Morgan Stanley analyst Matthew Cost has maintained their bullish stance on APP stock, giving a Buy rating on June 5.
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Matthew Cost has given his Buy rating due to a combination of factors surrounding AppLovin’s strategic decision to sell its first-party mobile games business. This divestiture is anticipated to enhance shareholder value by reallocating resources from a lower multiple games segment to a higher multiple advertising segment, which is expected to increase the company’s overall value. The transaction, involving a $400 million cash and $400 million stock deal with Tripledot Studios, is projected to be neutral to future earnings as the incremental advertising revenue is likely to offset the loss from the games segment.
Furthermore, Cost’s analysis suggests that the shift will result in a 3% increase in advertising EBITDA by 2026, demonstrating the potential for higher-margin revenue recognition. This strategic move allows AppLovin to focus on its ad network, which is expected to drive more profitable growth. Consequently, the rating reflects confidence in AppLovin’s ability to capitalize on this transition, leading to a raised price target of $460.
In another report released on June 5, Bank of America Securities also reiterated a Buy rating on the stock with a $580.00 price target.