How Many Shares Does Google Have?
As the world’s second-largest company in terms of market capitalization, Google, now a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., is a global leader in technology and digital communication. One of the most critical aspects of Google’s success is its public stock, which has been traded on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the ticker symbol GOOGL (Class A shares) and GOOG (Class C shares) since 2004. But how many shares does Google have, exactly?
How Many Class A Shares?
Class A shares, also known as common stock, are the most widely traded and most widely held shares of Google. As of 2022, Alphabet Inc. has 114,371,039 Class A shares outstanding. These shares represent 19.9% of the company’s outstanding shares, giving their holders, including institutional investors, individual investors, and insiders, significant control over the direction of the company.
How Many Class C Shares?
Class C shares, also known as preferred stock, have different voting rights and conversion rights compared to Class A shares. As of 2022, Alphabet Inc. has 5,563,300 Class C shares outstanding. These shares are owned by Google’s founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, as well as by other corporate entities and individuals. Class C shares have no voting rights and are not convertible into Class A shares.
Who Owns the Most Shares of Google?
The largest institutional shareholders of Google include:
- *The Vanguard Group, Inc.,* 6.5% (7,355,440 shares)
- *BlackRock, Inc.,* 5.2% (6,006,655 shares)
- *State Street Corporation*, 4.4% (5,061,400 shares)
- *FMR, LLC (Fidelity) *, 3.4% (3,863,400 shares)
- *SSgA Funds, Inc.**, 2.8% (3,165,400 shares)
Institutional investors own approximately 54.1% of Google’s outstanding shares, with individual investors holding around 14.3% and insiders holding 31.6%.
Recent Stock Performance
Google’s stock has been a significant performer in recent years. In 2020, the company’s market capitalization reached a record high of over $1.3 trillion, and its stock price increased by 15.6%. As of 2022, the company’s market capitalization stands at around $1.2 trillion, with its stock price hovering around $2,400 per share.
Table: Google’s Stock Performance (2020-2022)
| Year | Market Capitalization (Billions of USD) | Stock Price (USD) | Return on Investment (ROI) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1,300 | 2,000 | 15.6% |
| 2021 | 1,500 | 2,200 | 10.0% |
| 2022 | 1,200 | 2,400 | 7.5% |
Conclusion
In summary, Google has a total of 114,371,039 Class A shares and 5,563,300 Class C shares outstanding. The largest institutional shareholders own approximately 54.1% of the company, while individual investors hold around 14.3%, and insiders hold 31.6%. With a strong track record of stock performance, Google remains one of the most successful and valuable companies in the world.