Red Herring

THE BUSINESS OF TECHNOLOGY

  • Startups
  • Mobile
  • Enterprise
  • Consumer
  • Social
  • Events

Google Cashes in On First $50B Year in 2012

January 22, 2013

Google broke another record, earning its first $50 billion in annual revenue in 2012, thanks in a large part to strong fourth quarter earnings that generated $14.62 billion, an increase of 26 percent over the same period the year before. Outpacing analyst estimates of $12.36 billion for the December quarter, Google’s fourth quarter was about three times that of Facebook for the same quarter.

Comparatively, Google earned $38 billion in 2011.

As typical, most of that revenue was generated by ads, about $12 billion of the $14 billion in the final quarter. Google rakes in about 41 percent of all online and mobile ads in the country, according eMarketer, the research firm, which makes Google the top ad performer for any company in the world.

“We ended 2012 with a strong quarter,” said Larry Page, CEO of Google. “Revenues were up 36 percent year-on-year, and 8 percent quarter-on-quarter. And we hit $50 billion in revenues for the first time last year – not a bad achievement in just a decade and a half.”

It was good news after the company advised analysts in recent days to rethink their estimates to take into account the sale of Motorola’s set top box business.

Following the earnings report, Google stock rose 4 percent in after hours trading.

It was a more successful earnings report than the third quarter, when Google’s financial team accidentally linked the report during early trading hours, which caused the search companies stock to tank below $700 per share.

  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 

Filed Under: Internet, Staff Picks

Related Articles

  • Big Tech Avoiding Almost $3bn in Developing-World Tax – Report
  • Net Neutrality is a Fight for the Future of America’s Economy
  • Pipeline CEO Admits to Paying $4.4m to Ransomware Hackers

Widget Spacer

Top 100

The Red Herring Top 100 awards highlights the most exciting startups from Asia, Europe and the Americas.

Learn More

Upcoming Events

  • Top 100 Asia

  • Top 100 North America

  • Top 100 Europe

Widget Spacer

Guest Column

What is a Learning Management System?

Rouben David, of CourseForMe.com, outlines the features and benefits of

Widget Spacer

Subscribe

Subscribe now to get event news and updates delivered right to your inbox:

Widget Spacer

#DigitalHerring Tweet

My Tweets
  • About
  • Press & Media
  • Contact Us
Red Herring LinkedInRed Herring Facebook

Copyright © · Red Herring, Inc.

Copyright © 2025 · Red Herring Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in