Analyst Maintains Buy Rating on Alphabet Despite YouTube Engagement Dip
Alphabet's stock retains a Buy recommendation from Citizens analyst Andrew Boone, despite YouTube posting its first annual decline in global viewing time. The $290 price target implies 22.6% upside potential as Boone emphasizes Alphabet's resilient long-term fundamentals.
YouTube's 1.2% year-over-year usage drop marks a notable inflection point, with TikTok's 8.7% surge highlighting shifting consumer preferences toward short-form video. The data excludes connected TV platforms where YouTube maintains strong growth—a potential mitigating factor for overall engagement metrics.