Alphabet’s Q2 Results Beat Expectations, Driven by Strong Search and Cloud Performance

Alphabet Inc. reported its second-quarter financial results on Tuesday, exceeding analyst expectations with notable strengths in its Search and Cloud divisions.

The tech giant posted adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.89, surpassing the consensus estimate of $1.83. Revenue for the quarter reached $84.74 billion, outpacing the average analyst projection of $84.16 billion.

Cloud Business Shines

A significant highlight of the earnings report was the performance of Google Cloud, which achieved over $10 billion in quarterly revenues for the first time. This achievement was a key driver of the overall revenue increase, which was up 14% year-over-year. Google Cloud’s operating income also hit a milestone, reaching $1.17 billion, surpassing estimates of $982.2 million.

Search and AI Innovations

Alphabet’s CEO, Sundar Pichai, credited the company’s strong quarter to the “ongoing strength in Search and momentum in Cloud,” while also highlighting advancements in AI and infrastructure leadership. Despite these successes, Alphabet’s shares fell 3% in premarket trading on Wednesday.

Advertising Revenue Insights

Google’s advertising revenue remained robust, totaling $64.62 billion, slightly exceeding the forecast of $64.53 billion. However, YouTube ad revenue fell short of expectations at $8.66 billion compared to the estimated $8.95 billion. Despite this, Google Services revenue came in at $73.93 billion, marginally above the projected $73.58 billion.

Financial Metrics and Investments

The company reported an operating margin of 32%, just above the anticipated 31.8%. Alphabet’s capital expenditures for the quarter were $13.19 billion, exceeding the forecast of $12.23 billion, reflecting ongoing investments in both core and emerging businesses.

Alphabet’s workforce grew to 179,582 employees, underscoring the company’s expansion and continued investment in its diverse portfolio.