Compare StocksAPP vs GS

AppLovin Corporation (APP) vs The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (GS)

APP
AppLovin Corporation
$439.92
VS
GS
The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
$809.50

Rewards

APP
  • Gross margin of 87.9% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
  • Free cash flow has grown at a 112.3% CAGR over the past 4 years, demonstrating strong earnings power growth.
  • Each dollar of retained earnings has created $42.50 of market value — management is an exceptional capital allocator.
GS
  • Gross margin of 82.9% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
  • Share count has been reduced by 11% over the past 4 years through buybacks, increasing each share's claim on earnings.
  • Each dollar of retained earnings has created $5.60 of market value — management is an exceptional capital allocator.

Risks

APP
  • FCF yield of 2.7% is below 3%, meaning the market is pricing in substantial future growth to justify the current price.
  • Insiders have sold $122.0M worth of stock in the past 3 months — significant insider liquidation.
GS
  • The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. scores only 26/100 on the Economic Moat Score, suggesting limited durable competitive advantages.
  • High leverage (5.96x debt/equity) combined with thin interest coverage (-1.0x) poses financial risk.
  • Altman Z-Score of 0.25 places the company in the distress zone — financial patterns resemble those of companies that experienced bankruptcy.

Key Valuation Metrics

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APP
GS
Valuation
$3.94B
Free Cash Flow
N/A
2.65%
FCF Yield
N/A
43.86
Trailing P/E
15.77
21.72
Forward P/E
12.45
Quality & Moat
57.40%
ROIC
2.06%
156.17%
ROE
13.00%
87.86%
Gross Margin
82.88%
0.52
PEG Ratio
0.91
Balance Sheet Safety
1.72
Debt / Equity
5.96
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
0.28
Net Debt / EBITDA
N/A
N/A
Dividend Yield
2.22%
APP: 5Ties: 1GS: 2
APPGS

Historical Fundamentals

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APP

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

GS

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

$1 Retained Earnings Test

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APP
$42.50
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$5.27B
Δ Market Cap
+$224.03B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
GS
$5.60
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$26.00B
Δ Market Cap
+$145.60B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer

Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer

Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis

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APP
38.4% Margin of Safety
Price is 38.4% below estimated fair value
Current Price: $439.92
Fair Value: $713.70
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
GS
65.1% Margin of Safety
Price is 65.1% below estimated fair value
Current Price: $809.50
Fair Value: $2319.70
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued

Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth

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APP

What growth rate is the market pricing in at $440?

+18.7%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +16.4%

The market implies +18.7% Owner Earnings growth, below historical trends — potential opportunity.

Standard FCF implies a more demanding +16.4%, reflecting heavy growth investment expected to generate future returns.

GS

Requires positive FCF to compute implied growth rate.

Economic Moat Score

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APP
51/100
Narrow Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

Narrow moat with reinvestment efficiency as the key competitive advantage. Improving revenue predictability would strengthen the moat.

Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.
GS
26/100
No Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

No durable moat detected, though reinvestment efficiency shows some competitive positioning. The business lacks consistent evidence of sustainable advantages.

Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.

Forensic Accounting

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APP
-2.43
Unlikely Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

M-Score Trend

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
GS
-2.00
Possible Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

M-Score Trend

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.

Ownership Breakdown

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APP
Insiders 18.7%Institutions 81.1%Retail & Other 0.1%
No. of Institutional Holders2,124
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
GS
Insiders 0.5%Institutions 75.7%Retail & Other 23.8%
No. of Institutional Holders3,730
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.

High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.

Insider Buying Activity

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APP
0
Buys (3M)
0
Buys (12M)
No open market insider purchases found.
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
GS
0
Buys (3M)
1
Buys (12M)
Total value (12M): $2.00M
HESS JOHN B JR.
Director
$2.00M
@ $511.68 · 2025-04-15
JOHNSON KEVIN RONALD
Director
$1.49M
@ $619.02 · 2025-01-17
FLAHERTY MARK A
Director
$29,545
@ $360.30 · 2024-09-27
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises

Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises.

Insider Selling Activity

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APP
4
Sells (3M)
28
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $599.95M
VIVAS EDUARDO
Director
$74.33M
@ $453.49 · 2026-03-16
DOROSH DMITRIY
Officer
$1.41M
@ $453.42 · 2026-03-13
FOROUGHI ARASH ADAM
Chief Executive Officer
$27.50M
@ $463.71 · 2026-03-12
FOROUGHI ARASH ADAM
Chief Executive Officer
$18.72M
@ $459.85 · 2026-03-12
VALENZUELA VICTORIA
Officer
$5.00M
@ $657.13 · 2025-12-18
HARVEY DAWSON ALYSSA
Director
$103,998
@ $693.32 · 2025-12-08
SHIKIN VASILY
Chief Technology Officer
$14.80M
@ $545.38 · 2025-11-24
STUMPF MATTHEW
Chief Financial Officer
$2.52M
@ $515.76 · 2025-11-21
HARVEY DAWSON ALYSSA
Director
$117,836
@ $589.18 · 2025-11-12
VIVAS EDUARDO
Director
$97.64M
@ $650.91 · 2025-11-10
BILLINGS CRAIG SCOTT
Director
$1.39M
@ $592.92 · 2025-11-07
HARVEY DAWSON ALYSSA
Director
$170,790
@ $487.97 · 2025-09-05
VALENZUELA VICTORIA
Officer
$17.58M
@ $502.23 · 2025-09-04
VALENZUELA VICTORIA
Officer
$6.75M
@ $450.00 · 2025-08-25
SHIKIN VASILY
Chief Technology Officer
$13.13M
@ $437.57 · 2025-08-22
FOROUGHI ARASH ADAM
Chief Executive Officer
$11.53M
@ $440.23 · 2025-08-22
VALENZUELA VICTORIA
Officer
$6.92M
@ $416.71 · 2025-08-21
STUMPF MATTHEW
Chief Financial Officer
$2.03M
@ $416.18 · 2025-08-21
CHEN HERALD Y
Director
$167.51M
@ $456.43 · 2025-08-13
CHEN HERALD Y
Director
$15.11M
@ $457.93 · 2025-08-13
VIVAS EDUARDO
Director
$58.25M
@ $466.00 · 2025-08-12
MESSING BARBARA
Director
$573,692
@ $382.46 · 2025-06-11
CHEN HERALD Y
Director
$41.99M
@ $419.91 · 2025-06-06
STUMPF MATTHEW
Chief Financial Officer
$4.11M
@ $423.00 · 2025-06-06
HARVEY DAWSON ALYSSA
Director
$1.45M
@ $414.90 · 2025-06-06
VALENZUELA VICTORIA
Officer
$4.88M
@ $369.79 · 2025-05-21
HARVEY DAWSON ALYSSA
Director
$211,540
@ $371.12 · 2025-05-13
BILLINGS CRAIG SCOTT
Director
$4.24M
@ $353.12 · 2025-05-12
CHEN HERALD Y
Director
$64.93M
@ $324.65 · 2025-02-28
FOROUGHI ARASH ADAM
Chief Executive Officer
$19.24M
@ $421.88 · 2025-02-24
FOROUGHI ARASH ADAM
Chief Executive Officer
$18.24M
@ $410.89 · 2025-02-24
VALENZUELA VICTORIA
Officer
$5.00M
@ $313.07 · 2024-12-19
CHEN HERALD Y
Director
$32.62M
@ $329.50 · 2024-12-12
FOROUGHI ARASH ADAM
Chief Executive Officer
$17.19M
@ $332.74 · 2024-12-11
CHEN HERALD Y
Director
$63.92M
@ $329.36 · 2024-12-10
FOROUGHI ARASH ADAM
Chief Executive Officer
$18.82M
@ $343.38 · 2024-12-10
FOROUGHI ARASH ADAM
Chief Executive Officer
$14.47M
@ $332.52 · 2024-12-10
HARVEY DAWSON ALYSSA
Director
$203,134
@ $406.27 · 2024-12-06
VALENZUELA VICTORIA
Officer
$6.35M
@ $354.15 · 2024-12-03
HARVEY DAWSON ALYSSA
Director
$977,282
@ $325.76 · 2024-11-27
SHIKIN VASILY
Chief Technology Officer
$74.75M
@ $324.99 · 2024-11-25
SHIKIN VASILY
Chief Technology Officer
$51.74M
@ $311.68 · 2024-11-22
STUMPF MATTHEW
Chief Financial Officer
$7.02M
@ $332.67 · 2024-11-22
BILLINGS CRAIG SCOTT
Director
$5.74M
@ $318.94 · 2024-11-21
SHIKIN VASILY
Chief Technology Officer
$189.57M
@ $319.37 · 2024-11-21
JANSEN KATIE KIHORANY
Officer
$34.26M
@ $286.13 · 2024-11-13
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
GS
6
Sells (3M)
11
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $59.99M
COLEMAN DENIS P.
Chief Financial Officer
$10.94M
@ $941.57 · 2026-02-09
SOLOMON DAVID M
Chief Executive Officer
$255,387
@ $938.92 · 2026-01-29
HALIO CAREY
Officer
$2.64M
@ $927.17 · 2026-01-27
FREDMAN SHEARA J.
Officer
$4.49M
@ $923.75 · 2026-01-23
RUEMMLER KATHRYN H
General Counsel
$8.89M
@ $927.51 · 2026-01-23
HALIO CAREY
Officer
$1.62M
@ $920.62 · 2026-01-23
WALDRON JOHN E.
President
$13.69M
@ $750.30 · 2025-08-28
COLEMAN DENIS P.
Chief Financial Officer
$5.41M
@ $724.40 · 2025-07-25
ROGERS JOHN F W
Officer
$4.31M
@ $717.39 · 2025-07-23
SOLOMON DAVID M
Chief Executive Officer
$4.71M
@ $712.31 · 2025-07-23
SOLOMON DAVID M
Chief Executive Officer
$3.04M
@ $607.17 · 2025-05-14
SOLOMON DAVID M
Chief Executive Officer
$1.50M
@ $622.15 · 2025-02-26
GOLTEN ALEXANDER SIMON
Officer
$3.31M
@ $636.25 · 2025-01-28
HALIO CAREY
Officer and Treasurer
$2.32M
@ $636.74 · 2025-01-24
FREDMAN SHEARA J.
Officer
$1.28M
@ $627.01 · 2025-01-21
RUEMMLER KATHRYN H
General Counsel
$4.76M
@ $634.69 · 2025-01-21
HALIO CAREY
Officer
$965,120
@ $624.67 · 2025-01-21
VINIAR DAVID A
Director
$3.06M
@ $612.08 · 2024-11-29
SOLOMON DAVID M
Chief Executive Officer
$4.00M
@ $610.91 · 2024-11-29
FREDMAN SHEARA J.
Officer
$1.77M
@ $594.51 · 2024-11-06
COLEMAN DENIS P.
Chief Financial Officer
$7.67M
@ $593.03 · 2024-11-06
ROGERS JOHN F W
Officer
$3.83M
@ $596.36 · 2024-11-06
SOLOMON DAVID M
Chief Executive Officer
$3.00M
@ $500.29 · 2024-08-15
VINIAR DAVID A
Director
$2.51M
@ $502.43 · 2024-07-16
SOLOMON DAVID M
Chief Executive Officer
$3.02M
@ $457.32 · 2024-05-10
VINIAR DAVID A
Director
$2.16M
@ $432.25 · 2024-04-29
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives

Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives.

🎭 Mr. Market's Mood

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APP
FearGreed
😨Fear(40/100)

"Market is pessimistic — investigate whether fears are temporary or structural"

Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
GS
FearGreed
😐Neutral(48/100)

"Market is pricing this stock without strong emotion in either direction"

Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.

Composite sentiment score based on market signals. Inspired by Buffett’s "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.

⚖️ Buffett Signal

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APP
Awaiting DCF Data

The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.

DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Fear (40)
GS
Awaiting DCF Data

The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.

DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Neutral (48)
View APP Full AnalysisView GS Full Analysis