Google Cloud appears to be emerging as the earnings driver for Alphabet Inc. ( GOOGL , GOOG ) since it surpassed the $70 billion run rate with operating margins at 30%. Operating income growthHi, I'm Yiannis. Spotting winners before they break out is what I do best.Experience: Previously worked at Deloitte and KPMG in external/internal auditing and consulting. Education: Chartered Certified Accountant, Fellow Member of ACCA Global, with BSc and MSc degrees from U.K. business schools. Investment Style: Spott ...

The Value Pendulum is an Asian equity market specialist with over a decade of experience on both the buy and sell sides.He is the author of the investing group Asia Value & Moat Stocks, providing ideas for value investors seeking investment opportunities listed in Asia, with a particular focus on the Hong Kong market. He hunts for deep value balance sheet bargains and wide moat stocks and provides a range of watch lists with monthly updates within his investing group.Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock ...

Group 1: Quantum Computing Market Overview - Quantum computing has seen a decline in popularity recently, with many stocks experiencing a sell-off after a peak in interest in October [1] - Current low interest in quantum computing presents a potential buying opportunity for investors, but a selective approach is necessary due to expected failures in the sector [1] Group 2: Investment Strategies - Investing in legacy tech companies involved in quantum computing can provide good returns while mitigating risk [2] - A suggested strategy is to allocate $1,000 to multiple stocks, particularly in established companies [2] Group 3: Key Players in Quantum Computing - Alphabet is a significant player in quantum computing, with strong resources and successful real-world applications of its Willow chip [3] - Alphabet's involvement in generative AI through its Gemini model adds further value, making it a balanced investment option [4] Group 4: Industry Dynamics - Nvidia is heavily involved in the AI sector, with its GPUs being the leading computing option, but quantum computing could disrupt this infrastructure in the future [5] - Experts suggest that the most effective use of quantum computing will be in a hybrid environment, integrating traditional computing with quantum technology [6]

Monte Independent Investment Research: Michael Del Monte is a buy-side equity analyst with expertise in the technology, energy, industrials, and materials sectors. Prior to working in the investment management industry, Michael spent over a decade in professional services working across industries that include O&G, OFS, Midstream, Industrials, Information Technology, EPC Services, and consumer discretionary.Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the compani ...

Core Insights - Google is preparing to issue a 100-year bond, following a 50-year bond issued in November, indicating strong investor confidence in the company's long-term viability [1][4] - The interest rates on Google's bonds are only slightly higher than those of US Treasury bonds, suggesting that Google is viewed as a safe investment comparable to the US government [2] - A recent federal judge's ruling allowed Google to maintain its monopoly status, which has led to significant profits, with net income reaching $132 billion in 2025 and plans to invest $185 billion in AI-related infrastructure in 2026 [3] Company Position - Google is now seen as a government-approved monopoly, with the ability to set prices for online search ads without regulatory constraints, unlike utilities that are price-controlled [2][5] - The issuance of a 100-year bond in British pounds places Google alongside entities like the University of Oxford and EDF, which are among the few that have borrowed for such long durations [4] Future Outlook - There is speculation about Google's long-term sustainability, with comparisons made to the US's potential to thrive in the next 50 to 100 years [4] - Google is appealing the recent monopoly ruling, arguing that it operates in a competitive market and seeking to pause the implementation of specific remedies during the appeal process [6]

Core Viewpoint - Autodesk has filed a lawsuit against Google, accusing the latter of trademark infringement regarding the "Flow" name used for competitive AI software in film, television, and video game production [1][3]. Group 1: Lawsuit Details - The lawsuit was submitted to the U.S. Federal Court in San Francisco, stating that Autodesk has been using "Flow" for visual effects, production management, and related products since September 2022 [1][3]. - Google is alleged to have launched its Flow software for the same customer base in May 2025, which surprised Autodesk [1][3]. - Autodesk claims that Google assured them it would not commercialize Flow but subsequently applied for trademark registration in Tonga, where applications are typically not publicly disclosed [1][3]. Group 2: Allegations Against Google - The lawsuit accuses Google of using the Tonga application to seek similar trademark protection in the U.S. and promoting Flow software at industry events like the Sundance Film Festival [1][3]. - Autodesk's filing states that Google's false promises aimed to buy time to capture Autodesk's market share, potentially suppressing Autodesk's Flow products and trademark [1][3]. Group 3: Company Context - As of last Friday, Autodesk's market capitalization was approximately $51 billion, while Google's parent company Alphabet had a market cap of about $3.9 trillion [1][3]. - Autodesk is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages for consumer confusion and alleged irreparable harm caused by Google's actions [5]. - Last month, Autodesk announced plans to lay off around 1,000 employees, representing 7% of its workforce, to redirect funds towards cloud and AI business initiatives [5].

Alphabet's $15 billion bond deal may have a highly unusual component - MarketWatch## Market Extra# Alphabet's $15 billion bond deal may have a highly unusual component## As tech companies look to finance their hefty spending plans, they've been offering bonds with longer maturitiesPublished: Feb. 9, 2026 at 11:57 a.m. ETShareResize---Listen(3 min)Google parent Alphabet is looking to raise up to $15 billion in the bond market on Monday Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty ImagesAlphabet shocked Wall Street last week ...

Core Insights - The article discusses a significant shift in the technology industry as major companies like Amazon, Alphabet, and Meta are heavily investing in self-developed chips and data centers, reminiscent of the vertical integration model pioneered by IBM decades ago [1][2]. Group 1: Historical Context - The current vertical integration strategy by tech giants is not a new concept, as it mirrors IBM's successful model from the 1960s, where the company produced everything from hardware to software [2]. - This model declined in the 1990s due to specialization, but the explosive demand for computational power driven by generative AI has led companies to return to self-developed hardware [2]. Group 2: Capital Investments - Amazon has raised its capital expenditure forecast for 2026 to $200 billion, a 50% increase, driven by strong and sustained demand signals, with its AWS cloud division experiencing a 24% year-over-year growth and a backlog of $244 billion [3]. - Alphabet plans to increase its capital spending to between $175 billion and $185 billion for 2026, nearly doubling its 2025 expenditure [3]. - Meta is also doubling its capital expenditure to $135 billion [3]. - Microsoft has not disclosed specific figures but expresses extreme optimism regarding AI demand [3]. Group 3: Chip Development Challenges - Self-developed chips are central to the vertical integration strategy, but the transition is fraught with challenges; for instance, Microsoft faced delays with its "Braga" chip, which did not perform as well as Nvidia's latest products [4]. - In contrast, Amazon's self-developed AI inference chip, Trainium, offers a 60% cost-performance advantage over GPUs for similar tasks, with the third generation of Trainium chips now being shipped and showing a 40% improvement in cost-performance over the previous generation [4]. Group 4: Beyond Chips - Full Stack Integration - The integration efforts extend beyond chips, as companies are also investing in controlling every physical aspect of data centers [5]. - Microsoft and Amazon are investing in "dark fiber," which refers to unused fiber optic cables already laid underground, while Google and Meta have their own cables but still purchase from third parties [5]. Group 5: Future Landscape - The market dynamics in the AI sector are changing, with Amazon's CEO noting a "barbell" demand structure: one end consists of AI labs and popular applications, while the other end includes numerous enterprises focused on productivity enhancement, with the middle segment representing the largest and most enduring market [6].

About this content About Angela Harmantas Angela Harmantas is an Editor at Proactive. She has over 15 years of experience covering the equity markets in North America, with a particular focus on junior resource stocks. Angela has reported from numerous countries around the world, including Canada, the US, Australia, Brazil, Ghana, and South Africa for leading trade publications. Previously, she worked in investor relations and led the foreign direct investment program in Canada for the Swedish government ...

Core Viewpoint - Google is facing a lawsuit from Autodesk for allegedly infringing on its "Flow" trademark in the marketing of competing AI-enabled software for creating movies, TV shows, and video games [1] Group 1 - Autodesk claims that Google's use of the "Flow" trademark is misleading and could confuse consumers regarding the origin of the software [1] - The lawsuit highlights the increasing competition in the AI software market, particularly in the entertainment industry [1] - This legal action may have implications for Google's branding and marketing strategies in the AI sector [1]