CNBC's 'Final Trades': Amphenol, Uber, Alphabet and More

On CNBC's "Final Trades," the panelists picked Amphenol, Alphabet, Uber, and iShares US Consumer Discretionary ETF. Amphenol was acquired by CommScope for $10.5 billion, while Alphabet agreed to pay a $36 million fine in Australia. Uber reported better-than-expected Q2 2025 results with 18% YoY revenue growth. iShares US Consumer Discretionary ETF rose 0.4% on Monday.

In the latest CNBC "Final Trades" panel, Amphenol, Alphabet, Uber, and iShares US Consumer Discretionary ETF were highlighted. Amphenol, a leading manufacturer of electrical, electronic, and fiber optic connectors, saw its stock price surge after being acquired by CommScope for $10.5 billion. Meanwhile, Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) faced a $36 million fine in Australia due to antitrust violations, where it pre-installed its search app on Android phones, marginalizing competing search engines [2].

Amphenol, which designs and manufactures a wide range of connectors and interconnect systems, reported significant growth over the past decade. According to Yahoo Finance, a $1000 investment made in August 2015 would be worth $7,922.53 as of August 14, 2025, representing a gain of 692.25%. This performance outpaced the S&P 500's 210.39% gain over the same period [1]. Amphenol's diversified business model, which includes segments like Harsh Environment Solutions, Communications Solutions, and Interconnect and Sensor Systems, has contributed to its strong performance. The company expects third-quarter 2025 sales to increase modestly on a sequential basis, despite macroeconomic uncertainty and geopolitical tension [1].

Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google, faced a $36 million fine in Australia due to antitrust violations. The penalty arose from agreements with the country's two largest telecom companies, Telstra (TLS.AX) and Optus, where Google pre-installed its search application on Android phones, excluding rival search engines. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) found these arrangements to have a substantial impact on competition [2]. Despite this setback, Alphabet Inc. reported strong earnings in the second quarter of 2025, with a 14% year-over-year revenue increase to $96.4 billion, driven by notable growth in its cloud business [2]. Wall Street analysts project a modest upside for Alphabet Inc.'s stock value, with an average one-year price target of $214.05, representing a potential 5.02% increase from the current trading price [2].

Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER) reported better-than-expected Q2 2025 results, with 18% year-over-year revenue growth. The company's gross bookings grew 17% year-over-year, reaching $46.8 billion, and its adjusted EBITDA increased 35% year-over-year to $2.1 billion. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated its Overweight rating on Uber with a price target of $106, citing product initiatives and positive pricing trends as key drivers for growth [3]. iShares US Consumer Discretionary ETF rose 0.4% on Monday, reflecting the overall positive sentiment in the consumer discretionary sector [4].

References:
[1] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/invested-1000-amphenol-decade-ago-123002357.html
[2] https://www.ainvest.com/news/alphabet-google-fined-55m-australia-anti-competitive-practices-2508/
[3] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/cantor-fitzgerald-keeps-overweight-rating-031448570.html
[4] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/5-must-read-analyst-questions-053505559.html