Alphabet Inc. $GOOGL Stake Raised by Vanguard Group Inc.

Key Points

• Vanguard Group increased its Alphabet stake by 2.4% in the fourth quarter, adding 12.5 million shares and bringing its holdings to 528.97 million shares, or 4.38% of the company.
• Alphabet reported strong quarterly results, with EPS of $5.11 versus estimates of $2.64 and revenue of $109.9 billion, while analysts continued to lift price targets and maintain a generally bullish outlook.
• The company also announced a higher quarterly dividend of $0.22 per share, up from $0.21, though insider selling by executives including Sundar Pichai and Amie Thuener O’Toole was noted.

Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL - Free Report) by 2.4% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 528,969,322 shares of the information services provider's stock after acquiring an additional 12,531,695 shares during the quarter. Alphabet comprises about 2.4% of Vanguard Group Inc.'s portfolio, making the stock its 6th largest position. Vanguard Group Inc. owned 4.38% of Alphabet worth $165,567,398,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in GOOGL. Berkshire Hathaway Inc purchased a new position in Alphabet in the 3rd quarter worth about $4,338,397,000. Capital World Investors increased its stake in Alphabet by 28.0% in the 3rd quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 53,107,572 shares of the information services provider's stock worth $12,910,542,000 after buying an additional 11,605,785 shares during the period. Capital Research Global Investors increased its stake in Alphabet by 15.7% in the 3rd quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 50,732,476 shares of the information services provider's stock worth $12,333,076,000 after buying an additional 6,874,381 shares during the period. Mizuho Markets Cayman LP increased its stake in Alphabet by 23,402.1% in the 3rd quarter. Mizuho Markets Cayman LP now owns 6,118,547 shares of the information services provider's stock worth $1,487,419,000 after buying an additional 6,092,513 shares during the period. Finally, Coatue Management LLC increased its stake in Alphabet by 259.1% in the 3rd quarter. Coatue Management LLC now owns 7,221,115 shares of the information services provider's stock worth $1,755,453,000 after buying an additional 5,210,434 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 40.03% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Alphabet

In other news, CAO Amie Thuener O'toole sold 955 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $298.00, for a total value of $284,590.00. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer directly owned 9,918 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,955,564. This trade represents a 8.78% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Sundar Pichai sold 32,500 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $303.38, for a total transaction of $9,859,850.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 1,674,560 shares in the company, valued at $508,028,012.80. This represents a 1.90% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 158,553 shares of company stock worth $47,951,856. Company insiders own 11.61% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts recently commented on the stock. Truist Financial raised their price target on shares of Alphabet from $385.00 to $415.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, April 30th. Barclays reaffirmed an "overweight" rating and issued a $405.00 price target (up from $360.00) on shares of Alphabet in a research note on Thursday, April 30th. Loop Capital raised their price target on shares of Alphabet from $320.00 to $355.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, February 23rd. Bank of America raised their price target on shares of Alphabet from $370.00 to $430.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, April 30th. Finally, Phillip Securities raised their price target on shares of Alphabet from $340.00 to $395.00 and gave the stock a "moderate buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 15th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, forty-seven have given a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $407.86.

Alphabet Trading Up 3.9%

NASDAQ GOOGL opened at $402.62 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16, a quick ratio of 1.92 and a current ratio of 1.92. The company has a market capitalization of $4.88 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.71, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.66 and a beta of 1.26. The company's 50-day simple moving average is $325.48 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $315.72. Alphabet Inc. has a one year low of $159.61 and a one year high of $403.70.

Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, April 29th. The information services provider reported $5.11 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.64 by $2.47. The business had revenue of $109.90 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $106.98 billion. Alphabet had a net margin of 37.92% and a return on equity of 38.99%. Equities analysts forecast that Alphabet Inc. will post 14.29 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Alphabet Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 8th will be given a dividend of $0.22 per share. This is a positive change from Alphabet's previous quarterly dividend of $0.21. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 8th. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.2%. Alphabet's payout ratio is 6.71%.

Alphabet News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Alphabet this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Alphabet is getting multiple bullish price-target and valuation upgrades, with one report citing an 11.2% increase in target to $410.17 and another framing the stock as still attractive despite its big recent run. Alphabet (GOOGL) price target increased by 11.20% to 410.17
• Positive Sentiment: Google expanded its AI push across Android and Gemini, unveiling new agentic features, AI-native laptops, and deeper integration into search and mobile workflows ahead of I/O. Everything Google announced at its Android Show, from Googlebooks to vibe-coded widgets
• Positive Sentiment: Reports that Google and SpaceX are exploring orbital data centers add to the market’s view that Alphabet remains a leading AI infrastructure winner with long-term optionality. Report: Google and SpaceX in talks to put data centers into orbit
• Positive Sentiment: Alphabet’s Waymo business is still a positive catalyst overall as investors continue to reward the autonomous-driving unit’s growth, even though a recall creates near-term headlines. Why Alphabet stock is outperforming broader market today?
• Neutral Sentiment: Apple is reportedly backing Google’s pushback against EU AI rules, which may help Alphabet manage regulatory friction, but the outcome remains uncertain. Apple Sides With Google In Fighting EU's AI Measures
• Neutral Sentiment: Alphabet-backed Isomorphic Labs raised $2.1 billion to scale AI-driven drug discovery, which reinforces Alphabet’s AI ecosystem but is not an immediate core earnings driver. Google-backed Isomorphic raises $2.1 billion to scale AI-driven drug discovery
• Negative Sentiment: Waymo’s recall of nearly 3,800 robotaxis over a software issue is a setback for Alphabet’s autonomous vehicle unit and could invite more scrutiny from regulators. Waymo to recall nearly 3,800 robotaxis over self-driving software issue

About Alphabet

Alphabet Inc is the holding company created in 2015 to organize Google and a portfolio of businesses developing technologies beyond Google's core internet services. Its principal operations are led by Google, which builds and operates consumer-facing products such as Google Search, YouTube, Android, Chrome, Gmail, Google Maps and Google Workspace, as well as advertising platforms (Google Ads and AdSense) that historically generate the majority of its revenue. Google also develops consumer hardware (Pixel phones, Nest smart-home devices, Chromecast) and developer and distribution platforms such as Google Play.

Beyond Google's consumer and advertising businesses, Alphabet invests in enterprise and infrastructure offerings through Google Cloud, which provides cloud computing, data analytics and productivity services to businesses and institutions.

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GOOGL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL - Free Report).

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.