Waymo is set to expand its Waymo One robotaxi service to Miami, with testing beginning in early 2025 and public rides expected by 2026. This expansion is part of Waymo's broader strategy to introduce autonomous taxi services in new cities, backed by significant investment from Alphabet Inc. and other firms. The company has partnered with Moove to manage its fleet, initially starting in Phoenix before moving to Miami. Waymo has previously tested its technology in Florida's challenging weather conditions to enhance its self-driving capabilities.
Google is in advanced talks to acquire cybersecurity startup Wiz for about $23 billion, which would be its largest acquisition ever. This follows Alphabet's decision not to pursue HubSpot due to antitrust concerns. Wiz, founded in 2020, has seen significant revenue growth and is backed by major venture capital firms. The deal would surpass Google's previous largest acquisition of Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion in 2012.
Investors are showing increased optimism in Alphabet Inc.'s artificial intelligence strategy, propelling the company's stock toward a potential $2 trillion market value. Despite recent glitches and misfires, the company's focus on AI progress and enterprise-ready cloud offerings has boosted investor confidence. With upcoming earnings and a developer's conference, Alphabet aims to demonstrate its AI monetization potential. The stock's relatively cheap valuation and advancements in AI capabilities have attracted Wall Street's attention, despite some skepticism. Additionally, news of Apple considering using Google's AI technology has further fueled the stock's rebound.
Google's parent company, Alphabet Inc., valued at about $1.9 trillion, has far exceeded the parameters of just the internet, with segments including Google Services, Google Cloud, and Other Bets. Larry Page, the eighth-richest person in the world, received advice from Steve Jobs about focusing on key products, but Page and Sergey Brin were so certain of Alphabet’s name and purpose that they didn’t even market test it, aiming for a brand for companies to be part of.
Google's founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, envisioned the company's potential for massive growth from the start, leading to the creation of Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company, now valued at $1.9 trillion. Despite advice from Steve Jobs to focus on just five products, Page and Brin believed in the interconnectedness of Alphabet's ventures, leading to the company's diverse portfolio. They chose the name Alphabet without market testing, aiming for a brand that employees and investors would be proud to be a part of.
Alphabet Inc. (GOOG) stock advanced by 1.94% despite the market decline, outperforming the S&P 500. Investors are anticipating the company's upcoming earnings release, with projected year-over-year growth in earnings and revenue. Analysts are expecting positive changes in earnings and revenue for the full year. The Zacks Rank, currently at #3 (Hold), suggests potential stock price performance. Alphabet Inc. also shows a favorable valuation compared to the industry average. The Internet - Services industry, to which Alphabet Inc. belongs, currently ranks in the bottom 40% of all industries.
Alphabet Inc. (GOOG) stock closed at $133.78, down 0.31% from the previous day, underperforming the S&P 500 and Nasdaq. The company's stock has dropped by 7.4% in the past month, and investors are awaiting its upcoming earnings release, with projected earnings of $1.49 per share and revenue of $65.95 billion. Analysts are closely monitoring any changes in estimates for the company, as positive revisions could indicate a favorable business outlook. Alphabet Inc. currently holds a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold) and has a Forward P/E ratio of 19.81, indicating a discount compared to its industry. The Internet - Services industry, to which Alphabet Inc. belongs, ranks in the bottom 45% of all industries according to Zacks Industry Rank.
Alphabet Inc. faces a significant threat of falling behind in the artificial intelligence (AI) race, as evidenced by a recent $80 billion market value loss following news of Google's flagship AI product misfiring. With the company heavily reliant on its digital advertising business, the potential development of an AI-powered search engine that could make Google obsolete poses a clear and present danger. Despite its dominance in search, Alphabet's struggles in AI have raised concerns among investors, who are closely monitoring the company's ability to stay ahead in the AI space amidst growing competition.
Michael Burry's Scion Asset Management added shares of Alphabet Inc. and Amazon.com Inc. to its portfolio during the fourth quarter of 2023, as part of a broader move to open positions in more than a dozen stocks. This comes after Burry's previous bearish positions against the S&P 500, Nasdaq-100, and semiconductor stocks were apparently sold off, with the value investor opting to increase long positions in his portfolio instead.
Goldman Sachs analysts predict that Alphabet Inc. and Amazon.com Inc. are likely to follow Meta Platforms Inc.'s lead and introduce their first-ever dividends in 2024. The interest in dividend-paying stocks has increased since Meta's announcement, prompting Goldman to raise its forecast for the S&P 500's dividend-per-share payout. Companies with stable cash flows and large existing buyback programs are seen as potential candidates for introducing dividends, signaling confidence about future earnings and attracting income-oriented investors. As of the start of 2024, 56 companies in the S&P 500 have raised their dividends, with only Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. cutting its dividend in order to allocate more funds to business growth.
Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) recently reported its full-year results, meeting analyst estimates with revenues of US$307b and earnings per share of US$5.80. Analysts are forecasting a solid 11% revenue growth to US$342.2b and a 14% increase in earnings per share to US$6.76 for 2024. Despite the stock's recent decline, analysts have not adjusted their outlook for the company, maintaining a consensus price target of US$163. The forecasts suggest that Alphabet's revenue growth is expected to slow down, aligning with the wider industry's growth rate. Overall, the business' prospects remain steady, and the intrinsic value of the company has not undergone significant changes with the latest estimates.
Alphabet Inc (GOOGL) reported a 13% year-over-year increase in Q4 revenues, reaching $86.31 billion, with operating income jumping to $23.7 billion and net income soaring to $20.68 billion. The company faced challenges related to workforce reduction and office space optimization, resulting in significant charges. Despite this, Alphabet's strategic investments in AI and innovation, particularly in Search, YouTube, and Cloud services, have contributed to its robust financial performance and industry significance. The company's solid balance sheet, liquidity position, and key financial metrics underscore its profitability and efficiency, positioning it for continued success in a dynamic market.
Alphabet Inc. shares surged, nearing a record high, driven by optimism around its artificial intelligence capabilities, making it the third most valuable US company. Analysts are bullish on the company's AI investments, with Google's release of the Gemini AI model positioning it as a competitor to OpenAI and Microsoft in the field of generative AI. This has contributed to the ongoing rally in tech stocks and solidified Alphabet's position in the market.
Despite Google's parent company, Alphabet Inc., experiencing record profits, over 1,000 workers were laid off while top AI scientists from its subsidiary, DeepMind, left to start their own startups, raising significant funding. The departure of these scientists and the layoffs at Google raise concerns about the company's ability to innovate and compete in the AI landscape. Recent product launches have been marred by controversy, and there are signs of a deteriorating culture within the company. Despite these challenges, Google's stock continues to perform well, and many former employees have found success after leaving the company.
Despite record profits, Google's parent company Alphabet Inc. has faced a string of challenges, including the departure of top AI scientists from its subsidiary DeepMind to form their own startup, while Google itself has laid off over 1,000 employees with more expected. The departures and layoffs raise concerns about Google's ability to innovate and compete in the AI landscape, especially as recent product launches have been marred by controversy. Despite these challenges, Alphabet's stock continues to perform well, and former employees have found success in the AI industry.
