Google-parent said it would buy Intersect's data-center projects that are in development, plus multiple gigawatts of energy and the Intersect team as part of the deal. ...

Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) is one of the best growth stocks to buy in 2026. On December 16, BMO Capital raised the firm’s price target on Alphabet to $343 from $340, while maintaining an Outperform rating on the shares. BMO is leaning into a more bullish outlook for Google Cloud, citing Cloud Expert calls that suggest a rapid acceleration in enterprise AI adoption. Reflecting this momentum, BMO Capital adjusted its Google Cloud growth targets upward for the coming quarters, peaking at 40% in the first qua ...

Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) is one of the best forever stocks to buy according to hedge funds. On December 17, analysts at Citizens reiterated that Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) is a Market Outperform with a $340 price target. The positive stance is in response to Waymo’s third-quarter operational update. Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) is a Buy at Citizens on Waymo Operational Progress as RBC Capital Downplays Real Estate Prospects The autonomous driving subsidiary says its cumulative rider miles increased by 28 ...

Core Viewpoint - The investment thesis on Baidu (BIDU) is centered around the AI infrastructure, particularly focusing on Cloud, Compute Capacity, Inference, and Proprietary Chips, rather than on Chatbot/Consumer AI [1] Group 1: Investment Thesis - The recommendation for Baidu is a "Buy" based on its strong positioning in AI infrastructure [1] - The analysis emphasizes the importance of Cloud and Compute Capacity as critical components for future growth [1] - Proprietary Chips are highlighted as a significant asset in Baidu's technological framework [1] Group 2: Analyst Background - The analyst has over 10 years of experience in global markets, managing multi-asset strategies and equity portfolios [1] - The approach combines top-down macro analysis with bottom-up stock selection, focusing on earnings, tech disruption, policy shifts, and capital flows [1] - Insights are shared through platforms like Seeking Alpha, where high-conviction ideas and contrarian views are presented [1]

Core Viewpoint - The investment thesis on Baidu (BIDU) is centered around AI Infrastructure, particularly focusing on Cloud, Compute Capacity, Inference, and Proprietary Chips, rather than on ChatBot/Consumer AI [1]. Group 1: Investment Strategy - The company is rated as a "Buy" based on its potential in AI Infrastructure [1]. - The analysis combines top-down macroeconomic factors with bottom-up stock selection to identify mispriced opportunities [1]. Group 2: Analyst Background - The analyst has over 10 years of experience in global markets, managing multi-asset strategies and equity portfolios at a European asset manager [1]. - The focus areas include earnings, technological disruption, policy shifts, and capital flows [1].

Core Viewpoint - Alphabet remains a strong investment despite recent share price fluctuations, with a current price around $306.91 after hitting an all-time high of $329 in November [1][6]. Company Overview - Alphabet is a dominant player in the tech industry, owning key assets such as Google, Chrome, YouTube, and Android, along with ventures like Waymo and Wing [4]. Financial Performance - The company generated $73.6 billion in free cash flow over the past four quarters, and it is trading at 29 times trailing earnings, making it one of the more affordable options among major tech stocks [5]. Market Position - Alphabet has a market capitalization of $3.7 trillion and has historically outperformed the stock market, indicating strong potential for continued success [7]. Investment Strategy - The current share price may fluctuate, but the focus should be on long-term investment in quality companies rather than short-term market timing [7].

Group 1: Market Trends and Investment Opportunities - Several companies are expected to thrive in 2026, particularly in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector, which may lead to significant returns for investors [1] - Three recommended stocks to buy now for 2026 are Alphabet, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, and Amazon, all of which are anticipated to outperform the market [2] Group 2: Alphabet (GOOG) - Alphabet has seen a remarkable performance in 2025, with a stock price increase of over 60%, driven by its core business, Google Search, and advancements in AI with its Gemini model [4] - Analysts project Alphabet's revenue growth to be nearly 14% in the upcoming year, which is notable for a mature business [6] - The company has transitioned from an AI laggard to a leader, which is expected to continue driving its stock price higher [7] Group 3: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM) - Taiwan Semiconductor is the largest foundry globally by revenue and is crucial for high-end computing chips used in AI data centers [8] - The company is positioned well for 2026, with AI hyperscalers indicating record capital expenditures, making it an attractive investment [8][10] - Trading at less than 23 times next year's earnings, Taiwan Semiconductor is considered the cheapest option among the recommended stocks [10] Group 4: Amazon (AMZN) - Amazon's stock performance in 2025 has been flat, but this may set the stage for a recovery in 2026, supported by its growing business units [11] - Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the primary profit driver, with Q3 revenue growth at 20%, outpacing the overall company growth rate of 13% [13] - The advertising segment is also a key growth area, increasing by 24% in Q3, which contributes positively to Amazon's margins [14]

Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) is one of the most widely held stocks by hedge funds in 2025. On December 19, Wedbush analyst Scott Devitt lifted the price target on Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) to $350 from $320 while maintaining an Outperform rating on the stock. The firm told investors that consumer internet companies delivered solid returns in the year, averaging 23% across 24 covered companies compared to 19% for the NASDAQ. Wedbush expects performance to diverge in 2026, with investors taking into accou ...

Core Insights - Alphabet's cloud computing segment, Google Cloud, is a significant growth driver, with Q3 operating income reaching $3.6 billion, an 85% increase year over year, and revenue of $15.2 billion, up 34% year over year [1][4] - The company's aggressive share repurchase strategy has contributed to a substantial increase in earnings per share, which rose over 35% year over year, while shares gained 62% year to date [2][3] - Alphabet's overall revenue growth has accelerated, with a 14% increase in Q2 2025 and a 16% increase in Q3 2025, alongside a net income of $35.0 billion in Q3 [3][4] Financial Performance - The combination of Google Cloud and Alphabet's core advertising business positions the company for significant future growth, potentially doubling its stock price by 2030 [4][10] - To achieve a stock price of approximately $614 by 2030, annualized earnings per share would need to reach around $24.60, implying a doubling of current earnings per share [7][8] - The company anticipates capital expenditures between $91 billion and $93 billion in 2025, which may pressure free cash flow in the short term [6] Growth Potential - Continued revenue growth at similar rates and controlled expense increases are essential for achieving the projected earnings growth [8] - The increasing role of AI in Alphabet's business enhances the plausibility of these growth assumptions [9] - If investments in cloud computing and AI yield faster revenue growth and margin expansion, the stock could potentially double [10]

Core Insights - Alphabet has been one of the top-performing stocks in the market in 2025, with its stock rising over 60%, placing it among the top 30 performers of the S&P 500 [1] - The company experienced several tailwinds in 2025, including a positive ruling in its monopoly court case and leadership in the generative AI sector, but these catalysts may not carry into 2026 [2] Group 1: Business Performance - Alphabet's core business, Google Search, is excelling, with Q3 revenue rising 15% year over year, which is strong for a mature business unit expected to grow in the high single digits to low double digits [6][7] - The integration of AI search overviews has allowed Google to maintain its market position and thrive in a booming ad market, alleviating initial investor concerns about generative AI replacing Google Search [6][7] Group 2: Cloud Computing Growth - Google Cloud is thriving due to the migration of traditional workloads to the cloud and the rapid increase in AI workloads, as companies prefer renting computing capacity from providers like Google Cloud rather than building their own data centers [10]