APP vs QQQ: which was the better investment?
AppLovin Corporation against Invesco QQQ Trust on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Apr 15, 2021 to Jul 13, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did APP beat QQQ?
Yes — measured from Apr 15, 2021 to Jul 13, 2026 with dividends reinvested, APP came out ahead: $67,922 versus $21,493 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 44.1% annual return against 15.7%.
What would $10,000 in APP be worth today?
$10,000 invested in AppLovin Corporation (APP) on Apr 15, 2021 would be worth about $67,922 as of Jul 13, 2026, a total return of 579.2% (44.1% per year). The same $10,000 in QQQ would be worth $21,493.
Which was riskier — APP or QQQ?
APP swung with an annualized volatility of 77.6% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -91.9%; QQQ ran at 22.5% volatility with a -35.1% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.54 for APP vs 0.61 for QQQ.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Apr 15, 2021 through Jul 13, 2026 — the full period where both assets have price history. Adjusted prices include dividends and splits, so these are total returns. The page refreshes with new market data every day.
Can I change the dates, amounts, or add monthly investing?
Yes — the interactive tool on this page is pre-loaded with APP vs QQQ. You can set any start and end date, change the starting amount, add monthly contributions, or build a multi-asset portfolio and compare it against any benchmark.