Search for "recession" at Google
Google's net income increased 26.2% to $1.35 billion, or $4.24 per share. Revenue increased 31% to $5.54 billion.
It's pretty impressive, considering all the frightening signs. Even a venerable -- and you'd think fairly recession-proof -- company like PepsiCo
Exactly one year ago, I scoffed at some analysts' projections about Google at the time; they were calling for an $800 price for Google stock. I said: "And if a recession does come -- and I'm thinking that's not an 'if' proposition, given all the signals -- advertising will slow down. I'm not sure why people think things are different this time."
Well I was right about the recession, the stock not hitting the $800 target, and advertising -- traditional media companies like CBS
Still, I can see why investors are feeling lucky today, since there have been ample reasons to believe Google could have reported a disappointing quarter under the macroeconomic circumstances.
Google's stock is certainly not looking tremendously overpriced, trading at just 17 times forward earnings and down 45% in the last year. Furthermore, like fellow tech stock Apple
Yet Google still just isn't at the top of my stock wish list. Today's upbeat tidings still don't convince me that a downer economy won't hurt Google further down the road as ad budgets continue to deteriorate. While Google certainly isn't a downright dangerous buy at these levels -- unlike highly indebted or serially unprofitable companies, for example -- I still suspect interested investors may find cheaper opportunities later on.
Search out some related Foolishness:
- Fool Anders Bylund provided a Foolish Forecast.
- Google's fresh out of Androids.
- Google's 10 years old -- it may be entering its awkward phase.