Alphabet Stock Reaches Record High, Potentially Boosting Communications ETFs
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Aug 26 2025
0mins
Should l Buy GOOG?
Source: Benzinga
Record Highs for Alphabet: Alphabet Inc. Class A (GOOGL) and Class C (GOOG) reached record highs of $210.52 and $211.09 on August 25, driven by AI products, a growing Google Cloud business, and new partnerships.
ETF Exposure to Alphabet: Several ETFs have significant exposure to Alphabet, including Fidelity MSCI Communication Services Index ETF (FCOM) with 25%, Vanguard Communication Services ETF (VOX) with over 23%, and Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLC) with 20%.
Strong Second Quarter Performance: Alphabet's second-quarter results showcased its leadership in AI and cloud computing, with Google Cloud revenue increasing by nearly 32% to $13.62 billion, surpassing expectations.
Future Growth Potential: Alphabet's strategic partnerships, such as a $10 billion deal with Meta and discussions with Apple, along with the valuation of its self-driving subsidiary Waymo at $173 billion, position it well for future growth in various technology sectors.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy GOOG?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on GOOG
Wall Street analysts forecast GOOG stock price to rise
15 Analyst Rating
14 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 309.370
Low
255.00
Averages
336.08
High
400.00
Current: 309.370
Low
255.00
Averages
336.08
High
400.00
About GOOG
Alphabet Inc. is a holding company. The Company's segments include Google Services, Google Cloud, and Other Bets. The Google Services segment includes products and services such as ads, Android, Chrome, devices, Google Maps, Google Play, Search, and YouTube. The Google Cloud segment includes infrastructure and platform services, collaboration tools, and other services for enterprise customers. Its Other Bets segment is engaged in the sale of healthcare-related services and Internet services. Its Google Cloud provides enterprise-ready cloud services, including Google Cloud Platform and Google Workspace. Google Cloud Platform provides access to solutions such as artificial intelligence (AI) offerings, including its AI infrastructure, Vertex AI platform, and Gemini for Google Cloud; cybersecurity, and data and analytics. Google Workspace includes cloud-based communication and collaboration tools for enterprises, such as Calendar, Gmail, Docs, Drive, and Meet.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
St George Mining Secures Strategic Land for Araxá Project
- Land Acquisition: St George Mining has entered into a binding agreement to acquire 166 hectares of industrial land for 14 million Brazilian reais (approximately A$3.8 million), laying the groundwork for its niobium-rare earths project in Brazil.
- Resource Potential Unlocking: The new land will allow the company to establish processing facilities outside the mining tenure, preventing sterilization of the orebody, which is expected to facilitate parallel advancements in resource upgrades and exploration efforts.
- Environmental Protection Measures: The company also acquired a separate 163-hectare conservation area aimed at offsetting environmental impacts and supporting operational licensing requirements, demonstrating its commitment to sustainable practices.
- Positive Market Outlook: With global niobium demand projected to grow at 6% annually, St George Mining is positioning itself to enter a tightly concentrated and strategically significant market, especially as the U.S. identifies niobium as a critical mineral.
See More
S&P 500 Index Achieves Three Years of Strong Performance
- Market Performance Review: The S&P 500 has achieved double-digit gains for three consecutive years, reflecting the ongoing bull market that has attracted significant investment into growth stocks like AI and quantum computing, although overall market momentum has recently slowed.
- Interest Rate Policy Impact: Following the Fed's interest rate cuts that began in 2024, the recent decision to hold rates steady has heightened investor concerns over uncertainty, leading to diminished confidence in tech stocks, despite strong earnings reports from companies like Meta and Taiwan Semiconductor.
- Valuation Level Warning: The S&P 500's Shiller CAPE ratio has surpassed 39, a level only reached once before, just prior to the dot-com bubble burst, indicating that current market valuations are high and may signal potential future correction risks.
- Historical Trend Analysis: Historical data shows that the S&P 500 typically declines after reaching peak valuations, although such declines are not always long-lasting; investors should focus on a long-term strategy of holding quality stocks to navigate short-term market fluctuations.
See More
Amazon Reinvests in IonQ, But Future Looks Uncertain
- Portfolio Dynamics: As of the end of 2025, Amazon's investment portfolio totals $3.5 billion, and while its stake in quantum computing is relatively small, it reflects a strategic interest in emerging technologies that could influence its long-term positioning.
- Quantum Market Potential: Analysts from Boston Consulting Group estimate that the global opportunity for quantum computing could reach between $450 billion and $850 billion by 2040, indicating significant investor interest despite the market being in its infancy.
- Historical Investment Review: Amazon's purchase of 6,671 shares of IonQ stock worth nearly $300,000 in Q4 2025 follows a complete divestment of 854,207 shares in Q3, highlighting its focus on short-term gains and response to market fluctuations.
- Changing Competitive Landscape: With giants like Amazon and Microsoft launching their own quantum processing units, IonQ's market leadership is under threat, prompting investors to carefully assess its future profitability and sustainability of market share.
See More
Tesla's $20 Billion Investment Reshapes Transportation Market
- Surge in Capital Expenditure: Tesla plans to invest over $20 billion in capital spending by 2026, more than double last year's expenditure, highlighting its ambitious vision for the electric vehicle market, especially as competitors scale back their investments.
- Diversified Factory Investments: Among the six new factories, three are dedicated to electric vehicle production, including a lithium refinery and a low-cost lithium iron phosphate battery factory, directly supporting EV growth and strengthening Tesla's market position.
- Autonomous Driving Vision: CEO Elon Musk clearly stated in the recent earnings call that only 1% to 5% of miles driven will be by humans in the future, indicating Tesla's leadership in autonomous driving, with expectations that Cybercab production will surpass all other models combined.
- Significant Market Potential: The Cybercab is expected to cost under $30,000 and have a significantly lower cost per mile than traditional taxis; if regulatory approval is achieved, Tesla's robotaxi could present a compelling market opportunity, further solidifying its leadership in the EV sector.
See More
TSMC on Track to Join $3 Trillion Club
- Market Position Solidified: TSMC's current market capitalization stands at $1.9 trillion, and as the world's largest semiconductor foundry with a 71% share of the global chip market, investors could see a 58% return if it secures membership in the $3 trillion club.
- Strong Financial Performance: In Q4, TSMC reported revenue of $33.7 billion, a 26% year-over-year increase, with earnings per share rising 35% to $3.14, while gross and operating margins improved to 59.9% and 50.8%, respectively, indicating enhanced profitability during expansion.
- Future Growth Expectations: Management forecasts first-quarter revenue of $35.2 billion, representing a 38% year-over-year growth, suggesting that the company will continue to thrive amid rising demand for high-end semiconductors.
- Optimistic Industry Outlook: Annual sales of high-end semiconductors are projected to approach $1 trillion by 2026, positioning TSMC to benefit from this trend, with analysts predicting revenues of $193.9 billion and $232.8 billion in 2027 and 2028, respectively.
See More
Anthropic CEO Warns of AI Investment Risks
- Investment Risk Warning: Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei warns that even a slight miscalculation in AI investment timing could lead to bankruptcy, particularly as rivals pour hundreds of billions into data centers, highlighting the intense market competition.
- Cautious Spending Strategy: Amodei emphasizes that while powerful AI models are expected to emerge within one to two years, the timeline for revenue realization remains uncertain, potentially taking one to five years, making early massive capital commitments highly risky.
- Massive Spending Plans: Anthropic plans to invest $50 billion in U.S. AI infrastructure, focusing on data centers in Texas and New York, while competitors like Amazon, Alphabet, and Meta are budgeting significantly more at $200 billion, $185 billion, and $135 billion respectively, indicating fierce funding competition in the industry.
- Surge in Market Demand: According to the Semiconductor Industry Association, global chip sales are projected to reach $791.7 billion in 2025 and grow by 26% in 2026, indicating that AI demand is driving rapid growth across the entire sector.
See More
St George Mining Secures Strategic Land for Araxá Project
- Land Acquisition: St George Mining has entered into a binding agreement to acquire 166 hectares of industrial land for 14 million Brazilian reais (approximately A$3.8 million), laying the groundwork for its niobium-rare earths project in Brazil.
- Resource Potential Unlocking: The new land will allow the company to establish processing facilities outside the mining tenure, preventing sterilization of the orebody, which is expected to facilitate parallel advancements in resource upgrades and exploration efforts.
- Environmental Protection Measures: The company also acquired a separate 163-hectare conservation area aimed at offsetting environmental impacts and supporting operational licensing requirements, demonstrating its commitment to sustainable practices.
- Positive Market Outlook: With global niobium demand projected to grow at 6% annually, St George Mining is positioning itself to enter a tightly concentrated and strategically significant market, especially as the U.S. identifies niobium as a critical mineral.
See More
S&P 500 Index Achieves Three Years of Strong Performance
- Market Performance Review: The S&P 500 has achieved double-digit gains for three consecutive years, reflecting the ongoing bull market that has attracted significant investment into growth stocks like AI and quantum computing, although overall market momentum has recently slowed.
- Interest Rate Policy Impact: Following the Fed's interest rate cuts that began in 2024, the recent decision to hold rates steady has heightened investor concerns over uncertainty, leading to diminished confidence in tech stocks, despite strong earnings reports from companies like Meta and Taiwan Semiconductor.
- Valuation Level Warning: The S&P 500's Shiller CAPE ratio has surpassed 39, a level only reached once before, just prior to the dot-com bubble burst, indicating that current market valuations are high and may signal potential future correction risks.
- Historical Trend Analysis: Historical data shows that the S&P 500 typically declines after reaching peak valuations, although such declines are not always long-lasting; investors should focus on a long-term strategy of holding quality stocks to navigate short-term market fluctuations.
See More
Amazon Reinvests in IonQ, But Future Looks Uncertain
- Portfolio Dynamics: As of the end of 2025, Amazon's investment portfolio totals $3.5 billion, and while its stake in quantum computing is relatively small, it reflects a strategic interest in emerging technologies that could influence its long-term positioning.
- Quantum Market Potential: Analysts from Boston Consulting Group estimate that the global opportunity for quantum computing could reach between $450 billion and $850 billion by 2040, indicating significant investor interest despite the market being in its infancy.
- Historical Investment Review: Amazon's purchase of 6,671 shares of IonQ stock worth nearly $300,000 in Q4 2025 follows a complete divestment of 854,207 shares in Q3, highlighting its focus on short-term gains and response to market fluctuations.
- Changing Competitive Landscape: With giants like Amazon and Microsoft launching their own quantum processing units, IonQ's market leadership is under threat, prompting investors to carefully assess its future profitability and sustainability of market share.
See More
Tesla's $20 Billion Investment Reshapes Transportation Market
- Surge in Capital Expenditure: Tesla plans to invest over $20 billion in capital spending by 2026, more than double last year's expenditure, highlighting its ambitious vision for the electric vehicle market, especially as competitors scale back their investments.
- Diversified Factory Investments: Among the six new factories, three are dedicated to electric vehicle production, including a lithium refinery and a low-cost lithium iron phosphate battery factory, directly supporting EV growth and strengthening Tesla's market position.
- Autonomous Driving Vision: CEO Elon Musk clearly stated in the recent earnings call that only 1% to 5% of miles driven will be by humans in the future, indicating Tesla's leadership in autonomous driving, with expectations that Cybercab production will surpass all other models combined.
- Significant Market Potential: The Cybercab is expected to cost under $30,000 and have a significantly lower cost per mile than traditional taxis; if regulatory approval is achieved, Tesla's robotaxi could present a compelling market opportunity, further solidifying its leadership in the EV sector.
See More
TSMC on Track to Join $3 Trillion Club
- Market Position Solidified: TSMC's current market capitalization stands at $1.9 trillion, and as the world's largest semiconductor foundry with a 71% share of the global chip market, investors could see a 58% return if it secures membership in the $3 trillion club.
- Strong Financial Performance: In Q4, TSMC reported revenue of $33.7 billion, a 26% year-over-year increase, with earnings per share rising 35% to $3.14, while gross and operating margins improved to 59.9% and 50.8%, respectively, indicating enhanced profitability during expansion.
- Future Growth Expectations: Management forecasts first-quarter revenue of $35.2 billion, representing a 38% year-over-year growth, suggesting that the company will continue to thrive amid rising demand for high-end semiconductors.
- Optimistic Industry Outlook: Annual sales of high-end semiconductors are projected to approach $1 trillion by 2026, positioning TSMC to benefit from this trend, with analysts predicting revenues of $193.9 billion and $232.8 billion in 2027 and 2028, respectively.
See More
Anthropic CEO Warns of AI Investment Risks
- Investment Risk Warning: Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei warns that even a slight miscalculation in AI investment timing could lead to bankruptcy, particularly as rivals pour hundreds of billions into data centers, highlighting the intense market competition.
- Cautious Spending Strategy: Amodei emphasizes that while powerful AI models are expected to emerge within one to two years, the timeline for revenue realization remains uncertain, potentially taking one to five years, making early massive capital commitments highly risky.
- Massive Spending Plans: Anthropic plans to invest $50 billion in U.S. AI infrastructure, focusing on data centers in Texas and New York, while competitors like Amazon, Alphabet, and Meta are budgeting significantly more at $200 billion, $185 billion, and $135 billion respectively, indicating fierce funding competition in the industry.
- Surge in Market Demand: According to the Semiconductor Industry Association, global chip sales are projected to reach $791.7 billion in 2025 and grow by 26% in 2026, indicating that AI demand is driving rapid growth across the entire sector.
See More
