Analysis of Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Position and Market Insights

Institutional Investment Activity

• Lifeworks Advisors LLC:

  • Increased holdings by 5.1% in Q4, now owning 7,851 shares worth $1,486,000.
  • Purchased an additional 380 shares during the period.

• Intellectus Partners LLC:

  • Increased holdings by 9.6%, now owning 25,255 shares valued at $4,781,000.
  • Acquired an additional 2,206 shares in Q4.

• Larson Financial Group LLC:

  • Boosted position by 12.6%, now owning 26,573 shares worth $5,030,000.
  • Purchased an additional 2,977 shares during the quarter.

• Blankinship & Foster LLC:

  • Opened a new position in Alphabet, valued at approximately $1,560,000.

• Generali Investments CEE:

  • Opened a new position, valued at approximately $9,768,000.

• Camden National Bank:

  • Increased holdings by 1.2%, now owning 39,328 shares worth $7,445,000.
  • Acquired an additional 484 shares during Q4.

Market Performance and Financial Metrics

• Stock Performance:

  • Opened at $162.80 on Friday.
  • Market cap: $1.98 trillion.
  • P/E ratio: 20.22, PEG ratio: 1.34, Beta: 1.02.
  • 50-day moving average: $183.13, 200-day moving average: $176.37.
  • 1-year low: $146.90, 1-year high: $207.05.

• Earnings:

  • Q4 EPS: $2.15, beating the consensus estimate of $2.12.
  • Return on equity: 32.49%, Net margin: 28.60%.
  • Analysts expect 8.9 EPS for the current year.

Dividend Information

• Dividend Announcement:
  • Quarterly dividend of $0.20, paid on March 17th to shareholders of record on March 10th.
  • Annualized dividend: $0.80, Yield: 0.49%.
  • Dividend payout ratio (DPR): 9.94%.

Insider Trading Activity

• Director John L. Hennessy:

  • Sold 200 shares at an average price of $165.53, total transaction value: $33,106.00.
  • Post-sale ownership: 7,813 shares valued at approximately $1.3 million.
  • Decrease in position: 2.50%.

• CAO:

  • Sold 1,368 shares at an average price of $191.55, total value: $262,040.40.
  • Post-sale ownership: 20,681 shares valued at approximately $3.96 million.
  • Decrease in position: 6.20%.

• Total Insider Sales:

  • In the last ninety days, insiders sold 93,048 shares worth $17.37 million.
  • Current insider ownership: 11.55%.

Wall Street Analyst Sentiment

• Analyst Ratings and Target Prices:

  • Hold rating: 10 analysts.
  • Buy rating: 29 analysts.
  • Strong buy rating: 4 analysts.
  • Consensus rating: "Moderate Buy".
  • Average target price: $210.59.

• Recent Reports:

  • Robert W. Baird: Outperform, $205.00 target.
  • Roth Mkm: Buy, $220.00 target.
  • Wells Fargo: Equal weight, increased target to $190.00.
  • Rosenblatt Securities: Neutral, $205.00 target.
  • DZ Bank: Downgraded to Hold, $198.00 target.

Company Overview

• Alphabet Inc. operates in multiple segments: Google Services, Google Cloud, and Other Bets.
• Key products/services: Ads, Android, Chrome, Devices, Gmail, Google Drive, Maps, Photos, Play, Search, YouTube.
• Global presence: United States, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific, Canada, Latin America.

Key Takeaways:

• Institutional Buying: Significant increases in holdings by multiple investors highlight confidence in Alphabet’s long-term growth potential.
• Stock Performance: Strong financial metrics and consistent earnings suggest sustained market leadership.
• Dividend Policy: Modest dividend yield with a low payout ratio indicates focus on reinvestment for growth.
• Insider Sales: Notable insider selling may signal concerns about near-term valuations or strategic portfolio adjustments.
• Analyst Sentiment: Mixed ratings reflect a balanced view, but overall positive sentiment supports the "Moderate Buy" consensus.
• Market Position: Alphabet’s dominant position in tech and ongoing innovation efforts position it for continued leadership in key markets.