Core Insights - Giverny Capital Asset Management's portfolio returned 0.01% in Q4 2025, underperforming the S&P 500's 2.66% return, and year-to-date returns were 12.58% compared to the index's 17.88% [1] - The firm faced challenges due to an underweight in large technology companies and an overweight in smaller niche leaders, despite strong earnings growth and capital returns from portfolio companies [1] - The market's focus on AI investments has overshadowed the actual benefits of portfolio companies, which are excelling in earnings growth [1] Company Highlights - Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) was highlighted as a leading contributor in Giverny Capital's Q4 2025 investor letter, with a stock price of $338.66 and a market capitalization of $4.088 trillion as of January 29, 2026 [2] - Alphabet Inc. achieved a one-month return of 7.40% and a 52-week gain of 64.72% [2] - The company reported a 30% increase in earnings for 2025, compounding in the high teens since 2021, supported by its diverse portfolio including Google Services, Google Cloud, and AI initiatives [3] Investment Sentiment - Alphabet Inc. ranks 7th among the 30 most popular stocks among hedge funds, with 186 hedge fund portfolios holding its shares at the end of Q3 2025, up from 178 in the previous quarter [4] - The company achieved its first-ever $100 billion in revenue in Q3 2025, indicating strong financial performance [4] - While Alphabet Inc. is recognized for its potential, the firm suggests that certain AI stocks may offer greater upside potential with less downside risk [4]

Core Insights - Alphabet Inc. is a leading multinational technology holding company with a market cap of $3.1 trillion, involved in various sectors including internet search, digital advertising, cloud computing, and AI [1] - The company is set to announce its fiscal Q3 2025 earnings on October 29, with analysts predicting a profit of $2.27 per share, a 7.1% increase from the previous quarter [2] - For fiscal 2025, Alphabet's EPS is expected to reach $9.93, marking a 23.5% increase from $8.04 in fiscal 2024, with further growth anticipated in fiscal 2026 [3] Stock Performance - Alphabet's stock has increased by 51.6% over the past 52 weeks, outperforming the S&P 500 Index's 15.1% return and the Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund's 28.4% rise [4] - The stock's upward trend is attributed to investor optimism and a favorable U.S. antitrust ruling that alleviated concerns about potential regulatory actions [5] Growth Prospects - There is growing optimism regarding Alphabet's potential in cloud computing and AI, driven by rising demand for its cloud services and the integration of AI across its product offerings [6] - Wall Street analysts maintain a positive outlook on Alphabet's stock, with a "Strong Buy" rating from 42 out of 56 analysts, and a mean price target of $258.96 indicating a modest upside potential of 3% [7]