Alphabet Inc. (GOOG) Maintains "Buy" Rating Amid AI Strategy Debate

• Bank of America Securities reiterates a "Buy" rating for Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG), with a price target of $200 despite current challenges.
• The debate on Google's AI strategy divides investors, focusing on its data advantage versus potential user engagement loss to competitors like ChatGPT.
• Alphabet's stock price reflects a 1.71% increase, trading between $168.65 and $174.64, with a market capitalization of approximately $2.11 trillion.

Alphabet Inc., trading on NASDAQ under the symbol GOOG, is a leading technology company known for its search engine, Google, and its ventures into artificial intelligence (AI). On June 26, 2025, Bank of America Securities reiterated its "Buy" rating for GOOG, with the stock priced at $174.43. This decision reflects the ongoing debate on Wall Street about Google's future in AI, as highlighted by Benzinga.

The division among investors is evident, as over 200 investors attended a debate hosted by Bank of America Securities. Proponents of Google's AI strategy emphasize the company's significant data advantage and potential for monetization. However, skeptics express concerns about losing user engagement to competitors like ChatGPT and potential risks in monetization.

Analyst Justin Post maintains a Buy rating for Alphabet, setting a price target of $200. Despite the current stock price of $174.43, reflecting a 1.71% increase, there are broader concerns. These include potential share loss, challenges in monetization, and the implications of Apple Inc.'s response to the Department of Justice trial outcome.

Bears in the discussion highlight the risk of engagement loss and the possibility of needing to reset estimates due to these challenges. The stock has traded between $168.65 and $174.64 today, with a market capitalization of approximately $2.11 trillion and a trading volume of 25.6 million shares. Over the past year, GOOG has reached a high of $208.70 and a low of $142.66.