Google has tripled its profit in the fourth quarter of 2006

Google's net profit nearly tripled in the fourth quarter of 2006, reaching $ 1.03 billion ($ 3.29 per share). A year earlier, the figure was $ 372 million ($ 1.22 per share). Google's revenue during the reporting period grew by 67% to $ 3.21 billion year on year, exceeding analysts' expectations, who predicted growth of 64% (3.14 billion).

The company announced its financial results on January 31. But they did not impress investors, because they do not demonstrate a "breakthrough", as last year, and Google shares fell by 3.5% after the report was released, Reuters reports. Executive Director Eric Schmidt explained that the results of the last quarters are directly related to Google’s major investment projects. He noted that the company intends to invest heavily and further.

Google’s net profit for the entire 2006 has more than doubled, reaching $ 3.077 billion with revenue of $ 10,605 billion (72.7% growth). The USA Today publication reports that the entire company is now valued at $ 153.5 billion, which is four times higher than the cost of a competing Yahoo.