Google has named Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry the company’s performance advisor for Google Health and Fitbit wearable technology products, part of a multi-year partnership with the NBA superstar https://t.co/v3aCngiS16 ...

Company Overview - Alphabet Inc. is an American technology firm, primarily known for Google Search, and encompasses over 250 companies including YouTube, Waymo, Fitbit, and Google Cloud, which competes with AWS [1] Leadership and Background - Benjamin Halliburton, the founder of BuildingBenjamins, has a long history in investment management, having started his career at Merrill Lynch in 1986 and later founding Tradition Capital Management in 2000 [2] - Halliburton has received multiple accolades, including being named "PSN Manager of the Decade" for All-Cap in the 2000s and for Dividend Value in the 2010s, and he was recognized as the top-performing portfolio manager at Brundage, Story and Rose during the 1990s [2] Analyst Position - The analyst has a beneficial long position in the shares of GOOG through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives, indicating a personal investment interest in the company [3]

In this articleNVDAMSFTMETAAMZNGOOGLTSLAAAPLGuests including Mark Zuckerberg, Lauren Sanchez, Jeff Bezos, Sundar Pichai and Elon Musk attend the inauguration of Donald J. Trump in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 20, 2025. Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th president of the U.S.Julia Demaree Nikhinson | Getty ImagesAs tech's megacap companies enter first-quarter earnings season this week, get ready to hear one word on repeat: uncertainty.President Donald Trump's on-again ...

Group 1 - Alphabet, Google's parent company, has laid off hundreds of employees in its platforms and devices division, which includes teams working on Android, Chrome, Google Photos, and hardware products like Pixel, Fitbit, and Nest [1][3] - The layoffs are part of a restructuring effort aimed at making the company more nimble and effective, following the combination of platforms and devices teams last year [2][3] - In January, Google offered voluntary buyout packages to employees in the same division, with approvals communicated by March 25 [3][4] Group 2 - In 2023, Google has laid off approximately 12,000 employees, representing about 6% of its total workforce, which now stands at around 180,000 globally [4] - The company is focusing on cost-cutting measures and reallocating resources towards the development of advanced AI technologies [4][5] - Other tech companies, such as Meta, have also reduced their workforces recently, indicating a broader trend in the industry [4]

Group 1 - Alphabet has become the cheapest stock in the "Magnificent Seven" with a P/E ratio of 21, despite concerns about its position in the AI race [2][11] - The company has a history of leveraging AI since 2001, which has contributed to its dominance in digital advertising [3] - Alphabet's investments in various enterprises, including YouTube and Google Cloud, are expected to prepare it for a future where digital ad revenue is less critical [4][5] Group 2 - Alphabet plans to invest $75 billion in capital expenditures (capex) this year, an increase from $53 billion in 2024, indicating its commitment to growth [6] - In 2024, Alphabet's revenue rose 14% to $350 billion, with advertising still accounting for 76% of total revenue, despite a slight decline from 2023 [6][7] - Google Cloud, while only 12% of total revenue, grew by 31% year-over-year, highlighting its increasing importance to the company [7] Group 3 - As of the end of 2024, Alphabet held approximately $95 billion in liquidity and generated over $69 billion in free cash flow [8] - The company spent more than $62 billion on share repurchases and over $7 billion on dividends in 2024, demonstrating its financial strength [9] - The stock has increased nearly 150% over the last five years, with a 45% rise since the release of GPT-4 in May 2023, indicating positive investor sentiment [10] Group 4 - Given its technology and investment strategies, Alphabet's stock is projected to at least double over the next five years [11][12] - The competitive landscape, particularly from ChatGPT, has prompted a reevaluation of Alphabet's value proposition, but its spending on technology is expected to enhance free cash flow and maintain competitiveness [11][12] - The low P/E ratio further positions Alphabet for potential outsized growth, making a 100% gain in five years a realistic target [12]

Core Points - Google plans to cut employees in its "People Operations" and cloud organizations as part of internal reorganizations, offering a voluntary exit program to U.S.-based full-time employees in People Operations starting in early March [1][2] - The company aims to drive cost-cutting measures while expanding spending on AI infrastructure in 2025, following a fourth-quarter revenue report that missed expectations [2] - Employees at level 4 and level 5 in People Operations may receive a severance package of 14 weeks of salary plus one additional week for each full year of service [2] - Cuts have also been made within the cloud unit, primarily affecting operations support staff, with some roles being relocated to other countries [3] - Google emphasizes that these reorganizations are part of the normal course of business and aims to operate more efficiently while investing in significant opportunities [4][3] - The company is providing support to impacted employees, including time to explore and apply for different roles within Google [5]