It exceeded Wall street expectations in both areas


Google Inc. posted solid growth in its revenue and profit during 2008's first quarter and exceeded Wall Street expectations in both categories, amid widespread concern that the search engine giant's results would be weak.

Google generated revenue of $5.19 billion for the quarter that ended March 31, up 42% compared with 2007's first quarter, Google said Thursday.

Excluding the advertising commissions it pays to Web site publishers that carry its ads, Google posted revenue of $3.7 billion, beating the $3.608 billion consensus expectation of financial analysts polled by Thomson Financial.

The company had net income of $1.31 billion, or $4.12 per share, compared with $1 billion, or $3.18 per share, in 2007's first quarter.

On a pro-forma basis, excluding certain items, net income was $1.54 billion, or $4.84 per share, topping analysts' expectation of $4.52 per share.

Google's ability to continue generating solid revenue and profits from its search advertising business came under scrutiny in recent months, as several independent studies suggested that people were clicking less than expected on its pay-per-click ads and that rival Yahoo Inc. was stealing market share. However, the quarterly results don't seem to indicate any major breakdown in Google's revenue-and-profit-making machine.

Google's announced results include the operations of DoubleClick Inc. starting on the date when that acquisition closed, March 11, until the quarter's end. But the acquisition's effect was immaterial to revenue and "only slightly dilutive" to net income and earnings per share, Google said.

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Google grows profit and revenue in Q1 Lambo-11

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