Google's Q4 revenue disappoints
Despite economic worries in Europe, Google was still expected to post strong earnings on Thursday, and the Mountain View, Calif.-based enterprise didn't hold up to estimates and stock prices plummeted after hours.
Google reported a fourth quarter net income of $2.71 billion, or $8.22 a share (statement). Non-GAAP earnings were $9.50 a share on a revenue of $10.58 billion (including traffic acquisition costs) -- an 25 percent increase compared to the fourth quarter of 2010.
Subtracting TAC, which was worth $2.45 billion, revenue actually only came out to $8.13 billion.
Wall Street was expecting Google to report fourth quarter of $10.48 a share on revenue of $8.4 billion.
See also: Google's Q4: Europe, Motorola margins in focus
After the market closed, Google's stock plummeted suddenly.
CEO Larry Page tried to put a positive spin on Google's current financial situation in prepared remarks:
Google had a really strong quarter ending a great year. Full year revenue was up 29%, and our quarterly revenue blew past the $10 billion mark for the first time
I am super excited about the growth of Android, Gmail, and Google+, which now has 90 million users globally – well over double what I announced just three months ago. By building a meaningful relationship with our users through Google+ we will create amazing experiences across our services. I’m very excited about what we can do in 2012 – there are tremendous opportunities to help users and grow our business.
As for European concerns, Google only addressed its United Kingdom unit, which makes up the bulk of Google's E.U. dealings anyway.
Revenues from the United Kingdom totaled $1.06 billion, representing 10 percent of revenues in the fourth quarter of 2011, compared during 10 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010.
Google argued that if foreign exchange rates remained constant from the third quarter of 2011 through the fourth quarter, Q4 revenues would have been $239 million higher.
Nevertheless, international revenue totaled $5.60 billion, representing 53 percent of total revenues in Q4, compared to 55 percent in the third quarter of 2011
For the first quarter, Wall Street is expecting Google to report earnings of $10.07 a share on revenue of $8.28 billion, including TAC.
By the numbers:
- Google employed 32,467 full-time employees worldwide as of December 31, 2011, up from 31,353 full-time employees as of September 30, 2011.
- Cash, cash equivalents, and short-term marketable securities were $44.6 billion as of December 31.
- Aggregate paid clicks increased by 17 percent from Q3 to Q4 2011.
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