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Understanding Alphabet Stocks

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Anshika

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Alphabet stock refers to the publicly traded Alphabet shares of Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google. Alphabet issues multiple share classes, including Class A (GOOGL) and Class C (GOOG), which differ primarily in voting rights while representing the same underlying business.

Alphabet Inc. – An Overview

Alphabet Inc. was formed in 2015 following a corporate restructuring of Google, separating Google’s core businesses from its newer and experimental ventures. Today, Alphabet functions as the holding company for businesses such as YouTube, Waymo, Verily, and DeepMind.

Alphabet is a publicly listed company, and its ownership is spread across institutional investors, public shareholders, and company insiders. Founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin remain key Alphabet Inc. owners through their holdings of high-voting Class B shares, which gives them outsized voting control despite owning a smaller economic stake. Public investors participate through Alphabet stock traded as GOOGL and GOOG, commonly referred to as Google stock in market discussions.

Types of Alphabet Stock

Alphabet issues three classes of shares, each with distinct voting rights and ownership characteristics. These share classes define how control and economic interest are distributed among Google shareholders.

Share Class Ticker Symbol Voting Rights Common Name

Class A Shares

GOOGL

One vote per share

Common shares

Class B Shares

Not publicly traded

Ten votes per share

Held by founders and insiders

Class C Shares

GOOG

No voting rights

Capital stock

Class A (GOOGL)

GOOGL shares are publicly traded Alphabet shares that carry one vote per share. Holders of Class A stock have voting rights on corporate matters such as board appointments and shareholder resolutions.

Class B

Class B shares are not publicly traded and carry ten votes per share. These shares are primarily held by founders and early insiders, forming the core control mechanism behind who owns Alphabet Inc. from a voting perspective.

Class C (GOOG)

GOOG shares are publicly traded but carry no voting rights. While they represent the same economic ownership as GOOGL, Class C shares do not provide participation in shareholder voting. Price differences between GOOG and GOOGL reflect this voting distinction rather than differences in business performance.

Why Alphabet Created Multiple Share Classes

Alphabet Inc. operates with a multi-class share structure that includes Class A, Class B, and Class C shares. Each class carries a different level of voting rights, allowing the company to separate economic ownership from voting control within its equity framework.

Purpose of Multi-Class Structure

The primary purpose of introducing multiple share classes was to allow Alphabet to access public capital markets without distributing voting control in proportion to share ownership. While Class A and Class C shares are publicly traded, enhanced voting rights are concentrated in Class B shares, which are held largely by founders and early insiders.

This structure enables the company to raise funds from a broad investor base while keeping decision-making authority aligned with a smaller group responsible for long-term strategic direction. The design reflects a governance choice rather than a performance objective and is disclosed transparently in the company’s regulatory filings.

Impact on Control and Governance

Under this structure, voting power at shareholder meetings is not evenly distributed across all outstanding shares. Class B shares carry higher voting rights compared to Class A shares, while Class C shares do not carry voting rights at all. As a result, founders and select insiders retain significant influence over matters such as board composition, mergers, and major corporate actions.

From a governance perspective, this arrangement centralises control while maintaining public shareholding. It establishes a clear distinction between economic participation and voting authority, shaping how shareholder influence is exercised within Alphabet’s corporate framework.

Summary takeaway: Alphabet’s multi-class share structure is designed to support capital raising alongside concentrated voting control, defining how ownership and governance responsibilities are allocated across different classes of shareholders.

Alphabet Stock Performance and Investor Interest

Alphabet’s stock performance reflects the financial outcomes of one of the world’s largest technology companies and is often referenced to understand how diversified digital businesses respond to broader market conditions. As a publicly listed entity, Alphabet Inc. is included in major equity indices such as the NASDAQ-100 and the S&P 500, linking its share price movements to both sector-specific and market-wide developments.

Alphabet’s performance is influenced by multiple operating segments, including:

  • Advertising revenue generated through Google Search, YouTube, and related platforms

  • Cloud services offered via Google Cloud Platform

  • Hardware and consumer devices, including Pixel and Nest products

  • Other Bets, which include businesses such as Waymo and Verily that operate outside Google’s core advertising model
     

GOOG and GOOGL: Structural Difference

Alphabet has two publicly traded share classes:

  • GOOGL (Class A) shares carry one vote per share and allow participation in shareholder voting matters.

  • GOOG (Class C) shares do not carry voting rights but represent the same economic ownership in the company.
     

Both share classes track the same underlying business performance, with differences limited to voting rights rather than financial entitlement.

Due to its scale, diversified revenue base, and presence across multiple technology segments, Alphabet remains a frequently referenced company within equity market analysis, particularly in discussions involving large-cap technology firms.

Alphabet’s Global Influence

Alphabet operates across artificial intelligence, digital advertising, cloud computing, autonomous mobility, and health technology. Its platforms influence how information is accessed, services are delivered, and digital ecosystems function globally.

In India, Alphabet’s presence is primarily driven through Google Search, Android, Google Pay, and cloud services. While YouTube stocks are often searched as a term, YouTube itself is not separately listed; it operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., and its performance is reflected within Alphabet’s consolidated financials.

Key Financial Highlights

Recent publicly reported financial disclosures indicate the following broad indicators for Alphabet Inc., noting that these figures vary by reporting period and market conditions:

  • Revenue (FY 2024): Exceeded USD 300 billion globally

  • Market capitalisation: Approximately USD 1.7–1.9 trillion, fluctuating with market pricing

  • Earnings per share: Reported separately for each share class, reflecting the same underlying profitability

  • Alphabet share price: Post-stock split prices have generally traded within a broad range influenced by earnings, macroeconomic conditions, and overall equity markets
     

These metrics are subject to change based on market dynamics and quarterly earnings reports.

Differences Between GOOG and GOOGL

Factor GOOG (Class C) GOOGL (Class A)

Voting Rights

None

One vote per share

Shareholder Influence

No role in decisions

Can vote in AGMs

Price Variance

Slightly lower at times

Slightly higher during periods involving shareholder voting activity

Dividend Policy

Same for both

Same for both

Both stocks represent the same underlying company and receive the same financial benefits. Differences arise from voting rights rather than financial benefits.

Key Considerations Related to Alphabet to Keep in Mind Before

Alphabet stock, like other publicly traded equities, is subject to price fluctuations driven by market conditions and company-specific developments. Voting rights attached to different share classes affect governance participation rather than short-term price movement. As Alphabet shares are denominated in US dollars, returns for non-US investors are also influenced by currency movements in addition to the Alphabet share price.

Conclusion

Alphabet Inc. operates with a multi-class share structure that separates economic ownership from voting control. Publicly traded Alphabet shares under GOOGL and GOOG provide exposure to the same underlying business while differing in governance rights. Understanding how these share classes function clarifies how ownership, control, and participation are structured within one of the world’s largest technology companies.

Disclaimer

This content is for informational purposes only and the same should not be construed as investment advice. Bajaj Finserv Direct Limited shall not be liable or responsible for any investment decision that you may take based on this content.

FAQs

What is the difference between GOOG and GOOGL shares?

GOOG shares do not have voting rights, but GOOGL shares have one vote per share.

Alphabet created two publicly traded share classes to allow capital raising while retaining founder control through Class B shares.

Yes, though minor, the price difference exists due to the voting rights premium of GOOGL.

Alphabet shares are listed on US exchanges and may be accessible to Indian residents through intermediaries that provide overseas equity access, subject to applicable regulations and platform-specific arrangements.

Alphabet has historically reinvested its profits and has not issued regular dividends.

Alphabet Inc. is listed on the NASDAQ, where its shares trade under the ticker symbols GOOGL and GOOG.

Yes. Alphabet stock prices may reflect global developments such as macroeconomic changes, regulatory actions, geopolitical events, and shifts in technology or advertising markets.

Yes. In addition to GOOGL (Class A) and GOOG (Class C), Alphabet has Class B shares, which carry higher voting rights but are not publicly traded and are primarily held by founders and insiders.

Yes. Alphabet has conducted stock splits in the past, including a stock split implemented in 2022. Future stock splits depend on decisions made by the company’s board and shareholders.

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Hi! I’m Anshika
Financial Content Specialist
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Anshika brings 7+ years of experience in stock market operations, project management, and investment banking processes. She has led cross-functional initiatives and managed the delivery of digital investment portals. Backed by industry certifications, she holds a strong foundation in financial operations. With deep expertise in capital markets, she connects strategy with execution, ensuring compliance to deliver impact. 

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