Alphabet (GOOG) Slipped on Concerns Over Increased Capex and AI Monetization

The London Company released its Q1 2026 investor letter for “The London Company Large Cap Strategy”. In early 2026, US equities declined, with the Russell 3000 falling 4% and the S&P posting losses. A copy of the letter is available to download here. The year started positively with a broad rally, but sentiment reversed in March due to the Iran conflict. Crude oil prices rose, raising inflation concerns and shifting the Fed’s outlook from rate cuts to hikes. Large-cap growth suffered double-digit losses amid weakness in Big Tech and AI concerns in software. Sector dispersion was extreme; Energy surged over 35%, while Tech fell over 9%. The London Company Large Cap portfolio returned 2.6% (2.4% net) in the quarter, outperforming the Russell 1000’s 4.2% decline, supported by stock selection and sector exposure. The strategy’s quality, high active share, and downside resilience were effective in an unsettled market. The firm views the recent setback as a pause in a multi-year cycle, not a reversal. In addition, please check the Strategy’s top five holdings to know its best picks in 2026.

In its first-quarter 2026 investor letter, The London Company Large Cap Strategy highlighted Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG). Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG), the parent company of Google, offers various platforms and services, including online search and advertising, cloud solutions, and artificial intelligence. On June 10, 2026, Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) closed at $353.32 per share. One-month return of Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) was -11.04%, and its shares gained 99.65% over the past 52 weeks. Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) has a market capitalization of $4.31 trillion.

The London Company Large Cap Strategy stated the following regarding Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) in its Q1 2026 investor letter:

“Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) – GOOG was a bottom contributor despite solid operating results, as strong growth in Search and Cloud was offset by investor concerns around elevated capex and evolving AI monetization. Sentiment was further weighed down by uncertainty around AI-driven search disruption and moderating advertising spend. While the stock faced pressure, the company’s dominant search franchise, growing cloud infrastructure business, and leadership position in AI development provide multiple growth drivers. We view the current valuation as attractive relative to the company’s market position, cash generation, and innovation capabilities.”

Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) ranks 7th on our list of 40 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. According to our database, 201 hedge fund portfolios held Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) at the end of the first quarter, compared to 203 in the previous quarter. In 2025, Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) achieved its first-ever $400 billion annual revenue and in Q1 2026 its consolidated revenue reached $109.9 billion, up 22% or 19% in constant currency. While we acknowledge the risk and potential of Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) and that has 10,000% upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.

In another article, we covered Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) and shared the list of good stocks to invest in. In addition, please check out our hedge fund investor letters Q1 2026 page for more investor letters from hedge funds and other leading investors.

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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.

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