Economic Value Added (EVA)
EVA is registered trademark of Stern Stewart.
Economic value added or economic profit is the difference between revenues and costs,where costs include not only expenses, but also cost of capital.
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AppLovin Corp. pages available for free this week:
- Balance Sheet: Assets
- Balance Sheet: Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
- Common-Size Income Statement
- Common-Size Balance Sheet: Assets
- Common-Size Balance Sheet: Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
- Analysis of Profitability Ratios
- Analysis of Long-term (Investment) Activity Ratios
- Analysis of Geographic Areas
- Return on Equity (ROE) since 2021
- Aggregate Accruals
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Economic Profit
AppLovin Corp., economic profit calculation
US$ in thousands
| 12 months ended: | Dec 31, 2025 | Dec 31, 2024 | Dec 31, 2023 | Dec 31, 2022 | Dec 31, 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net operating profit after taxes (NOPAT)1 | ||||||
| Cost of capital2 | ||||||
| Invested capital3 | ||||||
| Economic profit4 | ||||||
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2025-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31).
1 NOPAT. See details »
2 Cost of capital. See details »
3 Invested capital. See details »
4 2025 Calculation
Economic profit = NOPAT – Cost of capital × Invested capital
= – × =
The financial trajectory exhibits a significant transition from value destruction to substantial value creation over the analyzed five-year period. A critical inflection point is observed between 2023 and 2024, where the entity shifted from negative economic profit to positive territory, signaling that operating returns began to exceed the cost of the capital employed.
- Net Operating Profit After Taxes (NOPAT)
- A period of extreme volatility is evident in the early years, with a decline into negative territory in 2022. However, from 2023 onward, NOPAT experienced exponential growth, rising from 508,977 thousand US$ to 3,602,355 thousand US$ by 2025. This rapid escalation in operating profitability serves as the primary driver for the improvement in economic value added.
- Cost of Capital and Invested Capital
- The cost of capital has remained consistently high, fluctuating between 23.61% and 35.72%, with a general upward trend starting in 2023. Concurrently, invested capital decreased from 5,576,322 thousand US$ in 2021 to a low of 4,514,462 thousand US$ in 2023, before increasing to 5,644,387 thousand US$ by 2025. The ability to generate increasing profits despite a rising cost of capital indicates a significant improvement in operational efficiency.
- Economic Profit Trends
- Economic profit remained negative from 2021 through 2023, peaking in deficit at -1,689,080 thousand US$ in 2021. A steady recovery is observed as the deficit narrowed until 2024, when the company achieved its first positive economic profit of 17,858 thousand US$. This trend culminated in 2025 with a surge to 1,586,271 thousand US$, demonstrating that the business is now generating returns well above its weighted average cost of capital.
Overall, the data indicates a successful turnaround in economic performance. The growth in NOPAT has far outpaced the increase in the cost of capital and the expansion of the invested capital base, resulting in a shift toward aggressive shareholder value creation.
Net Operating Profit after Taxes (NOPAT)
AppLovin Corp., NOPAT calculation
US$ in thousands
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2025-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31).
1 Elimination of deferred tax expense. See details »
2 Addition of increase (decrease) in deferred revenue.
3 Addition of increase (decrease) in equity equivalents to net income (loss) attributable to AppLovin.
4 2025 Calculation
Interest expense on capitalized operating leases = Operating lease liability × Discount rate
= × =
5 2025 Calculation
Tax benefit of interest expense and loss on settlement of debt = Adjusted interest expense and loss on settlement of debt × Statutory income tax rate
= × 21.00% =
6 Addition of after taxes interest expense to net income (loss) attributable to AppLovin.
7 Elimination of discontinued operations.
Net income attributable to AppLovin and net operating profit after taxes (NOPAT) demonstrate significant fluctuations over the five-year period. Both metrics exhibit a substantial shift from positive values in 2021 to negative values in 2022, followed by a strong recovery and continued growth through 2025.
- NOPAT Trend
- NOPAT began at US$46.321 million in 2021. A considerable decline occurred in 2022, resulting in a loss of US$171.497 million. This represents a substantial negative swing. Subsequent years show a marked improvement, with NOPAT reaching US$508.977 million in 2023, US$1.628 billion in 2024, and further increasing to US$3.602 billion in 2025. This indicates a strong recovery and accelerating growth in operating profitability after taxes.
- Relationship between Net Income and NOPAT
- The trends in net income and NOPAT are closely aligned. Both metrics experienced a loss in 2022 and subsequent gains in 2023, 2024, and 2025. The magnitude of the fluctuations is similar for both, suggesting that changes in core operating profitability are a primary driver of overall net income. The values for NOPAT are consistently higher than those for net income, which is expected as NOPAT excludes the impact of financing costs and accounting adjustments.
The substantial growth in both NOPAT and net income from 2022 to 2025 suggests a significant turnaround in the company’s financial performance. The 2022 results appear to be an outlier, and the subsequent years demonstrate a positive trajectory. Further investigation would be required to understand the specific factors driving these changes, such as revenue growth, cost management, and changes in the tax rate.
Cash Operating Taxes
AppLovin Corp., cash operating taxes calculation
US$ in thousands
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2025-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31).
The provision for (benefit from) income taxes exhibits significant volatility over the observed period. A positive value of US$10,973 thousand was recorded in 2021, followed by a substantial negative value of US$12,230 thousand in 2022, indicating a tax benefit. This was reversed in 2023 with a positive provision of US$23,859 thousand, before decreasing to a benefit of US$3,771 thousand in 2024. A dramatic increase to US$519,715 thousand was then observed in 2025.
Cash operating taxes demonstrate a consistent upward trend throughout the period, albeit with varying rates of increase. The values increased from US$99,248 thousand in 2021 to US$126,764 thousand in 2022, representing a growth of approximately 27.7%. Further growth was observed in 2023, reaching US$164,738 thousand, a 30.0% increase from the prior year. The rate of increase continued in 2024, with cash operating taxes reaching US$259,656 thousand, a 57.7% increase. This upward trajectory continued into 2025, with cash operating taxes reaching US$569,851 thousand, a 119.7% increase from 2024.
- Relationship between Provision for Income Taxes and Cash Operating Taxes
- The provision for income taxes and cash operating taxes do not consistently move in the same direction. While cash operating taxes consistently increased, the provision for income taxes fluctuated between positive and negative values. This suggests that non-cash tax items, such as deferred tax assets or liabilities, significantly impact the reported provision for income taxes. The large positive provision in 2025, coupled with the substantial increase in cash operating taxes, suggests a potentially significant increase in taxable income in that year.
- Growth Rates
- The growth rate of cash operating taxes accelerated significantly from 2022 to 2025. The increase from 2024 to 2025 is particularly noteworthy, indicating a substantial rise in the company’s tax obligations. This acceleration warrants further investigation to determine the underlying drivers, such as increased profitability or changes in the tax jurisdiction.
The substantial fluctuations in the provision for income taxes, contrasted with the steady increase in cash operating taxes, indicate a complex tax position. Further analysis, including a review of the company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities, is recommended to fully understand the implications of these trends.
Invested Capital
AppLovin Corp., invested capital calculation (financing approach)
US$ in thousands
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2025-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31).
1 Addition of capitalized operating leases.
2 Elimination of deferred taxes from assets and liabilities. See details »
3 Addition of deferred revenue.
4 Addition of equity equivalents to stockholders’ equity.
5 Removal of accumulated other comprehensive income.
6 Subtraction of marketable equity securities.
The invested capital of the company exhibited a fluctuating pattern over the five-year period. Initially decreasing, it shows signs of recovery towards the end of the observed timeframe. A detailed examination of the components contributing to invested capital reveals further insights into these trends.
- Total Invested Capital
- Invested capital decreased from US$5,576,322 thousand in 2021 to US$4,514,462 thousand in 2023, representing a cumulative decline of approximately 19.1%. A slight increase to US$4,539,074 thousand was noted in 2024, followed by a more substantial rise to US$5,644,387 thousand in 2025, exceeding the 2021 level.
- Debt & Leases
- Total reported debt and leases remained relatively stable between 2021 and 2023, fluctuating around US$3,350,000 thousand. An increase was observed in 2024, reaching US$3,712,634 thousand, before decreasing slightly to US$3,667,394 thousand in 2025. This suggests a potential shift in the company’s financing strategy during 2024.
- Stockholders’ Equity
- Stockholders’ equity demonstrated a consistent downward trend from 2021 to 2024. It decreased from US$2,138,090 thousand in 2021 to US$1,089,818 thousand in 2024, representing a decline of approximately 49.2%. However, a significant recovery occurred in 2025, with equity increasing to US$2,134,671 thousand, nearly returning to the 2021 level. This recovery likely contributed to the overall increase in invested capital observed in 2025.
The interplay between debt and equity significantly influences the overall invested capital. The decline in equity between 2021 and 2024 was partially offset by relatively stable debt levels, resulting in the observed decrease in invested capital. The substantial recovery in equity during 2025, coupled with stable debt, drove the increase in invested capital to surpass the 2021 figure.
Further investigation into the factors driving the fluctuations in stockholders’ equity, such as profitability, dividend payments, and share repurchases, would be beneficial for a more comprehensive understanding of the company’s financial position.
Cost of Capital
AppLovin Corp., cost of capital calculations
| Capital (fair value)1 | Weights | Cost of capital | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equity2 | ÷ | = | × | = | |||||||||
| Debt and finance lease liabilities3 | ÷ | = | × | × (1 – 21.00%) | = | ||||||||
| Operating lease liability4 | ÷ | = | × | × (1 – 21.00%) | = | ||||||||
| Total: | |||||||||||||
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2025-12-31).
1 US$ in thousands
2 Equity. See details »
3 Debt and finance lease liabilities. See details »
4 Operating lease liability. See details »
| Capital (fair value)1 | Weights | Cost of capital | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equity2 | ÷ | = | × | = | |||||||||
| Debt and finance lease liabilities3 | ÷ | = | × | × (1 – 21.00%) | = | ||||||||
| Operating lease liability4 | ÷ | = | × | × (1 – 21.00%) | = | ||||||||
| Total: | |||||||||||||
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31).
1 US$ in thousands
2 Equity. See details »
3 Debt and finance lease liabilities. See details »
4 Operating lease liability. See details »
| Capital (fair value)1 | Weights | Cost of capital | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equity2 | ÷ | = | × | = | |||||||||
| Debt and finance lease liabilities3 | ÷ | = | × | × (1 – 21.00%) | = | ||||||||
| Operating lease liability4 | ÷ | = | × | × (1 – 21.00%) | = | ||||||||
| Total: | |||||||||||||
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31).
1 US$ in thousands
2 Equity. See details »
3 Debt and finance lease liabilities. See details »
4 Operating lease liability. See details »
| Capital (fair value)1 | Weights | Cost of capital | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equity2 | ÷ | = | × | = | |||||||||
| Debt and finance lease liabilities3 | ÷ | = | × | × (1 – 21.00%) | = | ||||||||
| Operating lease liability4 | ÷ | = | × | × (1 – 21.00%) | = | ||||||||
| Total: | |||||||||||||
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31).
1 US$ in thousands
2 Equity. See details »
3 Debt and finance lease liabilities. See details »
4 Operating lease liability. See details »
| Capital (fair value)1 | Weights | Cost of capital | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equity2 | ÷ | = | × | = | |||||||||
| Debt and finance lease liabilities3 | ÷ | = | × | × (1 – 21.00%) | = | ||||||||
| Operating lease liability4 | ÷ | = | × | × (1 – 21.00%) | = | ||||||||
| Total: | |||||||||||||
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31).
1 US$ in thousands
2 Equity. See details »
3 Debt and finance lease liabilities. See details »
4 Operating lease liability. See details »
Economic Spread Ratio
AppLovin Corp., economic spread ratio calculation, comparison to benchmarks
| Dec 31, 2025 | Dec 31, 2024 | Dec 31, 2023 | Dec 31, 2022 | Dec 31, 2021 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selected Financial Data (US$ in thousands) | ||||||
| Economic profit1 | ||||||
| Invested capital2 | ||||||
| Performance Ratio | ||||||
| Economic spread ratio3 | ||||||
| Benchmarks | ||||||
| Economic Spread Ratio, Competitors4 | ||||||
| Accenture PLC | ||||||
| Adobe Inc. | ||||||
| Cadence Design Systems Inc. | ||||||
| CrowdStrike Holdings Inc. | ||||||
| Datadog Inc. | ||||||
| International Business Machines Corp. | ||||||
| Intuit Inc. | ||||||
| Microsoft Corp. | ||||||
| Oracle Corp. | ||||||
| Palantir Technologies Inc. | ||||||
| Palo Alto Networks Inc. | ||||||
| Salesforce Inc. | ||||||
| ServiceNow Inc. | ||||||
| Synopsys Inc. | ||||||
| Workday Inc. | ||||||
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2025-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31).
1 Economic profit. See details »
2 Invested capital. See details »
3 2025 Calculation
Economic spread ratio = 100 × Economic profit ÷ Invested capital
= 100 × ÷ =
4 Click competitor name to see calculations.
A comprehensive reversal in economic performance is observed between 2021 and 2025, characterized by a transition from significant value destruction to substantial value creation. The financial trajectory indicates a steady recovery in profitability relative to the cost of capital, culminating in a strong positive economic position by the end of the period.
- Economic Profit
- A consistent upward trend is evident, moving from a deficit of US$ 1,689,080 thousand in 2021 to a surplus of US$ 1,586,271 thousand in 2025. The period between 2021 and 2023 saw a gradual reduction in losses, with the break-even point being surpassed in 2024. The sharp increase in 2025 suggests a significant acceleration in the generation of returns exceeding the company's cost of capital.
- Invested Capital
- Invested capital experienced a contraction phase from 2021 to 2023, decreasing from US$ 5,576,322 thousand to US$ 4,514,462 thousand. This period of decline was followed by relative stability in 2024 and a notable expansion in 2025, where invested capital rose to US$ 5,644,387 thousand, signaling increased investment in the business base coinciding with the surge in economic profit.
- Economic Spread Ratio
- The economic spread ratio mirrors the trajectory of economic profit, shifting from -30.29% in 2021 to 28.10% in 2025. The ratio improved steadily each year, crossing into positive territory in 2024 at 0.39%. This progression indicates that the return on invested capital has moved from being significantly below the cost of capital to substantially exceeding it, reflecting a profound improvement in capital efficiency.
The convergence of increasing invested capital and a rapidly expanding economic spread ratio in the final year suggests that the company is now scaling its operations profitably. The shift from a negative spread to a 28.10% positive spread confirms that the organization has successfully pivoted toward generating genuine economic value for its shareholders.
Economic Profit Margin
AppLovin Corp., economic profit margin calculation, comparison to benchmarks
| Dec 31, 2025 | Dec 31, 2024 | Dec 31, 2023 | Dec 31, 2022 | Dec 31, 2021 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selected Financial Data (US$ in thousands) | ||||||
| Economic profit1 | ||||||
| Revenue | ||||||
| Add: Increase (decrease) in deferred revenue | ||||||
| Adjusted revenue | ||||||
| Performance Ratio | ||||||
| Economic profit margin2 | ||||||
| Benchmarks | ||||||
| Economic Profit Margin, Competitors3 | ||||||
| Accenture PLC | ||||||
| Adobe Inc. | ||||||
| Cadence Design Systems Inc. | ||||||
| CrowdStrike Holdings Inc. | ||||||
| Datadog Inc. | ||||||
| International Business Machines Corp. | ||||||
| Intuit Inc. | ||||||
| Microsoft Corp. | ||||||
| Oracle Corp. | ||||||
| Palantir Technologies Inc. | ||||||
| Palo Alto Networks Inc. | ||||||
| Salesforce Inc. | ||||||
| ServiceNow Inc. | ||||||
| Synopsys Inc. | ||||||
| Workday Inc. | ||||||
Based on: 10-K (reporting date: 2025-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2024-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2023-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2022-12-31), 10-K (reporting date: 2021-12-31).
1 Economic profit. See details »
2 2025 Calculation
Economic profit margin = 100 × Economic profit ÷ Adjusted revenue
= 100 × ÷ =
3 Click competitor name to see calculations.
A consistent upward trajectory in economic performance is observed from 2021 through 2025, marking a transition from significant value destruction to substantial value creation. This shift is characterized by a combination of scaling adjusted revenue and a rapid improvement in the efficiency of capital utilization.
- Economic Profit Trend
- A sustained recovery in economic profit is evident, moving from a deficit of US$ 1,689,080 thousand in 2021 to a surplus of US$ 1,586,271 thousand by 2025. The transition to positive economic profit occurred in 2024, signaling that the entity began generating returns in excess of its cost of capital.
- Adjusted Revenue Growth
- Adjusted revenue demonstrated consistent annual growth, increasing from US$ 2,785,148 thousand in 2021 to US$ 5,491,346 thousand in 2025. The most significant acceleration in revenue occurred between 2023 and 2024, which coincided with the move toward economic profitability.
- Economic Profit Margin Evolution
- The economic profit margin reflects a comprehensive turnaround, ascending from -60.65% in 2021 to 28.89% in 2025. The margin showed steady improvement throughout the period, crossing the break-even threshold in 2024 at 0.38%. This rapid expansion suggests a substantial increase in operational efficiency and a successful optimization of the relationship between revenue generation and capital charges.