Alphabet Class C (GOOG) stock has climbed 5.7% over the past week, 8.1% over the past month, and an impressive 115.8% over the last year. Wall Street’s analysts are strongly bullish, forecasting further upside over the next twelve months with a consensus 12‑month price target of $385.90 versus a last close of $334.47.
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Analyst John Blackledge reiterated his Buy rating on GOOG on April 16, 2026, setting a price target of $375.00, which implies meaningful upside from current levels. His report highlights accelerating digital ad trends and continued strength in Google Search, supported by growing click volumes and resilient consumer demand.
Blackledge expects first‑quarter 2026 net revenue growth of 19.6% year over year, broadly in line with consensus, but he is more optimistic on profitability. His operating income and EPS estimates are 6.6% and 3.6% above the Street, respectively, reflecting confidence in Alphabet’s ability to translate topline growth into earnings.
A key pillar of the bullish view is Alphabet’s Cloud business, where revenue is projected to grow about 50% year over year, up from 48% in the prior quarter, helped by AI‑driven enterprise products and larger customer deals. The analyst notes that AI is now a “material driver” for Search, with features like AI Mode and AI Overviews boosting user engagement, while the integration of Wiz further supports Cloud estimates.
Blackledge also points out that GOOG shares are up 6% year to date, outpacing the S&P 500’s 2% gain, yet still trade at 28.3x P/E ex‑cash and 17.9x EV/EBITDA on 2026 estimates, levels he views as attractive given Alphabet’s leading ad franchise, advanced AI technology, scaled consumer platforms, high‑growth Cloud segment, and emerging bets like Waymo. This N‑star analyst ranks 756 out of 12,147 on TipRanks, with a 55.08% success rate and a 10.60% average return per rating. Never miss a stock rating. Find all the latest ratings on TipRanks’ Top Wall Street Analysts page.

