Alphabet Raises 2026 Capex to $205B, Backs Anthropic, Faces Ad-Tech Lawsuit
GOOG sits 96% above its 52-week low of $188.7.
Summary
Alphabet raised its 2026 capex guidance to $195–$205B from $180–$190B, citing faster capacity build to meet AI demand. The new range still trails Amazon's plan by about $20B, and the stock dipped on the news. Separately, Alphabet guaranteed data-center lease payments to support Anthropic's U.S. expansion, backing significant private-credit financing for the AI startup. The company also faces a fresh U.S. ad-tech lawsuit filed August 3 seeking damages after a federal ruling found unlawful conduct, and a raised Australian news levy of 2.5% on ad revenue. On the positive side, sizable unrealized gains from its SpaceX stake lifted reported profits this quarter. The mix of raised spending, legal headwinds, and strategic AI backing creates a complex picture for traders.
At the time of this announcement, GOOG was trading at $370.11 on NASDAQ in the Technology sector, with a market capitalization of approximately $4.6T. The 52-week trading range was $188.70 to $404.47. This news item was assessed with neutral market sentiment and an importance score of 8 out of 10. Source: Wiseek News.