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Google’s Earnings Fall Short As Cloud Revenue Misses Expectations

Shares of Alphabet, Google’s parent company, plunged in after-hours trading on Tuesday after the tech giant’s Q4 earnings report revealed weaker-than-expected cloud revenue and a significantly higher spending outlook for 2025.

Key Figures

  • Alphabet’s stock fell 7% to $193 by 4:35 p.m. EST, wiping out nearly $180 billion in market value.
  • The company beat EPS estimates with $2.15 per share, slightly above Wall Street’s $2.12 forecast.
  • However, revenue came in at $96.5 billion, narrowly missing expectations of $96.7 billion.
  • Google Cloud, a major AI-driven growth area, generated $11.96 billion in revenue—below the projected $12.19 billion.
  • Alphabet forecasted $75 billion in capital expenditures for 2025, far exceeding analysts’ $58.8 billion estimate.
  • Earlier in the day, Alphabet’s stock hit a record high of $207.71 before tumbling post-earnings.

Advertising Remains A Powerhouse

Alphabet’s core ad business continues to thrive, bringing in $72.46 billion in Q4—easily surpassing forecasts of $71.66 billion and shattering Q3 2024’s $65.85 billion record.

The Bigger Picture

Despite its dominance in digital advertising—where 75% of its revenue originates—Alphabet is pushing hard into AI with its Gemini chatbot. However, like Meta, it’s committing to aggressive spending in 2025, a move that investors are scrutinizing amid uncertain returns.

With cloud growth slowing and capital expenditures rising, Alphabet’s ability to balance AI ambitions with profitability will be key to its stock’s performance in the months ahead.

TikTok Returns To US App Stores 

TikTok is once again available for download in the Apple and Google app stores in the US, following a delay in the enforcement of its ban by former President Donald Trump. The ban’s postponement until April 5 gives the administration additional time to evaluate the situation.

Key Developments

The decision to restore TikTok access came after Google and Apple received reassurances from the Trump administration that they would not face legal consequences for reinstating the Chinese-owned app. According to Bloomberg, US Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a letter outlining these guarantees.

In an executive order signed on January 20, Trump instructed the attorney general not to take enforcement action for 75 days, providing time for his administration to determine how to proceed.

Uncertain Future For TikTok In The US

While TikTok is back on the US app stores, its long-term survival remains uncertain. If no deal is reached by early April to address national security concerns, the app may face another shutdown. ByteDance, the parent company, has insisted that TikTok is not for sale.

Legislation And Pressure On ByteDance

The Protecting Americans from Foreign Enemy-Controlled Apps Act, which passed with bipartisan support in Congress, mandates a nationwide ban on TikTok unless ByteDance sells its US operations. This law was signed by President Joe Biden in April of last year.

In late January, the app was briefly removed from US stores following the ban’s activation, impacting over 170 million American users. However, TikTok was restored soon after, following Trump’s intervention in his first hours as president. During that time, he signed an executive order allowing 75 days for a deal that would safeguard national security. Trump also suggested that the US could take a 50% stake in TikTok, a move he believed would keep the app “in good hands.”

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