Fans of round-number milestones were probably cheering as shares of Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) traded above the $500 mark yesterday, for the first time in 13 months.
The leading search engine isn't the only one to revisit a significant mile marker this month. An ounce of gold topped the $1,000 mark for the first time in 18 months.
The dueling milestones brought me back to one of my more regrettable remarks. When both Google and gold were barreling toward the $500 mark four years ago, I chose paid search over precious metal.
To be fair, my choice was based on a 10-year race. We still have a long way to go before November 2015.
However, I'm going to dig myself into an even bigger hole by backing my original argument. I still believe that a share of Google will be worth more than an ounce of gold in six years.
Before I get pelted by the gold bugs, let me explain.
Gold has had a good run, given its resilience as an inflation hedge and the thriving Chinese economy. However, even those following the yellow stuff can't agree whether it's heading to $200 or $2,000.
There's a little more clarity with Google, because it's a real company with real earnings. And just as it has done since going public five years ago, analysts see earnings inching higher.
|
Year |
EPS |
|---|---|
|
2008 |
$19.49 |
|
2009 |
$21.73 est. |
|
2010 |
$24.75 est. |
Source: Yahoo! Finance.
Gold bulls will counter that publicly traded miners such as Goldcorp (NYSE:GG), Yamana Gold (NYSE:AUY), Barrick Gold (NYSE:ABX), and Newmont Mining (NYSE:NEM) are also growing their bottom lines, but those targets are based on the market's appetite for the continuing growth of gold. I have greater faith in the growth of online advertising in general and Google in particular.
You show the gold bugs who's boss, Google. But pick up the pace, please. I'm dying over here.
