Alphabet Rises 58% in a Year: Should You Still Buy the GOOGL Stock?

Core Insights - Alphabet (GOOGL) shares have increased by 58% over the past 12 months, outperforming the Zacks Computer and Technology sector's growth of 27.3% and the Zacks Internet Services industry's increase of 52.4% [1][2] - The company's strong performance is attributed to its ongoing AI initiatives in search and cloud solutions, particularly the launch of Gemini Enterprise, which is expected to enhance its competitive position in the cloud computing market [2][9] Stock Performance - GOOGL shares have outperformed major competitors such as Microsoft (22.7%), Apple (19.5%), and Amazon (16.3%) during the same period [1] - Google maintains a dominant position in the search market with approximately 90% market share, significantly ahead of Microsoft's Bing at 4.31% [6] AI Integration and Revenue Growth - The integration of AI in Google Search has led to a 14.5% year-over-year increase in search revenues, reaching $56.57 billion in Q3 2025 [6][7] - AI Mode, available in over 40 languages, has over 75 million daily active users and has contributed to query growth, including shopping capabilities [7][8] Cloud Business Expansion - Google Cloud revenues surged by 34% year-over-year, with a backlog of $155 billion, reflecting a 46% sequential growth [9][10] - The number of new Google Cloud Platform (GCP) customers rose by approximately 34% year-over-year, with significant deals exceeding $1 billion signed [10][11] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Q4 2025 earnings is $2.57 per share, indicating a 19.53% year-over-year growth, with revenues projected at $94.09 billion, reflecting a 15.28% increase [12] - For the full year 2025, earnings are estimated at $10.49 per share, suggesting a 30.47% growth from 2024, with revenues expected to reach $339.75 billion, a 15.12% increase [13] Valuation Metrics - GOOGL stock is currently trading at a premium valuation, with a forward price/sales ratio of 8.09X compared to the industry average of 6.37X and the sector's 6.9X [14] - Despite being overvalued relative to its peers, GOOGL is cheaper than Microsoft (11.41X) and Apple (8.4X) [14] Conclusion - Alphabet's advancements in AI and cloud computing are favorable for long-term investors, justifying its premium valuation [17]