Alphabets Profit Dropped 14 Percent in the Second Quarter – The New York Times

Googles search engine business is demonstrating resilience in the face of a slowing economy and rising inflation, but its other businesses have not been able to escape a downturn in online advertising.

Googles parent company, Alphabet, reported on Tuesday a net profit of $16 billion in the second quarter, down 14 percent from a year earlier, while revenue climbed 13 percent to $69.7 billion. The earnings were below analysts estimates of $17.5 billion in profit on $69.9 billion in revenue, according to data compiled by FactSet.

Lifted by retail and travel advertisers, the companys search ad sales grew more than 13 percent to $40.7 billion, above analysts expectation of $40.2 billion. Ad sales for Googles search engine a crucial gateway to the internet proved less vulnerable to economic conditions than YouTube, which Google owns, and the companys network division that places digital ads on various sites across the internet.

Tuesdays earnings report provides more evidence that Google search ad revenue is reasonably recession-resistant, Mark Mahaney, an analyst at Evercore ISI, said in an interview.

Even with the financial cushion of its popular products, Google must contend with a raft of uncertainties that have roiled global markets in recent months. These include slowing economic growth and rising inflation in the United States and other major economies, which influence advertising budgets and consumer behavior both crucial to Googles business. The company must also navigate effects from a persistent pandemic and Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Alphabet, known for its rapid personnel expansions, has exercised caution in response to the macroeconomic environment, saying it will slow hiring for the rest of the year and put a priority on the roles it needs.

Shares of Alphabet rose 5 percent in after-hours trading.

Ruth Porat, Alphabets chief financial officer, had warned that Alphabets growth may appear more modest because of unfavorable comparisons in the second quarter. In the previous spring, financial results were indicative of a recovery since the early days of the pandemic, when advertisers were spooked. The most recent quarter also reflected the companys decision to halt business in Russia because of the war. In 2021, Russia contributed 1 percent to Googles total revenue.

Ad revenue for YouTube, the most popular destination for online videos, grew 5 percent in the three months that ended on June 30, to $7.3 billion. This was a decline from 14 percent growth in the first quarter. Besides weaker spending from advertisers, Ms. Porat said, YouTubes results appeared more meager because of difficult comparisons from a year earlier.

The pullback in spending on YouTube and Googles advertising network by some advertisers in the second quarter reflects uncertainty about a number of factors, Ms. Porat said on a call with financial analysts.

The companys profit was dented by rising costs and losses on some investments. Ms. Porat said Google had spent more on data centers and hiring in the second quarter. The company also recorded a $790 million loss from debt investments, and a $251 million loss from stock holdings.

Alphabet said it now had 174,014 employees, an increase of more than 10,000 from the figure it reported in April. Like many of its peers, the company has since said it will slow hiring.

Googles cloud computing unit posted a 36 percent increase in revenue, though it lost $858 million in the second quarter. A year earlier, the division posted a loss of $591 million. The unit still lags behind rival services from Amazon and Microsoft.

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Alphabets Profit Dropped 14 Percent in the Second Quarter - The New York Times