Salesforce Cybersecurity Breach: A significant breach involving Salesforce has led to a global cybersecurity crisis, affecting around 2.5 million Gmail users and allowing hackers to send convincing scam messages.
Method of Attack: Hackers exploited Salesforce's integration with Google systems through social engineering, tricking a Google employee into authorizing a malicious app that accessed sensitive customer data.
Data Compromised: Although passwords were not stolen, attackers gained access to contact names, business details, and metadata from Gmail communications, which they are now using for phishing attempts.
Response and Impact: Google has confirmed the breach and advised users to change passwords and enable two-factor authentication. The incident has also impacted various brands, while Salesforce stock maintains a Moderate Buy rating with potential upside.
Wall Street analysts forecast GOOGL stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for GOOGL is 338.25 USD with a low forecast of 279.00 USD and a high forecast of 390.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
34 Analyst Rating
Wall Street analysts forecast GOOGL stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for GOOGL is 338.25 USD with a low forecast of 279.00 USD and a high forecast of 390.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
27 Buy
7 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 330.540
Low
279.00
Averages
338.25
High
390.00
Current: 330.540
Low
279.00
Averages
338.25
High
390.00
UBS
Stephen Ju
Neutral
maintain
$306 -> $345
2026-01-20
New
Reason
UBS
Stephen Ju
Price Target
$306 -> $345
AI Analysis
2026-01-20
New
maintain
Neutral
Reason
UBS analyst Stephen Ju raised the firm's price target on Alphabet to $345 from $306 and keeps a Neutral rating on the shares. The Q4 earnings outlook for advertising-driven companies points to slimmer beats after a slow October tied to a government shutdown, followed by a rebound in November and December, the analyst tells investors in a research note. Among nine companies, five exceeded prior forecasts, two were in line, and two came in modestly below expectations, UBS says.
Deutsche Bank
Benjamin Black
Buy
maintain
$340 -> $370
2026-01-20
New
Reason
Deutsche Bank
Benjamin Black
Price Target
$340 -> $370
2026-01-20
New
maintain
Buy
Reason
Deutsche Bank analyst Benjamin Black raised the firm's price target on Alphabet to $370 from $340 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares.
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Scotiabank
Outperform
maintain
$336 -> $375
2026-01-09
Reason
Scotiabank
Price Target
$336 -> $375
2026-01-09
maintain
Outperform
Reason
Scotiabank raised the firm's price target on Alphabet to $375 from $336 and keeps an Outperform rating on the shares. The firm sees Google as a structural winner among hyperscalers, believing the stock should outperform given how it stands to benefit from AI monetization, the analyst tells investors.
Mizuho
Lloyd Walmsley
Outperform
maintain
$325 -> $365
2026-01-09
Reason
Mizuho
Lloyd Walmsley
Price Target
$325 -> $365
2026-01-09
maintain
Outperform
Reason
Mizuho analyst Lloyd Walmsley raised the firm's price target on Alphabet to $365 from $325 and keeps an Outperform rating on the shares. The firm increased the company's estimates as part of its 2026 internet outlook. It sees see significant potential sales upside at Google Cloud.
About GOOGL
Alphabet Inc. is a holding company. The Company's segments include Google Services, Google Cloud, and Other Bets. The Google Services segment includes products and services such as ads, Android, Chrome, devices, Google Maps, Google Play, Search, and YouTube. The Google Cloud segment includes infrastructure and platform services, collaboration tools, and other services for enterprise customers. Its Other Bets segment is engaged in the sale of healthcare-related services and Internet services. Its Google Cloud provides enterprise-ready cloud services, including Google Cloud Platform and Google Workspace. Google Cloud Platform provides access to solutions such as artificial intelligence (AI) offerings, including its AI infrastructure, Vertex AI platform, and Gemini for Google Cloud; cybersecurity, and data and analytics. Google Workspace includes cloud-based communication and collaboration tools for enterprises, such as Calendar, Gmail, Docs, Drive, and Meet.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
