Alphabet: A Hold Your Nose Buy

  • Long GOOGL w/low 20s upside by YE'26, despite near-term pain as paid click growth decelerates. Bull case remains AI product leadership, network spin-out, and call options w/Waymo/GCP. EPS cushion from RIFs/'getting fit' if Search growth decelerates materially, providing a management backstop for the stock on top of the existing buyback.