New York, Jan 26, 2026, 17:52 (ET) — Trading after hours.
- After the close, GOOG climbed roughly 1.6%, edging out the broader market’s gains on Monday.
- Google has settled for $68 million over issues with Google Assistant capturing recordings from so-called “false accepts.”
- All eyes are on the Fed’s decision set for Wednesday, along with Alphabet’s earnings report due February 4.
Alphabet Inc’s Class C shares climbed 1.6% to $333.59 in after-hours action on Monday. The stock hit a high of $336.31 and dipped to a low of $326.10 during the session. After-hours trading, which starts after the 4 p.m. ET close, often sees lighter volume.
Alphabet, Google’s parent company, remains at the center of a pivotal week for megacap tech. Investors are caught between rate policy developments and fresh earnings guidance.
U.S. stocks ended Monday on a positive note — the Dow climbed 0.64%, the S&P 500 rose 0.50%, and the Nasdaq ticked up 0.43%. Investors are bracing for mega-cap earnings and the Federal Reserve’s upcoming meeting Tuesday, with a policy update due Wednesday. The CME Group’s FedWatch tool shows about a 97% probability the Fed holds rates steady. Leading the S&P sectors, communications services jumped 1.3%, boosted by Alphabet alongside Apple, Microsoft, Meta, and Broadcom. “Communications and technology are trading well today ahead of earnings from many large companies,” said Chris Zaccarelli, chief investment officer at Northlight Asset Management. Investors remain focused on returns from AI investments. 1
Google has agreed to shell out $68 million to settle a class action alleging its Assistant recorded and shared private conversations triggered by “false accepts,” according to court documents. The preliminary deal was submitted late Friday in federal court in San Jose and awaits approval from U.S. District Judge Beth Labson Freeman. Plaintiff lawyers could ask for up to a third of the settlement in fees. Google denies any wrongdoing and declined to comment Monday. Apple faced a similar $95 million settlement in December 2024. 2
For traders, the figure is minimal. It also serves as a fresh reminder that consumer-facing AI and voice products remain under intense scrutiny.
Alphabet’s Class C shares, listed as GOOG, come without voting rights. That sets them apart from the Class A shares, which trade under GOOGL.
Despite Monday’s gains, some investors remain cautious about the megacaps’ uneven start to the year. Raymond James CIO Larry Adam called the early-year underperformance “nothing new or alarming,” noting that guidance from Apple, Microsoft, and Meta this week will draw close attention. 3
Alphabet faces more courtroom action this week beyond the Assistant case. YouTube, alongside Meta and TikTok, will go on trial in Los Angeles County Superior Court over allegations that the platforms contribute to a youth mental health crisis. Jury selection is scheduled to start Tuesday, per court documents. Julie Scelfo, founder of Mothers Against Media Addiction, commented, “It can be very confusing for parents who to trust.” 4
Alphabet plans to release its fourth-quarter and full-year earnings on Wednesday, Feb. 4, with a conference call scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET, the company announced. 5
Investors are zeroing in on ad demand, YouTube’s growth, and cloud margins, while keeping a close eye on spending trends as firms ramp up AI infrastructure.
The path forward isn’t straightforward. A less lenient Fed or underwhelming guidance from big tech could quickly reverse the trade that pushed GOOG higher.
The Fed’s Wednesday announcement leads the week. After that, all eyes turn to Alphabet’s Feb. 4 earnings report, the next major trigger for the stock.
