Google Parent Alphabet’s Revenue Rises, but Profit Comes Up Short

One-time tax hit caused a $3 billion loss in quarter, but revenue rose 24%; EPS miss

Google handles 90% of the world's internet searches, and it increasingly is promoting a single answer for many questions. Even subjective or unanswerable queries sometimes get seemingly definitive answers. Here's how the algorithms are -- and aren't -- working. Video/Photo Illustration: Heather Seidel/The Wall Street Journal

Jack Nicas

The Wall Street Journal

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February 2, 2018

Google parent Alphabet Inc. swung to a loss after taking a $9.9 billion charge related to the new U.S. tax law, though its core advertising business continued its strong run even as criticism grows over how the company monitors its clout and content.

Alphabet said the one-time tax hit caused a $3.02 billion loss in the fourth quarter. Revenue rose 24% to $32.32 billion from a year earlier.

The...