TLDR
- GOOGL stock is up over 2% in premarket trading on Friday, following a 1.3% gain the previous session.
- Waymo announced plans to launch a driverless ride-hailing service in Singapore in 2028, its first move into Southeast Asia.
- A U.S. court ruled Google must follow six years of behavioral restrictions in its ad tech antitrust case, but stopped short of ordering a business breakup.
- Tigress Financial raised its price target on GOOGL from $415 to $485, citing AI-driven growth across Search, Cloud, and YouTube.
- Wall Street holds a Strong Buy consensus on GOOGL, with an average price target of $429.31, implying 23.6% upside from current levels.
Alphabet (GOOGL) stock is trading at $347.33, up over 2% in premarket trading on Friday, September 18. The move follows a 1.3% gain in the prior session.
Two catalysts are driving the early gains: a Waymo expansion announcement and easing legal pressure from the ongoing U.S. antitrust case.
Waymo confirmed on September 18 that it plans to launch a driverless ride-hailing service in Singapore in 2028. The fleet will use electric Jaguar I-PACE SUVs.
Before the commercial launch, Waymo will spend 2027 mapping Singapore’s roads and testing its systems in local conditions, including monsoon weather. The company did not disclose how many vehicles will make up the initial fleet.
Singapore, we’re on our way 🇸🇬 Our vehicles will arrive later this year, and will begin mapping and learning Singapore’s roads in early 2027 before fully autonomous ride-hailing arrives in 2028.
Learn more: https://t.co/sAYo0uPecC pic.twitter.com/OqC4fDVz5x
— Waymo (@Waymo) September 18, 2026
Singapore will be Waymo’s first market in Southeast Asia. The expansion gives the unit access to a new customer base and additional real-world driving data outside the U.S.
Antitrust Ruling Removes a Key Overhang
On Wednesday, a U.S. court ruled in the Google ad tech antitrust case. The outcome included six years of behavioral restrictions and an internal compliance monitor.
Critically, the court did not order Google to sell or break up its AdX business. That outcome removed one of the bigger risks investors had been watching, and likely helped ease some pressure on the stock.
Year-to-date, GOOGL is up 11%. After hitting a 52-week high of $408.61 in mid-May, the stock pulled back alongside broader pressure on tech.
In Q2 2026, Alphabet reported total ad revenue of $81.63 billion, up 14.5% year-over-year. Google Cloud revenue jumped 82% to $24.77 billion in the same period.
Revenue over the last twelve months reached $445.87 billion, a 20% increase. Return on equity stands at 50%, and the stock trades at a P/E ratio of 17.38.
Tigress Financial Boosts Price Target to $485
On September 17, Tigress Financial Partners raised its price target on GOOGL from $415 to $485, keeping a Strong Buy rating.
The firm pointed to Alphabet’s AI leadership as the primary driver, with Gemini, TPUs, and AI services creating new revenue opportunities across Search, Cloud, and YouTube.
Tigress noted that while Alphabet’s AI investment cycle temporarily compresses returns on capital, it positions the company for stronger long-term profit growth.
The firm also highlighted Alphabet’s balance sheet, noting the company holds more cash than debt. It remains on Tigress Financial’s Research Focus List and Focus Opportunity Portfolio.
Wall Street broadly agrees. Based on 25 Buy ratings and four Hold ratings over the past three months, GOOGL carries a Strong Buy consensus. The average price target of $429.31 implies 23.6% upside from current levels.
GOOGL has an average daily trading volume of approximately 23.3 million shares over the past three months.
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