Alphabet IncGOOGBUYApr 17, 2024Stock price when the opinion was issued
As of Jul 10, 2026. Market Open.
Fears that AI would eat its lunch. Harder for Anthropic to monetize a new tool than for GOOG to take AI and apply it to a business model that it already monetizes. Muscle memory of the populace gravitates to GOOG to find information. Probably thrives in the new AI world, until something more disruptive comes along.
AI monetization is happening, and AI Mode has been a game changer. Stronger cloud growth (revenue grew 63% YOY last quarter, tremendous), broader monetization across platforms. Search and advertising remain strong, lots of cashflow. Also a great ecosystem.
Good growth, but relatively decent valuation. Yield is 0.25%.
A year ago, consensus was that Search was going to die. Seems ridiculous now. Gemini is overtaking ChatGPT. Data centre business is growing faster than before. Still not that expensive. He hasn't sold any shares yet, but may take some off the table from the long-term holding and put toward one of the Mag 7 laggards.
Lots of noise in the last year. Remember, pre-eminent Search tool in the world, a franchise it wants to protect. Working hard to use AI to maintain that leadership. Low 20s multiple, growing in high teens to 20%. Buyable well into the future. Exciting prospects. Very strong GARP. Risk: 90% market share possibly in jeopardy due to new technology.
Build it into your portfolio, but don't get carried away.