5 Reasons Google is Going to $1500

James Altucher at MarketWatch thinks Google is on its way to $1500 plus, even if Google+ doesn't kill Facebook.

Here’s why:

• Google+ has entered the scene. Everyone knew that Google Buzz wouldn’t be anything. And Google’s integration of Twitter search results was sloppy and not meaningful (the beauty of Twitter search is the real-time value, and somehow Google forgot that).

• Facebook is going to go public next year. When it comes out, it will be worth over $100 billion. How do I know this? For one thing, it’s going to keep growing despite the challenge from Google+. I don’t think Google+ is a Facebook killer or a Twitter killer.

• Twitter is a very clean, tight news reader in the worst case, rather than a social-media platform. I can follow the 1,000 or so of the most important people in my worldview and pay attention to their thoughts, links, news, etc. This is very useful for me. G+ does not replace that.

• Friends on Facebook are by mutual consent. This mutual consent makes the value of “friendship” very high. G+ is not by mutual consent. I can add anyone to a circle. I think the differences in the value of friendship mean that people will continue to use and add to Facebook even if they also use G+.

• G+ is more like Twitter — but with conversations, images, videos, blog posts added to the feed. So this is not a situation akin to Facebook killing MySpace. This is just a new, valuable addition to the social-media landscape.

 So why then, would that be so good for Google stock?

"Now simply add that to Google’s market cap of $200 billion, because I think within the next year Google+ will be as valuable as Facebook. They have the user base already; it’s just a matter of converting them, which they will do, and then monetizing them, which they have the tools to easily do.

So at market cap of $250 billion, add 25% to Google’s share price of $600. Or about $750.

Even that’s too cheap. Back out Google’s $31 billion in net cash, and that leaves you with a forward earnings multiple of approximately 11.50. With 26% year-over-year earnings growth last quarter, Google can be more accurately valued at around 25 times earnings. Let’s cut that back a little and be conservative. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to see Google trading for $1,500 within the next 12 months."

Add a Comment (Pro Members Only)

More like this...