Naples Global Advisors LLC Grows Stake in Alphabet Inc. $GOOG

Naples Global Advisors LLC increased its position in Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) by 14.1% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 26,105 shares of the information services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 3,227 shares during the period. Naples Global Advisors LLC’s holdings in Alphabet were worth $6,358,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Alphabet in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $4,298,572,000. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in Alphabet by 1.3% during the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 416,753,033 shares of the information services provider’s stock valued at $73,927,821,000 after buying an additional 5,182,111 shares during the last quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. raised its position in Alphabet by 73.5% in the third quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 9,808,152 shares of the information services provider’s stock worth $2,388,775,000 after acquiring an additional 4,154,929 shares during the period. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Alphabet by 17,547.9% during the 2nd quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 4,122,727 shares of the information services provider’s stock worth $731,331,000 after acquiring an additional 4,099,366 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership grew its position in shares of Alphabet by 330.4% during the 2nd quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 3,989,463 shares of the information services provider’s stock valued at $707,691,000 after acquiring an additional 3,062,590 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 27.26% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages recently commented on GOOG. BNP Paribas Exane started coverage on Alphabet in a report on Monday, November 24th. They issued an “outperform” rating on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on Alphabet from $260.00 to $300.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, October 27th. Raymond James Financial raised Alphabet from an “outperform” rating to a “strong-buy” rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $315.00 to $400.00 in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. Truist Financial set a $350.00 price objective on Alphabet in a research note on Friday, December 5th. Finally, Wolfe Research raised their target price on shares of Alphabet from $290.00 to $350.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 30th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty-eight have issued a Buy rating, three have assigned a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $330.83.

Key Headlines Impacting Alphabet

Here are the key news stories impacting Alphabet this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Google is expanding Gemini AI features inside Chrome (assistant features and image tools), which supports product engagement and potential ad/search monetization upside. Google brings more Gemini AI features to Chrome browser
• Positive Sentiment: Google added AI image-generation and side-panel virtual assistant capabilities to Chrome, strengthening user stickiness and increasing cross-product use of Gemini. Google adds AI image generation to Chrome browser
• Positive Sentiment: Apple CEO Tim Cook confirmed an AI collaboration with Google that Apple describes as unlocking new experiences — a high-profile partner endorsement that could broaden Gemini distribution and revenue pathways. Tim Cook on Google partnership
• Positive Sentiment: Institutional buying: Vanguard disclosed a meaningful addition of GOOGL shares (reported in 13F updates), indicating continued large-cap demand from major asset managers. VANGUARD GROUP INC Fund Update
• Positive Sentiment: Positive market commentary (including Jim Cramer) is supporting bullish sentiment toward Alphabet’s AI-led growth story. “Alphabet (GOOGL)’s Extraordinary,” Says Jim Cramer
• Neutral Sentiment: Waymo continues geographic expansion (airport services in San Francisco, planned UK rollout), signaling long-term autonomous mobility potential but still early monetization. Waymo Opens Up Airport Service in San Francisco
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysts expect earnings growth next week and note the AI push as a driver; these previews keep focus on upcoming results and guidance for Search/Cloud. Alphabet Reports Next Week: Wall Street Expects Earnings Growth
• Neutral Sentiment: Google disrupted a large residential proxy network, which could improve customer trust and reduce fraud exposure (reputational/operational benefit). Google disrupts large residential proxy network
• Negative Sentiment: Regulatory/legal risk: a Waymo robotaxi struck a child near a school; the NHTSA has opened an investigation — a headline risk that can pressure shares and slow AV commercialization timelines. Waymo Robotaxi Hits Child, Prompting NHTSA Investigation
• Negative Sentiment: UK competition regulator proposed rules forcing Google to give publishers opt-outs for AI summaries and more transparency — potential headwinds for Search product design and legal/compliance costs. UK regulator proposes changes to Google search for publishers
• Negative Sentiment: Alphabet agreed to pay about $135M to settle a lawsuit over handling of cellular data, a direct near-term cash/legal hit and raises scrutiny on data practices. Google to Pay $135 Million to Settle Lawsuit

Alphabet Stock Up 0.7%

Shares of GOOG opened at $338.66 on Friday. The business’s 50 day moving average is $320.13 and its 200 day moving average is $264.58. The company has a current ratio of 1.75, a quick ratio of 1.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.06. Alphabet Inc. has a 12-month low of $142.66 and a 12-month high of $342.29. The company has a market capitalization of $4.09 trillion, a PE ratio of 33.40, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.85 and a beta of 1.09.

Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 30th. The information services provider reported $2.87 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.29 by $0.58. The business had revenue of $102.35 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $99.90 billion. Alphabet had a net margin of 32.23% and a return on equity of 35.00%. The company’s revenue was up 15.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.12 EPS. Research analysts expect that Alphabet Inc. will post 8.89 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Alphabet Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Investors of record on Monday, December 8th were paid a dividend of $0.21 per share. This represents a $0.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 8th. Alphabet’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 8.28%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Alphabet news, insider John Kent Walker sold 17,829 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $314.89, for a total value of $5,614,173.81. Following the sale, the insider owned 42,972 shares in the company, valued at $13,531,453.08. The trade was a 29.32% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CAO Amie Thuener O’toole sold 2,778 shares of Alphabet stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $312.30, for a total value of $867,569.40. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer directly owned 8,962 shares in the company, valued at $2,798,832.60. This trade represents a 23.66% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold a total of 225,075 shares of company stock worth $69,332,637 in the last 90 days. 12.99% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Alphabet Profile

Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ: GOOG) is a multinational technology holding company headquartered in Mountain View, California. Formed in 2015 through a corporate restructuring of Google, Alphabet serves as the parent to Google LLC and a portfolio of businesses collectively known as “Other Bets.” Google was originally founded in 1998 by Larry Page and Sergey Brin; Alphabet is led by CEO Sundar Pichai, who oversees Google and the broader company while the founders remain prominent shareholders and influential figures in the company’s history.

Alphabet’s core business centers on internet search and advertising, with Google Search and the company’s ad platforms (including Google Ads and AdSense) generating the majority of revenue by connecting advertisers with consumers worldwide.