07:29 GOOG Google downgrade details (423.48 )
Stanford Group downgrades Google to Hold from Buy with a $425 target (vs $360 prior tgt) based primarily on valuation. At 34x 2006 OIBDA and 61x 2006 EPS, the stock is fairly valued. While operating trends and stock momentum remain strong, the firm believes the near-term risk-reward tradeoff no longer justifies a Buy rating. The pursuit of AOL is representative of an increasingly competitive environment, which will eventually begin to slow Google's growth.
Stanford Group downgrades Google to Hold from Buy with a $425 target (vs $360 prior tgt) based primarily on valuation. At 34x 2006 OIBDA and 61x 2006 EPS, the stock is fairly valued. While operating trends and stock momentum remain strong, the firm believes the near-term risk-reward tradeoff no longer justifies a Buy rating. The pursuit of AOL is representative of an increasingly competitive environment, which will eventually begin to slow Google's growth.