When Google (NASDAQ: GOOGL) acquired the video platform YouTube twenty years ago – on October 9, 2006 – the former had its stock trading at $10.74 after accounting for splits, and the latter was valued at just $1.65 billion.
By the close on October 8, 2026, Alphabet – the technology and search engine giant – shares were changing hands at $348.29, and, while YouTube is no longer counted separately, it accompanied Google as its market capitalization soared more than 3,000% from roughly $130 billion to $4.217 trillion.
Under the circumstances, taking the acquisition as a sign that Google is about to expand significantly and putting $1,000 into the company would have led to a remarkable 3,142.92% gain.
Therefore, the relatively modest investment would have risen by $31,429.24 and the position would, by press time, be worth $32,429.24.
Why Google stock remains a ‘Strong Buy’ in 2026
Meanwhile, purchasing $1,000 in GOOGL stock in 2026 appears like it could, in the coming decades, also bring substantial profits despite the company being far larger and more mature than in 2006.
Indeed, Google has not only retained its search dominance with a noted recovery from the market share slump it suffered in 2024 and 2025, but has also become a key player in the ongoing artificial intelligence (AI) ‘boom’ both as a hypercaler and with its AI platforms.
Considering that various companies and institutions estimate that the technology will have a total addressable market valued in trillions, if not tens of trillions of dollars within, at most, a decade, Alphabet could see its revenue surge manifold and GOOGL stock price rally to match the growth of the business.
Wall Street analysts certainly appear confident that Google will remain on the ascent for the foreseeable future.
Specifically, GOOGL shares are, overall, viewed as a ‘Strong Buy’ by institutional experts and are expected to rise another 23.65% to $426.43 within just 12 months, per the data Finbold retrieved from TradingView on October 9, 2026.
Google stock bear case
Still, there remains some cause for caution for any hopeful Alphabet investors. Though the company has slowly been regaining the search market share, many users feel that the company’s engine has only degraded further.
Additionally, Alphabet’s involvement with the technology is not guaranteed to insulate the blue-chip technology giant from the potential migration, as, unlike with search, it commands a relatively minuscule artificial intelligence market share.
Lastly, with 2026 bringing mounting anxiety regarding an AI ‘bubble’ and vast big tech capital expenditures (CapEx), as well as concerns over the actual profitability of the industry, Google might find itself exposed to a large downside on multiple flanks.
Alphabet itself contributed to the fears when it executed an equity raise worth nearly $100 billion in June in its first such move in multiple decades.
Featured image via Shutterstock
