Alphabet Stock Surges as Judge Allows Google to Keep Chrome and Android

A federal judge ruled that Alphabet (GOOGL) does not have to sell key businesses such as Chrome or Android, helping the company avoid the worst outcome in a high-profile monopoly case. The decision was welcomed by investors, sending Alphabet stock soaring nearly 8% in after-hours trading. The company plans to appeal the ruling, but for now, it clears a crucial hurdle and could mark the starting gun for a fresh rally in the search giant.

A federal judge has ruled that Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) does not have to sell key businesses such as Chrome or Android, helping the company avoid the worst outcome in a high-profile monopoly case. The decision was welcomed by investors, sending Alphabet stock soaring nearly 8% in after-hours trading. The company plans to appeal the ruling, but for now, it clears a crucial hurdle and could mark the starting gun for a fresh rally in the search giant.

In a significant ruling, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta ruled that Google will not be required to sell off its Chrome browser or Android operating system. The judge also ruled that Google must share information with competitors to remedy its online search monopoly. However, Google will not be required to cease payments to Apple and other companies for preloading Google products [1].

The ruling comes after a five-year legal battle between Google and the U.S. Department of Justice. The case alleges that Google holds an illegal monopoly in online search and related advertising. Google CEO Sundar Pichai expressed concerns that the data-sharing measures sought by the U.S. Department of Justice could enable Google's rivals to reverse-engineer its technology [2].

The ruling does not end Google's legal troubles. The company is also embroiled in litigation over its dominance in other markets. Google recently said it will continue to fight a ruling requiring it to revamp its app store in a lawsuit won by "Fortnite" maker Epic Games. Additionally, Google is scheduled to go to trial in September to determine remedies in a separate case brought by the Justice Department where a judge found the company holds illegal monopolies in online advertising technology [3].

Despite the ruling, Alphabet stock has seen an increase in its year-to-date performance. As of the last close, stock had risen 11.6% YTD [1]. The company's stock price stood at $224.77 in extended trading after the ruling, up 6.3% [1].

The decision is likely to have implications for the broader tech industry, as other companies may use it as a benchmark in their own legal battles. The ruling also highlights the ongoing bipartisan crackdown by the U.S. on Big Tech firms, which began during President Donald Trump's first term and includes cases against Meta Platforms, Amazon, and Apple [3].

References:
[1] https://www.tradingview.com/news/reuters.com,2025:newsml_L4N3UP1H5:0-alphabet-up-after-us-judge-rules-google-will-not-have-to-sell-chrome-in-search-monopoly-case/
[2] https://gbhackers.com/microsoft-to-retire-popular-editor-extensions/
[3] https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/us-judge-orders-google-share-202024861.html