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This Artificial Intelligence (AI) Stock Looks Dirt Cheap Right Now
AlphabetAlphabet(US:GOOG) The Motley Foolยท2025-08-25 07:45

Core Viewpoint - Alphabet is undervalued as an AI megacap stock, trading at a forward P/E ratio of less than 19 times analysts' 2026 earnings estimates, despite its strong positions in search, mobile, video, cloud computing, and robotaxi businesses [2][16]. Search and AI - Alphabet's stock is perceived as cheap due to investor concerns about AI disrupting its Google Search business, but search revenue growth accelerated by 12% year over year to $54.2 billion in Q2 [3][17]. - Over 2 billion users engage with AI Overviews in Google Search, and the newly launched AI Mode is gaining popularity, with 82% of users finding it more useful than traditional search [5][6]. Distribution Advantage - Alphabet benefits from not needing to change consumer habits, as billions already use Google daily, enhancing user experience through AI integration [6]. - Google controls two-thirds of the global browser market with Chrome and powers over 70% of smartphones with Android, making it a primary entry point to the internet for billions [7]. Advertising Network - Alphabet has built a powerful advertising network over decades, serving a wide range of clients from global brands to local businesses, creating a significant competitive moat [8]. Cloud Computing - Google Cloud is a major growth driver, with revenue surging 32% in Q2 to $13.6 billion and operating income more than doubling to $2.8 billion [10]. - Adoption of Google's AI models and custom tensor processing units (TPUs) is increasing, providing a cost advantage for Google Cloud [11][12]. - Demand for cloud services is so high that capacity constraints may persist into 2026, prompting Alphabet to invest in new data centers to enhance profitability [13]. Emerging Businesses - Alphabet's Waymo is leading in the autonomous driving sector, currently available in multiple cities and testing in 10 new markets [14]. - Advancements in quantum computing, particularly with the Willow chip, could provide significant growth opportunities in the future [15]. Investment Opportunity - Despite its strong market position and emerging business potential, Alphabet trades at one of the lowest valuations among major tech AI leaders, making it an attractive investment for exposure to AI and emerging technologies [16][17].