GOOG Stock Rises Ahead of Google’s Final Court Plea in Ad-Tech Breakup Case

Alphabet Inc. (GOOG) shares traded at $296.49, up $6.51 or 2.24% as of 10:13 AM EST on November 21, 2025, as the company prepares for a critical moment in its ongoing antitrust battle. Google will make its final arguments on Friday to avoid a forced breakup of its advertising technology business before U.S. District Court Judge Leonie Brinkema in Alexandria, Virginia. The Department of Justice and a coalition of states are seeking to compel Google to sell its ad exchange, AdX, where publishers pay a 20% fee to sell ads in instant auctions.

This closing argument marks a pivotal juncture in Google’s years-long legal struggle over its dominance in online advertising, with the outcome potentially reshaping the company’s business structure and competitive landscape.

DOJ vs. Google: Closing Arguments in High-Stakes Ad-Tech Fight

The final court arguments come after Judge Brinkema ruled in April that Google holds two illegal ad tech monopolies. During an 11-day trial that began in September, DOJ attorneys argued that nothing short of a forced sale would prevent Google from developing new tactics to hamper competition in the digital advertising market.

The government’s position centers on Google’s control of AdX, which critics say gives the company unfair leverage over online publishers who must pay substantial fees to access the platform’s ad auction system.

Google has countered by attempting to demonstrate that a breakup would be technically difficult and result in a painful transition that would harm customers. The company plans to appeal Judge Brinkema’s monopoly ruling regardless of the remedies decision.

Google has already stated it will also challenge a separate ruling from a Washington-based judge that found it holds illegal monopolies in online search and related advertising, though in that case it avoided a forced sale of its Chrome browser but was ordered to share data with competitors.

The appeals process is expected to take years, meaning any potential breakup or structural changes would not be immediate. This extended legal timeline provides some reassurance to investors, as reflected in the stock’s positive performance.

Google has largely emerged unscathed from the bipartisan government crackdown on Big Tech dominance that began during President Donald Trump’s first term, though the company now faces its most serious structural threat yet.

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Alphabet’s Market Momentum Remains Strong Amid Legal Risks

Alphabet’s stock has demonstrated remarkable resilience and growth despite ongoing legal challenges. The company’s year-to-date return stands at an impressive 57.88%, vastly outperforming the S&P 500’s 11.59% gain over the same period.

Over the past year, GOOG has surged 77.86%, with longer-term returns equally strong: 214.88% over three years and 246.40% over five years. The stock’s 52-week range spans from $142.66 to $306.89, with current trading near the upper end of that range reflecting continued investor confidence.

The company’s financial metrics underscore its market strength. Alphabet commands a market capitalization of $3.62 trillion with a trailing P/E ratio of 28.92 and forward P/E of 26.53. Revenue for the trailing twelve months reached $385.48 billion, with net income of $124.25 billion translating to diluted earnings per share of $10.14

The company maintains a healthy balance sheet with $98.5 billion in total cash and a modest debt-to-equity ratio of 11.42%. Analyst recommendations remain overwhelmingly positive, with the latest rating from Scotiabank on October 30, 2025, maintaining a “Sector Outperform” rating and raising the price target from $310 to $336.

The stock’s strong performance occurs against the backdrop of broader antitrust scrutiny facing Big Tech, with the U.S. government maintaining pending cases against Meta Platforms, Amazon, and Apple as well.

However, Alphabet’s diversified business model spanning Google Services, Google Cloud, and Other Bets segments, combined with its dominant position in search and digital advertising, continues to attract investor support. The company’s profit margin of 32.23% and return on equity of 35.45% demonstrate robust operational efficiency even as legal uncertainties persist.

Disclaimer: The author does not hold or have a position in any securities discussed in the article. All stock prices were quoted at the time of writing.