Citi maintains Buy rating and $200 target on Alphabet stock

Published 21/05/2025, 10:28
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On Wednesday, Citi analysts reaffirmed their Buy rating and $200.00 price target for Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL), highlighting the tech giant’s recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and user engagement. The $2 trillion market cap company, which boasts a GREAT financial health score according to InvestingPro, has demonstrated solid revenue growth of 13% over the last twelve months. Alphabet’s AI Mode has officially been launched in the United States, and its Gemini App has seen a significant increase in monthly active users (MAUs), reaching 400 million compared to approximately 350 million in March. Additionally, the introduction of AI Overviews has been contributing to the growth in search queries.

The analysts noted that Alphabet’s presence at the recent I/O conference showcased its commitment to enhancing personalized user experiences. This is evident in the development of the Agentic experience across various products like Mariner, Astra, and the Gemini App, as well as the unveiling of Alphabet’s version of AI-powered glasses. The company’s focus on creating more personalized tools and services is seen as a key factor in providing stability for growth in its Search business.

Despite acknowledging the increased competition in the tech sector, Citi’s analysts believe that Alphabet’s core Search & Other business is currently undervalued, trading at less than 10 times their projected 2026 EBIT. The analysts’ sum-of-the-parts (SOTP) valuation reflects these long-term growth concerns but also underscores the potential undervaluation.

Citi’s stance on Alphabet remains positive, with the belief that the company’s enhanced product cadence and the rising rate of user adoption, as the search experience becomes more personalized and agentive services expand, justify maintaining the Buy rating and the $200 price target. This target falls within the broader analyst range of $160-$240, with the consensus recommendation showing strong bullish sentiment. The analysts concluded their remarks by emphasizing the strategic moves Alphabet is making to adapt to the evolving digital landscape and the potential these developments have to stabilize and grow the company’s core search business.

In other recent news, Alphabet Inc. has been the focus of several analyst assessments following its annual Google I/O conference, where significant advancements in artificial intelligence were showcased. JPMorgan reiterated its Overweight rating on Alphabet, maintaining a price target of $195, highlighting the company’s progress in AI, particularly with its Gemini model. KeyBanc also maintained an Overweight rating and a $195 target, noting Alphabet’s strong positioning in AI and the potential for new monetization opportunities. Meanwhile, JMP Securities and Citizens JMP both retained a Market Perform rating, citing ongoing concerns related to the U.S. search antitrust trial and competition in the search domain. Despite these concerns, BMO Capital Markets expressed confidence in Alphabet by reaffirming an Outperform rating with a $200 target, supported by a survey showing strong consumer loyalty to Google Search. The survey indicated that users remain committed to Google’s search engine despite the rise of AI-driven competitors. These developments underscore the varied perspectives on Alphabet’s future as it continues to integrate AI into its core offerings amidst competitive and regulatory challenges.

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