Founder led companies can offer a different kind of alignment, where the person setting the strategy often has significant personal capital and reputation on the line. With growth signals mixed across regions and central banks constantly reassessing inflation and interest rates, many investors are looking for leaders who stay focused through changing data. This Founder-Led Companies screener is designed to help you find those businesses where long term commitment sits alongside day to day execution. In this article, you will see 3 of the strongest examples from the screener and why they might deserve a spot on your watchlist.

On Holding (ONON)

Overview: On Holding is a Zurich based sportswear company that designs and sells premium athletic footwear, apparel, and accessories for running, outdoor activities, training, tennis, and everyday wear. It reaches athletes and lifestyle consumers through both wholesale partners and its own stores and e commerce channels across Europe, the Americas, and Asia Pacific.

Operations: On Holding currently generates its revenue almost entirely from athletic footwear, with this segment contributing CHF 3.1b.

Market Cap: US$12.2b

Investors looking at founder led brands with global reach may find On Holding interesting, as the company pairs a premium product line and a direct to consumer and e commerce focus with categories beyond running, including tennis and lifestyle. The business has been expanding internationally and has flagged plans to move into football. At the same time, a relatively high P/E, reliance on premium pricing, and a capital structure built entirely on external borrowings mean that growth, margins, and funding costs all matter, and that is where the real story on On Holding starts to get more complex.

On Holding’s global brand story and premium pricing only make sense when set against its funding mix and earnings power, and that is exactly what the DCF valuation analysis for On Holding shows investors who want the full picture.

SharonAI Holdings (SHAZ)

Overview: SharonAI Holdings is a New York based computing company that builds accelerated compute platforms, AI infrastructure, and cloud GPU environments for AI labs, hyperscale customers, research institutions, and regulated industries, using a mix of third party data centers and its own facilities.

Operations: SharonAI Holdings generates its revenue entirely from High Performance Compute Services, contributing about US$1.5m, all from the United States.

Market Cap: US$1.6b

SharonAI Holdings sits at the center of the AI compute build out, with a six year NVIDIA partnership that targets up to 40,000 Grace Blackwell GPUs in Australia and a data backbone designed to support around 100,000 GPUs across the Asia Pacific region. Revenue is still small at roughly US$2m, the company is loss making, and earnings are forecast to decline. This points to an early stage, highly speculative profile with a very high P/B multiple and meaningful external borrowing. At the same time, revenue has grown at triple digit rates, analysts expect revenue growth to far outpace the US market, and fresh US$1.6b financing plus a near 20% shareholder give SharonAI Holdings resources and a committed backer that many AI infrastructure stocks lack.

SharonAI Holdings sits at the crossroads of huge GPU capacity plans and early stage revenues, and the real tension is whether the build out justifies today’s valuation multiples or not. Get the full context in the 3 key rewards and 4 important warning signs (2 are major!)

AppLovin (APP)

Overview: AppLovin is a Palo Alto based company that runs an AI powered advertising platform, helping app developers, brands, and content owners manage, measure, and improve their marketing across mobile apps and connected TV. Its tools automate ad bidding, campaign optimisation, and analytics so advertisers can reach users more effectively while publishers aim to earn more from their ad inventory.

Operations: AppLovin generates all of its US$6.2b revenue from its Advertising segment, split roughly evenly between the United States at US$3.1b and the rest of the world at US$3.0b.

Market Cap: US$177.1b

AppLovin gives you exposure to high margin, AI driven advertising software, with a 63.5% net margin, strong earnings and revenue growth forecasts, and very high expected future ROE. The company operates under a founder led structure and is pushing into e commerce and self serve tools for smaller advertisers. Analysts see room for upside relative to both their price targets and a higher fair value estimate from cash flow modelling. However, the stock also carries clear risks, including a high P/E, meaningful leverage, heavy reliance on mobile platforms and gaming, tighter data privacy rules, and recent insider selling. The key consideration for investors is whether AppLovin’s Axon powered rollout and global expansion can justify those expectations and the premium investors are being asked to pay.

AppLovin’s high margin, AI powered ad engine and premium P/E suggest the story is still unfolding, but the real insight sits in the analyst forecasts for AppLovin and what that implies for how far expectations can stretch.

The 3 stocks here are just a starting point, and the full Founder Led Companies screener on Simply Wall St has identified 1,444 more businesses where founders are still in the driver’s seat, each with its own compelling narrative, capital structure, and growth profile within the Founder-Led Companies screener. Use Simply Wall St to unlock filters around founder ownership, capital allocation, balance sheet strength, and funding or growth catalysts so you can identify and analyze the highest conviction founder led opportunities that fit your own approach.

Take Control of Your Investment Journey

If On Holding or any of these companies have caught your attention, register for FREE with Simply Wall St and add your companies to a Watchlist to monitor the share price against the fair value and track any new developments as they happen. Once you've made your move, manage your holdings with our Portfolio Command Center that filters out the noise to deliver only the most critical, actionable updates. Throughout your journey, our Community allows you to filter the best ideas from thousands of investor perspectives. By uncovering hidden catalysts and risks early, you'll accelerate your decision-making and stay one step ahead of the market.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.