Core Insights - Alphabet has shown significant growth since its IPO in 2004, becoming a key player in the tech industry and earning a place among the "Magnificent Seven" [1] - Many investors may be surprised by the extent of Alphabet's growth over the past 21 years due to infrequent examination of the stock [1] Growth Overview - An initial investment of $5,000 at a pre-split price of $85 per share would have resulted in 2,320 shares today, valued at approximately $410,000 [3] - The stock began paying dividends in mid-2024, adding over $2,300 to the total value, bringing it to around $412,300 [4] Revenue Breakdown - Alphabet's primary growth driver has been the digital advertising market, with advertising accounting for about 74% of the company's revenue as of Q1 2025 [4] - Google Cloud now contributes 14% to the company's revenue, indicating diversification beyond advertising [5] Future Growth Potential - Waymo, Alphabet's autonomous driving business, is valued at $45 billion and has the potential to become a significant revenue contributor as self-driving technology gains traction [5] - The continued rise of digital ad revenue at double-digit rates suggests that Alphabet's growth story is likely to persist [6]

Iqos logo is seen at the store in Warsaw, Poland on November 13, 2024. (Photo by Jakub ... More Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)NurPhoto via Getty ImagesQuestion: Why would you pay 37 times earnings for Philip Morris stock when you can buy Google stock for a much cheaper valuation of 19 times earnings? You wouldn’t, especially when you consider three simple facts: Growth: Google’s revenue growth rate is accelerating at over 13% - better than Philip Morris’s revenue growth of 7%. Over the last three years ...

Core Viewpoint - Alphabet is undervalued compared to its big tech peers despite strong financial performance, particularly in its Google search engine business [1][8][10]. Financial Performance - Alphabet's overall revenue increased by 12% year over year, while diluted earnings per share (EPS) rose by 49% year over year [8][11]. - Google Search revenue grew by 10% year over year in the first quarter, indicating robust financial health [5][7]. Market Position - Google maintains a dominant position in the search market, although its market share has slipped below 90% for the first time since 2015 [4][5]. - Concerns about users switching to generative AI models are present, but the introduction of AI search overviews is helping Google retain its user base [6][7]. Valuation Comparison - Alphabet's forward P/E ratio is 18.6, significantly lower than the S&P 500's 22.9 and its peers like Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon [9][11]. - The disparity in valuation suggests that either Alphabet is undervalued or its peers are overvalued, presenting a potential investment opportunity [9].

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the recent increase in "refund scam" activities, where fraudsters impersonate official institutions to deceive users into providing personal information and funds under the guise of refunding previous payments [1]. Group 1: Scam Methods - Fraudsters use scripted messages to add victims as friends on WeChat, often utilizing personal information obtained through illegal means [5]. - After establishing contact, they send fake "refund notifications" through various media, luring victims to fake websites or external platforms to interact with supposed "customer service" [7]. - Impersonating refund customer service representatives, scammers present forged documents to gain victims' trust, requesting personal information and payment proof for "refund registration" [9]. - Victims are then induced to download specific apps under the pretense of converting "debt" for refunds, which is a tactic to further the scam [11]. - Scammers encourage victims to invest in financial products within the app, falsely claiming that these investments will yield returns that cover previous payments [12]. - Initially, a small amount of money may be returned to build trust, but as victims invest larger sums, scammers create excuses to prevent further withdrawals, ultimately leading to financial loss [14]. Group 2: User Warnings - Users are advised to report any "refund scam" activities through the WeChat client for prompt action by the platform [16]. - It is crucial to verify the authenticity of any "refund notifications" received from unknown sources through official channels [17]. - Users should refrain from sharing personal or financial information with unfamiliar "customer service" representatives [17]. - Any requests to download unverified apps for refund or clearance processes should be treated as scams and avoided [17]. - Legitimate refund processes do not require investments; any claims of refunds through purchasing financial products are fraudulent [17].

Explore the exciting world of Alphabet (GOOG -1.74%) (GOOGL -1.51%) with our expert analysts in this Motley Fool Scoreboard episode. Check out the video below to gain valuable insights into market trends and potential investment opportunities!*Stock prices used were the prices of May 12, 2025. The video was published on Jun. 19, 2025. ...

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the reliability of brokerage recommendations, particularly focusing on Alphabet (GOOGL), and emphasizes the importance of using these recommendations in conjunction with other analytical tools for making investment decisions [1][5]. Brokerage Recommendations - Alphabet has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.38, indicating a consensus between Strong Buy and Buy, based on recommendations from 52 brokerage firms [2]. - Out of the 52 recommendations, 40 are classified as Strong Buy, accounting for 76.9%, while four are classified as Buy, making up 7.7% of the total [2]. Limitations of Brokerage Recommendations - Relying solely on brokerage recommendations may not be wise, as studies indicate limited success in guiding investors towards stocks with the highest price increase potential [5]. - Brokerage firms often exhibit a positive bias in their ratings due to vested interests, leading to a disproportionate number of Strong Buy recommendations compared to Strong Sell recommendations [6][10]. Zacks Rank as an Alternative - The Zacks Rank, which classifies stocks into five groups based on earnings estimate revisions, is presented as a more reliable indicator of near-term price performance compared to ABR [8][11]. - The Zacks Rank is timely and reflects the latest earnings estimate revisions, unlike the potentially outdated ABR [12]. Current Earnings Estimates for Alphabet - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Alphabet's current year earnings remains unchanged at $9.51, suggesting stability in analysts' views regarding the company's earnings prospects [13]. - Due to the unchanged consensus estimate and other factors, Alphabet holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), indicating a cautious approach despite the Buy-equivalent ABR [14].

Group 1 - Proactive provides fast, accessible, informative, and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience [2] - The news team covers medium and small-cap markets, as well as blue-chip companies, commodities, and broader investment stories [3] - Proactive has bureaus and studios in key finance and investing hubs including London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney, and Perth [2] Group 2 - The company is focused on sectors such as biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto, and emerging digital and EV technologies [3] - Proactive adopts technology to enhance workflows and improve content production [4] - Automation and software tools, including generative AI, are used, but all content is edited and authored by humans [5]

Market Expansion - Starlink expands its West African presence with official approval from Guinea-Bissau [1] - This approval unlocks high-speed satellite internet for Guinea-Bissau [1] Internet Access - Approximately 68% of residents in Guinea-Bissau currently lack internet access [1]

Core Insights - The Trade Desk, Inc. has expanded its partnership with HOY, enabling programmatic trading of connected TV advertising inventory through The Trade Desk's platform [2] - HOY will implement advanced identity and access technologies, including Unified ID 2.0 and OpenPath, to enhance targeting precision and advertising efficiency [2][5] Industry Trends - The global connected TV ad spending is projected to exceed $38 billion by 2027, reflecting a significant shift towards on-demand and streaming content [3] - In Hong Kong, over 40% of respondents in a 2024 survey reported a decrease in traditional TV viewing in favor of Internet-based streaming services [3] Company Developments - The Trade Desk highlighted the growth potential of Hong Kong's CTV programmatic advertising market, praising HOY's proactive adoption of UID2 and OpenPath [4] - HOY has successfully integrated UID2 on its CTV platform, which is currently live, while OpenPath is ready for deployment [6] Technology Impact - Unified ID 2.0 offers a next-generation identity solution for the open Internet, focusing on personalized experiences while ensuring user transparency [5] - OpenPath aims to streamline access to premium digital inventory, reducing intermediaries and enhancing revenue potential for publishers [5]

Core Insights - Google's stock (NASDAQ: GOOG) has underperformed the S&P 500 with a 7% year-to-date decline, attributed to regulatory scrutiny and concerns over AI's impact on its search business [2] - Despite this, GOOG stock has doubled since early 2023, driven by key factors that will be explored in detail [3] Revenue Growth - Google's revenue growth has been significantly driven by its cloud business, which saw a 64% increase in sales from 2022 to 2024 [4] - The core search business also performed well, with search ad revenues up 22% and YouTube ad revenue increasing by 24% during the same period [4] AI as a Growth Driver - Artificial intelligence has become a crucial growth driver for Google's services, enhancing user engagement in Search and increasing demand for its AI-powered Cloud portfolio [5] - Waymo, Google's autonomous driving subsidiary, is providing over 250,000 paid rides per week, showcasing diversification and growth [5] Valuation Metrics - Since 2022, Google's operating margin expanded by 600 basis points from 26.5% to 32.7%, driven by the profitability of Google Cloud and AI-enhanced advertising [6] - The Price-to-Sales (P/S) ratio rose by 47%, from 4.1x to 6.1x, while revenues climbed from $283 billion in 2022 to $360 billion currently [7][8] Future Outlook - At a trading price of around $180, GOOG's P/S ratio of 6.1x is closely aligned with its five-year average of 6.2x, indicating potential for further valuation growth [9] - Strategic AI investments are expected to expand Google's business, with increased enterprise demand for AI boosting Cloud sales and enhancing Search and advertising effectiveness [10]