Alphabet Inc.—the parent company of Google—released its highly anticipated Q1 earnings on Thursday, surpassing Wall Street expectations and boosting GOOG stock and GOOGL stock significantly. This marked the first earnings report among U.S. tech giants in a quarter marked by global economic headwinds and trade-related uncertainties.
📞 When Is Google’s Earnings Call?
Alphabet’s executive team, including CEO Sundar Pichai, will host the Google earnings call with analysts at 4:30 p.m. EDT. While Google earnings calls traditionally exclude forward-looking guidance, investors are paying close attention for any subtle hints about how Alphabet sees the evolving macroeconomic environment, particularly in light of rising tariffs and global market tensions.
📈 Google Stock Price Climbs Ahead of Earnings Report
Shares of GOOG and GOOGL rallied ahead of the earnings release, with Google stock price reaching $161 during Thursday’s trading session—the highest in two weeks. The boost followed a 2% surge in Alphabet stock during regular trading hours, riding on the coattails of a broader Nasdaq rally, which climbed nearly 3% on optimism that President Trump may scale back aggressive tariff measures.
Despite this momentum, Google stock remains down 16% year-to-date, underperforming the Nasdaq, which is down 12% amid investor anxiety over potential economic slowdowns triggered by the ongoing U.S.–China trade tensions.
🌐 How Are Tariffs Impacting Google?
Alphabet is currently experiencing a “negative tariff ad spend impact,” particularly from decreased advertising by Chinese retailers like Temu and Shein. As U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods surpass 100%, cross-border e-commerce flows have slowed, affecting ad budgets. That said, Google’s exposure to Chinese ad revenue is relatively limited—about 4% to 5% of total revenue—compared to 7% to 8% for rival Meta, parent of Facebook.
💬 Crucial Analyst Quote
“If investing in U.S. tech stocks is challenging, underwriting Google might be the hardest of them all,” said Bernstein analyst Mark Shmulik. He highlighted a range of uncertainties facing Alphabet stock: from recession concerns and AI-driven disruption in search, to looming regulatory threats and the possibility of geopolitical retaliation against American tech firms.
🧾 Regulatory & Legal Hurdles for Alphabet
Alphabet continues to face mounting regulatory pressure. Recently, a federal court ruled that Google holds an illegal monopoly in advertising technology. Additionally, the U.S. Justice Department is pushing for Google to divest assets, including the Chrome browser, amid broader antitrust investigations.
🔍 Background on Alphabet and the Magnificent Seven
Alphabet remains one of the six West Coast-based tech giants with a market cap exceeding $1 trillion, alongside Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Nvidia, and Meta. Often grouped with Tesla under the moniker “the Magnificent Seven,” these companies fueled the generative AI boom that lifted tech stocks in 2023 and 2024.
However, the momentum has slowed in 2025. The Bloomberg Magnificent Seven Index has dropped about 20% this year, reflecting growing caution among investors. Still, GOOG stock and GOOGL stock continue to be closely watched as bellwethers for the broader tech sector.
📊 Final Thoughts
While Alphabet’s Q1 results beat expectations, the path forward remains uncertain. From Google earnings volatility and trade policy effects to regulatory scrutiny and AI evolution, GOOG and GOOGL stocks will remain at the center of attention for tech investors worldwide.