops fast. Both sides played out over the last few sessions.
On Feb. 11, the company posted fourth-quarter revenue of roughly $1.66 billion, net income at $1.10 billion, and projected first-quarter revenue between $1.745 billion and $1.775 billion.
Management highlighted its “adjusted EBITDA” metric—essentially profit with some costs backed out—and told investors to expect an 84% adjusted EBITDA margin for Q1. SEC
Competition is still a sticking point. Before results landed, Jefferies analysts pointed out that Meta’s aggressive push for Apple iOS traffic might make ad auctions more competitive, squeezing margins for platforms that lean on mobile ads.
Still, some analysts see potential for gains ahead. “We’re not overly concerned, as AppLovin’s guide has historically skewed conservative,” BofA analysts said in a note quoted by Investing.com. Investing
AppLovin’s buyback activity has drawn attention: the company says it repurchased and withheld 6.4 million shares in 2025 for $2.58 billion. That number, according to some investors, offers reassurance if the stock dips.
No U.S. trading on Monday, so traders are zeroed in on Tuesday’s open and what’s coming up on the macro front. January’s U.S. retail sales and the Empire State manufacturing survey both land at 8:30 a.m. ET, and investors are waiting to see if the growth numbers will shake up rate bets again.
APP faces a clear threat here: if rates push up again or risk appetite fades, high-multiple ad-tech stocks could take the first hit. Any hint of accelerating pressure on ad pricing might bring the margin debate right back into focus for the sector.
Tuesday brings the next test right out of the gate after the holiday, and traders will be zeroing in on AppLovin to see if it extends Friday’s bounce as the morning’s data comes through.
