As part of my new interest in the stock market, last week, I bought a share in Google at just under the $700 mark. With hindsight, the stock would have been an excellent purchase back when it first went public in 2004 at sub-$100 or even just a few months ago like another blogger whose 5 shares bought at $2399.80 are now worth in the region of $3465. That’s a 44% return in just 7 months, if that stock was sold now.
Some say that due to Google’s current position in the market as the USA’s most popular search engine, there’s not much hope for future growth or a return on any investment, but considering their stock was priced at sub-$500 at the beginning of 2007 means they’ve increased in value by 40% in the last 11 months alone so I’d say there was still plenty of potential left.
One of the great things about Google is their ability to diversify. They may have started out as the geek’s choice of search engine, but just look at them now; email providers, domain name registrars, payment processing, offering their search technology to the corporate sector, telecommunications, mapping, social networking, and even renewable energy.
No growth potential?
Now, Google don’t pay out any dividends so the only way for me to make any money with the stock is to sell my share. I guess time will tell whether I get a return back on my investment.
Here’s an interesting read; see what people were saying about Google stock just before they went public.
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Nice work. It’s crazy for us Australians to think you can only buy one share as I believe the highest priced share on our market in Rio Tinto at just over $100!
Me too, Thomas. Up until now, I’ve only bought in the London Stock Exchange. This was my international investment.
I do have to say that i’m getting a bit bored with the google empire. I don’t see how it can last forever, there will always be something new and fresh which will come along!
It continues to surprise me just how they keep branching out into new fields and do it really well.
In my opinion, Google offer the best:
As long as they continue to offer services that are better than the rest then they deserve to stay at the top.
I’m not so sure Google provides the “best” search results, nor am I certain the PPC program is so fabulous. The other areas you mention Will, are well executed. so 2 out fo 5 isn’t really bad. lol!
Search results and PPC are probably Google’s best known features.
Their share of the search market would indicate that people, in the USA at least, do prefer Google as their search engine of choice.
As for their AdWords PPC programme, Google have stated that the majority of their revenue comes from their advertising platform so advertisers are obviously keen to keep using that channel.
I appreciate that Google don’t yet have such a dominant stance over the worldwide search market as they do in the USA and UK and that they can’t be able to please everyone (or can they?), but I believe that Google is capable of adapting in order to reach those other audiences.
I agree 100% with your assessment of Google’s ability to adapt and innovate. They’re cranking out new products at the speed of light, thanks to their culture of innovation.
I see the stock moving up further, not down. It’s the Berkshire Hathaway of the tech sector.
Incidentally, there’s a search engine company slated to unveil a product in February that will compete head-on with Google’s AdSense on content sites and blogs like yours, without violating Google AdSense terms of service agreement.
Signing up for the opportunity started just a few days ago. The marketing is managed by a highly-respected Internet Marketing educator and entrepreneur.
If you’d like to know more about it, please go to
http://www.sellingppp.com/
to find out more about it.
Cheers,
Oscar
Oscar,
Whilst the concept seems interesting, I’m a natural cynic so I’ll wait to see how it pans out.
Similar things could have been said about BlogRush, but it held zero interest for me.
Also, what appear to be affiliate links in comments from first-time commentators don’t sit right with me so I’ve edited your link to make it direct and people can still find out more if they wish. Your comments are welcome, however.