AppLovin vs. The Trade Desk: Stock Performance and Analyst Ratings
AppLovin (NASDAQ: APP) and The Trade Desk (NASDAQ: TTD) have faced significant stock declines in the past six months, with AppLovin down 20% and The Trade Desk down 55%. Both companies have median price targets indicating potential growth; AppLovin’s target is $660, 39% above its current stock price, while The Trade Desk’s target is $30, 34% above its current price.
Analyst sentiment varies significantly between the two. AppLovin has 30 buy ratings and 5 hold ratings, suggesting confidence in its growth prospects. In contrast, The Trade Desk faces increased competition, has 21 buy ratings, 19 holds, and 3 sell ratings. Its revenue growth has slowed to 14% in Q4 2025, and it struggles with pricing pressures from agencies.
While AppLovin has demonstrated robust year-over-year growth of 70%, primarily through performance-based pricing, The Trade Desk is experiencing challenges due to competitor pricing and client pushback. Analysts suggest AppLovin may be the better investment despite its premium valuation at about 20 times expected sales for 2026.
