<div id="readability-page-1"><p>Alphabet (GOOGL), the parent company of Google, has faced concerns that AI could eventually disrupt its dominant search business. But according to Piper Sandler analyst Thomas Champion, the opposite may be happening.</p><h3>Claim 55% Off TipRanks</h3><ul><li>Unlock trusted, data-backed investing tools with TipRanks Premium, from analyst ratings and forecasts to breaking news and portfolio analysis.  </li><li>Discover high-conviction stock picks and new investing opportunities with the TipRanks Smart Investor Newsletter </li></ul> <p>The analyst raised his price target on Alphabet stock to $445 from $425 and maintained an Overweight rating after studying data from Google's AI Overview and AI Mode products. He concluded that AI-powered Search is expanding rapidly and Google appears to be benefiting more than any other company.</p> <p>Champion found that references to websites and content sources within Google's AI Search results have increased roughly 16-fold since early 2025. While that growth does not directly translate into revenue, he believes it supports management's view that AI features are driving higher user engagement.</p> <h2><strong>AI Search Growth Could Boost Google</strong></h2> <p>According to Champion, Alphabet now accounts for 19.2% of AI Search citations, helped by YouTube and other Google-owned properties. The analyst described Google as the &#34;clear beneficiary&#34; of AI Search growth and raised his Search revenue forecasts for both 2026 and 2027.</p> <p>The findings also support Google's recent comments that AI Mode users submit queries that are roughly three times longer than traditional searches and that overall search activity remains at record levels.</p> <p>For Champion, that is an encouraging sign because stronger engagement can create more opportunities for Google to generate advertising revenue. As a result, he raised both his Search revenue estimates and his price target on Alphabet stock.<strong> </strong></p> <h2><strong>Is GOOGL Stock a Good Buy Now?</strong></h2> <p>Like Champion, most analysts are bullish on GOOGL's prospects. Overall, Wall Street has a Strong Buy consensus rating on Alphabet stock based on 27 Buys and five Holds. The average GOOGL stock price target of $428.15 indicates 14% upside potential.</p></div>

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<p>Piper Sandler analyst Thomas Champion raised Alphabet's price target to $445, maintaining an Overweight rating. He identifies Google as the 'clear beneficiary' of AI Search growth, citing a 16-fold increase in content citations and higher user engagement. This trend supports increased advertising revenue potential, leading to raised revenue forecasts for 2026 and 2027. Wall Street maintains a Strong Buy consensus with an average target of $428.15.</p>

- Alphabet (GOOGL) has seen a boost in its stock price target to $445 from $425 as analysts note the benefits of AI in its search business.  
- Analyst Thomas Champion highlighted a 16-fold increase in references to websites in AI Search results and emphasized that AI Search is driving higher user engagement and revenue prospects.  
- With a Strong Buy consensus rating from analysts, the average price target for GOOGL suggests a 14% upside potential, reaffirming confidence in the company's growth following recent AI developments.

'Google Is the Clear Beneficiary,' Says Top Analyst as AI Search Takes Off