--- title: "Google Stock News: Analyst Predicts Massive 70% Cloud Growth Ahead of Earnings" type: "News" locale: "en" url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/292938024.md" description: "Alphabet (GOOG) stock rose as Bank of America analyst Justin Post reaffirmed a Buy rating with a $430 price target. He predicts massive cloud growth, raising estimates to 70% for Q2 and 72% for full-year 2026, driven by strong AI assets and demand. The analyst expects Q2 revenue of $102.1 billion and EPS of $8.38, beating street estimates. Key focus areas include search growth, cloud margins, and capital spending during the upcoming earnings call." datetime: "2026-07-16T17:41:57.000Z" locales: - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/292938024.md) - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/292938024.md) - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/292938024.md) --- # Google Stock News: Analyst Predicts Massive 70% Cloud Growth Ahead of Earnings **Google** parent **Alphabet Inc** (NASDAQ:GOOG) (NASDAQ:GOOGL) stock traded slightly higher on Thursday as buyers keep leaning into the longer-term uptrend even while mega-cap tech is choppy. The Nasdaq is down 0.92% while the S&P 500 has shed 0.12%. **• Alphabet stock is trading at elevated levels. What should traders watch with GOOG?** **BofA Securities** analyst **Justin Post** expects Alphabet to deliver a strong second quarter, driven by cloud momentum, steady search growth and AI-related upside. ## **Cloud Growth Drives Forecast** Post maintained a Buy rating on Alphabet with a $430 price forecast. He expects second-quarter revenue of $102.1 billion and GAAP EPS of $8.38, above Street estimates of $101 billion and $2.90. The analyst projects third-quarter revenue of $108.8 billion and GAAP EPS of $3.03, above Street estimates of $107.9 billion and $3.02. Post raised his Cloud growth estimate to 70%, citing strong demand indicators and backlog that suggests at least $230 billion in revenue over the next eight quarters. He also expects full-year 2026 search growth of 16% and Cloud growth of 72%. ## **AI Assets Support Upside** Post raised his 2026 net revenue estimate by 1% to $427 billion and lifted his EPS estimate by 36% to $19.70. For 2027, he raised net revenue by 3% to $537 billion and EPS by 1% to $14.70. Post said Alphabet remains well positioned for outsized growth and Cloud margin upside because of its AI assets across models, silicon, consumer distribution and enterprise distribution. He also flagged second-quarter search growth, cloud margins, backlog and capital spending commentary as key items for the earnings call. ## **Technical Analysis** GOOG is trading 15.7% above its 200-day SMA and 8.4% above its 100-day SMA, which keeps the bigger-picture trend pointed up after a 101.85% run over the past 12 months. The stock is also 4.3% above its 20-day SMA, but only 0.5% above its 50-day SMA — so the near-term tape is tighter and more sensitive to pullbacks. ## **Top ETF Exposure** - **Fidelity MSCI Communication Services Index ETF** (NYSE:FCOM): 8.66% Weight - **Invesco Nasdaq Internet ETF** (NASDAQ:PNQI): 9.93% Weight - **NYLI Winslow Large Cap Growth ETF** (NYSE:IWLG): 9.99% Weight **Significance:** Because GOOG carries such a heavy weight in these funds, any significant inflows or outflows for these ETFs will likely trigger automatic buying or selling of the stock. ## **GOOG Price Action** **GOOG Stock Price Activity:** Alphabet shares were up 0.23% at $371.03 at the time of publication on Thursday, according to Benzinga Pro data. _Image via Shutterstock_ **Read Also: Apple's AI Catch-Up Plan May Include Buying Chip Companies** ### Related Stocks - [GOOG.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/GOOG.US.md) - [GOOGL.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/GOOGL.US.md) - [GGLS.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/GGLS.US.md) - [GOOW.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/GOOW.US.md) - [GGLL.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/GGLL.US.md) - [GOOY.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/GOOY.US.md) - [GOU.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/GOU.US.md) - [GOOX.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/GOOX.US.md) - [GOOP.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/GOOP.US.md) - [MAGX.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/MAGX.US.md) - [.IXIC.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/.IXIC.US.md) - [.SPX.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/.SPX.US.md) - [BAC.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/BAC.US.md) - [FCOM.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/FCOM.US.md) - [PNQI.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/PNQI.US.md) - [IWLG.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/IWLG.US.md) - [AAPL.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/AAPL.US.md) - [BAC-Q.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/BAC-Q.US.md) - [BML-L.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/BML-L.US.md) - [BAC-L.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/BAC-L.US.md) - [BAC-K.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/BAC-K.US.md) - [BML-H.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/BML-H.US.md) - [BAC-N.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/BAC-N.US.md) - [BAC-E.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/BAC-E.US.md) - [MER-K.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/MER-K.US.md) - [BAC-O.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/BAC-O.US.md) - [BML-G.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/BML-G.US.md) - [BAC-M.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/BAC-M.US.md) - [BAC-B.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/BAC-B.US.md) - [BML-J.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/BML-J.US.md) - [BAC-S.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/BAC-S.US.md) - [BAC-P.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/BAC-P.US.md) - [8648.JP](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/8648.JP.md) ## Related News & Research - [Google employees are organizing around a new concern: keeping their jobs](https://longbridge.com/en/news/292963568.md) - [Google Is Developing a Chip for Its Own AI Models. 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