Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) is one of the best stocks for the next decade. On December 22, BNP Paribas Exane reaffirmed its Outperform rating and $355 price target for Alphabet. This sentiment followed the company’s announcement, on the same day, that it entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Intersect Power, which is a specialist provider of data center and energy infrastructure, for $4.75 billion in cash plus assumed debt. The firm views this move as a strategic step to accelerate the expansion ...

Core Viewpoint - Citizens raised its price target on Alphabet to $385 from $340 while maintaining a Market Outperform rating, driven by improving search fundamentals and multiple medium-term growth drivers [1] Group 1: Price Target and Rating - Citizens increased Alphabet's price target to $385 from $340, maintaining a Market Outperform rating [1] - The firm's reassessment of estimates and valuation was prompted by Alphabet's shares more than doubling from their May lows [2] Group 2: Revenue Growth and Catalysts - Citizens believes Google could further accelerate search revenue in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, which is a key near-term question for investors [2] - Medium-term catalysts identified include Gemini, Google Cloud, Waymo, and custom TPUs, expected to support broader results inflection in 2026 and 2027 [3] Group 3: Search Performance and Advertising - Query growth in search appears to be accelerating due to AI Overviews, AI Mode, and Gemini, leading to higher engagement [3] - Smart Bidding Exploration is expanding Google's advertising load by connecting advertisers to user intent rather than keywords, increasing the proportion of queries linked to ads [3] Group 4: Q3 Performance and Future Expectations - The third quarter marked the first full period with Smart Bidding Exploration, and the fourth quarter is expected to benefit similarly, supported by a stable macro backdrop for holiday advertising spend [4]

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I’m a Financial Analyst at a Fortune 500 company, investing with a long runway—30 years to retirement and plenty of compounding ahead. I write about building a thoughtful portfolio that balances strong growth potential with solid fundamentals. My focus is on high-quality businesses, mostly in the U.S. and Europe—companies with staying power, industry-leading profitability, low leverage, and room to grow. I’m especially interested in portfolio strategy, capital allocation, and what makes a business truly wor ...

A new revenue source could drive further growth for the tech megacap.Few stocks have had as successful a 2025 as Alphabet (GOOG +0.11%) has. It rose by around 65% for the year, and a performance like that likely won't be repeated in 2026. The question is, can we expect Alphabet's next year to be good enough to warrant owning it over other tech stocks, or the market in general? Alphabet answered a lot of questions in 2025Entering 2025, Alphabet was an unloved stock. Three primary questions surrounded the com ...

Core Viewpoint - Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Baidu, Inc. regarding potential securities fraud or unlawful business practices by the company and its officers or directors [1]. Group 1: Investigation Details - The investigation is prompted by allegations that Baidu may have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices [1]. - Investors are encouraged to contact Pomerantz LLP for more information regarding the investigation [1]. Group 2: Market Reaction - On November 26, 2025, it was reported that the Pentagon concluded Baidu should be added to a list of companies that assist the Chinese military [3]. - Following this news, Baidu's American Depositary Receipt (ADR) price decreased by $1.54, or 1.31%, closing at $116.34 per ADR on the same day [3]. Group 3: Firm Background - Pomerantz LLP is recognized as a leading firm in corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation, with a history of over 85 years in fighting for victims of securities fraud and corporate misconduct [4]. - The firm has successfully recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards for class members [4].

Core Viewpoint - The narrative around Alphabet has shifted from viewing AI as a threat to recognizing it as a significant opportunity, which is reflected in the company's stock performance and growth metrics [3][22]. Company Performance - Alphabet's stock has seen substantial growth, rising from $140 in April to $314, marking a 124% increase [2]. - The company has achieved a year-to-date increase of over 65%, reaching new highs of $328 [1]. AI Developments - Google Gemini, the company's AI initiative, has experienced a 7x increase in monthly active users year-over-year, with a 300% increase in user engagement compared to GPT's 67% [4][5]. - Daily active users of Gemini are averaging four queries per day, while GPT users average 7.5 queries [6]. Search and Cloud Business - Alphabet's search business has grown by 7% in paid clicks year-over-year, with the cost per click also increasing by 7% [9]. - Google Cloud has reported a 34% year-over-year revenue increase, with income up approximately 85% [17]. Streaming and Content - YouTube dominates the streaming market, capturing 13% of TV time in the US, compared to Netflix's 8% [19]. - The platform benefits from user-generated content, allowing it to maintain a competitive edge over Netflix, which relies on licensed and original content [20]. Competitive Landscape - The AI market is characterized by rapid competition, with various models vying for user engagement and market share [8][17]. - Despite being a late entrant, Google is leveraging its existing user base and search engine dominance to catch up in the AI space [13][14].

Even after slipping mildly to end the year, shares of Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) are poised to close off 2025 as the most magnificent performer of the Magnificent Seven, with gains of around 65%. ...

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bullish stance on Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL).And retail traders should know.We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with GOOGL, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.So how do we know what these investors just did? Today, Benzinga's options scanner spott ...

Core Insights - Investors are encouraged to consider rebalancing their portfolios as the fiscal year ends, particularly for tax loss harvesting and positioning for the upcoming year [1] - A diversified investment approach is recommended, incorporating various types of securities for better long-term risk-adjusted returns [2] Company Analysis Alphabet (GOOG) - Alphabet is highlighted as a top investment choice due to its strong growth profile, driven by investments in its AI LLM platform (Gemini) [3][4] - The company achieved over $100 billion in quarterly revenue for the first time in Q3, with a year-over-year revenue growth of 16% and earnings surging by 33% [4] - Alphabet's core search and media businesses are expected to become increasingly profitable, particularly with the rising demand for cloud storage, search, and AI efficiency [5] Restaurant Brands (QSR) - Restaurant Brands is positioned as a defensive investment, benefiting from its portfolio of quick-service restaurants, including Burger King and Tim Hortons [6][7] - The company reported a revenue increase of approximately 7% year-over-year, with earnings also rising by a similar amount, indicating strong performance [9] - The anticipated economic conditions in 2026 suggest a consumer trend towards seeking value in dining out, which could favor Restaurant Brands [8] iShares 20+ Year Treasury ETF (TLT) - TLT is presented as a defensive investment option for cautious investors, providing exposure to U.S. Treasurys [11][12] - This ETF is seen as a protective measure against potential market drawdowns, with the possibility of gaining value if interest rates decrease or economic growth expectations slow [14]