BlitzLab Scoring · Oct 2026 · Model v1.0 (frozen)
AppLovin — Blitz Index 69 (B)
An A-grade business with C-grade trust — speed the shorts don't believe.
69Grade B
Confidence: High · S&P 500 · Nasdaq-100 · Category: platforms
Score breakdown
| Section | Score | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| A · Speed | 21 / 25 | FY2025 $5.48B (+70%); TTM $6.83B (+~53%); $6.1M revenue per employee |
| B · Moat | 46 / 60 | MAX + AXON: 140K+ apps, 1.8B+ devices; data flywheel; GAAP GM 87.9% |
| C · Creative destruction | 11 / 15 | Manual media buying → AXON AI optimization; apps business sold, pure ad platform |
| D · BlitzFailing | −9 | Short-seller claims + 2 class actions unresolved; 67% founder voting control |
Radar axes (0–100): Moat 77 · Speed 84 · Creative 73.
Watch item
Gates: G1 pass · G2 pass (estimated). 4 above threshold — first-ever score. "Speed is not enough" made flesh.
Strengths
- 3 straight years of 70%+ growth; GAAP gross margin 87.9%, op margin 77.7%
- $6.1M revenue per employee (898 people) — among the highest measured
- SEC inquiry closed with no recommended action (Aug 2026)
- AXON self-serve fully opened (Jun 2026) + e-commerce 11% share — second blitz begins
Concerns
- Three short-seller reports + 2 class actions unresolved for 20 months
- Founder voting control ~67% (controlled company) + $50M related-party writedown
- Q2 2026 guidance miss (−19.66%) — stock hostage to "model improves every quarter"
- Insider selling 1,207 vs 8 buys (2021–2024 Form 4)
Next earnings
Nov 4, 2026 · After close · Confirmed
Coverage
As of October 2026 · Model v1.0 (frozen) · Confidence: High (listed, SEC filings) · Not investment advice — a scholar's assessment.
BlitzLab scores businesses against a scholar’s standard — not investment advice. No price targets, no buy/sell recommendations. Figures are from SEC filings (XBRL) as labeled in the source scorecard.