Analyst Ratings February 6, 2026

JPMorgan Lifts Alphabet Target to $395 After Strong Search and Cloud Momentum

Bank cites accelerating Search and Cloud growth, larger-than-expected 2026 capex plan and robust balance sheet as drivers for higher valuation

By Priya Menon GOOGL
JPMorgan Lifts Alphabet Target to $395 After Strong Search and Cloud Momentum
GOOGL

JPMorgan raised its price target on Alphabet to $395 from $385 while keeping an Overweight rating after the company reported robust fourth-quarter results. The update follows strong year-over-year revenue gains led by Search and Google Cloud, a materially larger 2026 capital expenditure outlook and a substantial Cloud backlog, all supported by a cash-rich balance sheet.

Key Points

  • JPMorgan raised its price target on Alphabet to $395 from $385 and retained an Overweight rating; the new target suggests about 19% upside from a share price of $331.25, with trading near a 52-week high of $349.
  • Alphabet reported 17% Search revenue growth and 48% Google Cloud revenue growth, contributing to 15.1% overall revenue growth over the last twelve months and total revenue of $402.8 billion.
  • Alphabet signaled a materially larger 2026 capital expenditure program of $175 billion to $185 billion and holds a strong balance sheet with more cash than debt and a current ratio of 2.01; Google Cloud backlog rose 55% quarter-over-quarter to $240 billion.

JPMorgan has increased its price objective on Alphabet Inc. to $395.00 from $385.00 while maintaining an Overweight rating, following the company’s fourth-quarter results. At the time of the update, the new target implied roughly a 19% upside relative to the prevailing share price of $331.25, with Alphabet trading close to a 52-week peak of $349.

Alphabet reported faster growth in its two major revenue engines. Search revenue expanded at a 17% clip, while Google Cloud accelerated to 48% year-over-year growth. Those contributions helped drive a 15.1% increase in aggregate revenue over the past twelve months, bringing total revenue to $402.8 billion.

JPMorgan flagged Alphabet’s 2026 capital expenditure guidance of $175 billion to $185 billion as a notable development. That outlook significantly exceeded the firm’s earlier ‘Street-high’ estimate of $142 billion and represents a doubling of capital spending on a year-over-year basis, according to the note. The bank characterized the elevated spending as a reflection of Alphabet’s "position of strength."

Supporting Alphabet’s ability to pursue an expansive capex program, InvestingPro data cited in the note indicates the company carries more cash than debt and maintains a current ratio of 2.01. JPMorgan’s commentary linked that balance-sheet strength to Alphabet’s capacity to support the planned increase in investment.

Product engagement signals were also highlighted. Alphabet’s Gemini AI product has reached 750 million monthly active users, with the bank noting "significantly higher engagement per user." Separately, Google Cloud’s backlog rose 55% quarter-over-quarter to $240 billion, underscoring demand for the firm’s cloud offerings. JPMorgan and other market participants observed that AI adoption is expanding the addressable market for Alphabet’s core Search business.

Other analyst reactions to Alphabet’s results varied across the street. DA Davidson raised its price target to $310 while maintaining a Neutral rating. Stifel increased its target to $395 and assigned a Buy rating. Wedbush lifted its price target to $370 and kept an Outperform rating, noting optimism around generative AI.

Market commentary also emphasized the fourth-quarter 2025 earnings beat, where Alphabet outperformed expectations on both revenue and profit measures. Stifel highlighted the Google Cloud division’s 48% year-over-year growth and a sequential 55% increase in Google Cloud Platform backlog. Cantor Fitzgerald observed Search revenue growth of 15% on an ex-foreign-exchange basis, driven by higher AI-related usage.

On the mobility front, Waymo, Alphabet’s autonomous-vehicle unit, announced an expansion into Sacramento and a return to operations in Boston. The company said it intends to adapt its technology to different urban conditions - including snowy environments - as it pursues full autonomy.


Implications and context - The combination of sustained revenue acceleration in Search and Cloud, a sizable increase in capital allocation and a strong liquidity position frames the investment case JPMorgan presented for a higher valuation. The sizable Cloud backlog and user engagement metrics for Gemini were cited as drivers of both near-term demand and longer-term addressable market expansion for Alphabet’s core products.

Risks

  • Alphabet’s substantially higher 2026 capital expenditure outlook - $175 billion to $185 billion - introduces execution and allocation risk tied to the company’s large-scale investment plans and could influence returns if assumptions change.
  • Waymo’s expansion into new cities and a focus on operating in varied conditions, including snowy environments, creates operational uncertainty as the subsidiary adapts its autonomous-driving technology to diverse urban settings.
  • Analysts’ divergent price targets and ratings (for example, DA Davidson at $310 Neutral, Stifel at $395 Buy, Wedbush at $370 Outperform) reflect differing views on valuation and the sustainability of growth, introducing market uncertainty.

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