Alphabet Inc.’s Class C shares (NASDAQ: GOOG) ended Tuesday’s session higher and were little changed in early after-hours trading—capping a day when “growth” megacaps helped push U.S. equities toward record territory heading into a holiday-shortened week. [1]
With markets set to close early on Wednesday, Dec. 24 ahead of Christmas Day, the key question for traders tonight isn’t just where GOOG finished—but what could realistically move the stock in thin, holiday liquidity when the bell rings tomorrow. [2]
GOOG after the bell: where Alphabet stock stands tonight
Alphabet’s Class C shares finished regular trading Tuesday around the mid-$315 area and ticked slightly higher in after-hours quotes.
- Regular-session close: about $315.68
- After-hours (early evening): about $315.80 (a modest uptick)
- Tuesday trading range: roughly $310–$316 [3]
The “why it matters” for tomorrow: $310–$316 now acts as the most immediate, market-defined map of near-term support and resistance—simply because that’s where buyers and sellers actually fought today. [4]
The backdrop: S&P 500 at a record close, growth stocks back in favor
Alphabet traded in a market that continued to reward big-cap growth exposure on Tuesday. The S&P 500 closed at a record, and Reuters cited Alphabet among mega-cap names that gained more than 1% on the day. [5]
Reuters also flagged a critical practical factor for Wednesday: trading volumes were already light and are likely to thin further as the Christmas holiday approaches. [6]
That “liquidity” point matters for GOOG because thinner markets can make headline-driven moves feel larger—up or down—than they would in a normal session.
Today’s biggest Alphabet catalyst still in play: the $4.75B Intersect deal
Even though the announcement hit Monday, Alphabet’s agreement to acquire energy-and-data-center infrastructure provider Intersect remains one of the most important “active” narratives that investors are pricing into the stock right now—because it ties directly to the market’s central debate of 2025: AI growth vs. AI capex and power constraints. [7]
What Alphabet actually announced
Alphabet said it signed a definitive agreement to acquire Intersect for $4.75 billion in cash plus assumed debt, noting that Google already held a minority stake from an earlier funding round. Alphabet also emphasized:
- Intersect will remain a separate operation/brand under Intersect leadership
- The transaction includes multiple gigawatts of projects in development or under construction tied to Google’s infrastructure partnership
- The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2026, subject to customary conditions [8]
Reuters added color on scale and motivation, reporting that the acquisition targets energy and data-center projects under development/ construction as Big Tech spends to expand compute and power for AI. [9]
Why markets care
Alphabet is effectively telling investors: “If power is the bottleneck for AI-era compute, we’re going to be more proactive in securing and shaping supply.” That framing can be supportive for a stock—especially when the market narrative has been oscillating between enthusiasm for AI revenue and anxiety about AI spending. [10]
Fresh Alphabet-related headlines from today that investors are digesting tonight
Several “same-day” stories touched Alphabet directly—mostly in regulation, legal risk, and autonomy (Waymo)—and they’re the kinds of items that can matter more in a shortened session where there are fewer competing catalysts.
1) Texas app-store age verification law blocked (win for major platforms)
A U.S. federal judge blocked enforcement of a new Texas law that would have required app stores and developers to verify users’ ages and obtain parental consent for minors—legislation that had been set to take effect in January 2026. Reuters reported the judge said the law likely violates the First Amendment, and noted the ruling is widely seen as a win for large platform operators including Google. [11]
The Verge reported the same injunction and highlighted that Texas’ law is among a wave of similar state efforts, raising the prospect of appeals and ongoing legal fights. [12]
Why this matters for GOOG: it reduces near-term compliance overhang and potential privacy friction—but it also signals the broader reality that platform regulation remains politically active going into 2026.
2) Copyright lawsuit over AI training data names Google among defendants
Reuters reported that New York Times reporter and author John Carreyrou, along with other authors, filed a lawsuit accusing multiple AI companies—including Google—of using copyrighted books without permission to train AI systems. [13]
Why this matters for GOOG: it’s part of the expanding legal perimeter around generative AI. These cases can influence future costs (licensing, settlements, compliance) and shape what data can be used to train models.
3) Waymo scrutiny after San Francisco outage: regulator review adds noise to the autonomy story
In a separate Reuters report published today, California regulators began examining incidents where Waymo robotaxis stalled during a major San Francisco power outage, after traffic signals failed and vehicles stopped longer than expected at intersections. Waymo paused service briefly and then resumed, and Reuters said the CPUC is looking into specifics. [14]
Why this matters for GOOG: Waymo is not Alphabet’s largest earnings driver, but it is one of its most visible “option value” businesses—and regulatory scrutiny can affect timelines, costs, and public trust.
4) Report: AMD and Google in talks with Samsung’s Texas fab for next-gen AI chips
A TipRanks report said AMD and Google are in talks with Samsung about using the company’s Taylor, Texas facility to manufacture 2-nanometer chips, with the plant expected to be ready in 2026—framed partly around constraints on where leading-edge nodes can be produced. [15]
Why this matters for GOOG: it reinforces a theme investors track closely—Alphabet’s ability to secure leading-edge silicon and diversify supply as AI workloads expand.
(As with any supply-chain reporting based on “talks,” investors typically watch for confirmation, contracts, or capex signals before repricing aggressively.)
Wall Street stance tonight: bullish consensus, modest implied move
Analyst consensus targets (and what they imply)
Investing.com’s consensus snapshot shows a strongly positive analyst backdrop for Alphabet’s Class C shares, with:
- Overall consensus: “Strong Buy”
- Average 12‑month price target: ~$328.21 (about ~4% above the referenced price level)
- Rating distribution shown: 58 Buy, 9 Hold, 0 Sell (as displayed in its summary) [16]
Separately, MarketBeat flagged a Wedbush note saying the firm raised its price target to $350 from $320 while keeping an Outperform rating. [17]
Options market: calm volatility, slightly bullish tone
A TheFly options snapshot carried by TipRanks described:
- Calls leading puts (put/call ratio around 0.58)
- Implied volatility (IV30) near 25.73, described as among the lowest observations over the past year
- An “expected daily move” estimate around $5.10 [18]
Translation for tomorrow: options markets are not pricing a dramatic single-day swing—though holiday liquidity can always cause “surprises” that models don’t anticipate.
What to know before the market opens tomorrow (Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025)
1) Tomorrow is a holiday-shortened session—plan for early close dynamics
The New York Stock Exchange says markets will close early at 1:00 p.m. ET on Dec. 24, 2025 (with eligible options closing at 1:15 p.m. ET, per its notice). [19]
Nasdaq’s holiday schedule also lists an early close at 1:00 p.m. on Dec. 24 and full closure on Dec. 25. [20]
Why it matters for GOOG:
- Expect lighter volume, especially late morning into the early close
- Breakouts can be less reliable
- Stock-specific moves can be driven more by headlines than by steady institutional flow [21]
2) Macro check: today’s data boosted yields, but growth stocks still rallied
Reuters reported U.S. GDP for Q3 was estimated at a 4.3% annualized rate, stronger than expected, supported by consumer spending and exports—while also noting inflation pressures in the report. [22]
On the sentiment side, consumer confidence weakened, with the Conference Board index reported at 89.1 in December. [23]
Why it matters for GOOG: Alphabet tends to trade as a high-quality growth compounder. Shifts in rate expectations and real yields can influence the multiple investors are willing to pay, especially near year-end.
3) Watch the pre-market calendar: jobless claims are on deck
MarketWatch’s U.S. economic calendar lists initial jobless claims scheduled for 8:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday, Dec. 24. [24]
This isn’t a “Google-specific” catalyst, but in a thin session it can influence index futures—especially if the number surprises.
4) Bond market early close can affect cross-asset signals
SIFMA’s holiday guidance indicates an early close (2:00 p.m. ET) for U.S. bond markets on Dec. 24, 2025. [25]
That matters because rates and equity leadership (including megacap tech) often interact intraday; when one market shuts early, price discovery can get choppier.
Quick refresher: GOOG vs. GOOGL (why “Class C” matters)
Alphabet has multiple share classes. GOOG (Class C) typically has no voting rights, while GOOGL (Class A) has voting rights. In day-to-day trading, they often move very similarly; differences usually show up as small spreads driven by liquidity and indexing rather than fundamentals.
For tomorrow’s purposes, the catalyst list is the same: AI infrastructure spending, regulatory/legal headlines, and macro-driven risk appetite.
Bottom line for tonight
Alphabet stock heads into Wednesday’s open with positive momentum from Tuesday’s megacap/growth bid and an AI-infrastructure narrative strengthened by the Intersect acquisition—while also navigating a steady drip of platform regulation, AI copyright litigation, and Waymo scrutiny.
In a normal session, those themes compete with dozens of other market forces. On Christmas Eve, the shortened schedule and lighter liquidity mean any one headline could feel louder than usual. [26]
References
1. public.com, 2. www.nyse.com, 3. public.com, 4. public.com, 5. www.reuters.com, 6. www.reuters.com, 7. abc.xyz, 8. abc.xyz, 9. www.reuters.com, 10. www.reuters.com, 11. www.reuters.com, 12. www.theverge.com, 13. www.reuters.com, 14. www.reuters.com, 15. www.tipranks.com, 16. www.investing.com, 17. www.marketbeat.com, 18. www.tipranks.com, 19. www.nyse.com, 20. www.nasdaq.com, 21. www.reuters.com, 22. www.reuters.com, 23. www.reuters.com, 24. www.marketwatch.com, 25. www.sifma.org, 26. www.reuters.com
