Google Stock Worth?

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Google seems to command unlimited resources for raising capital.  Finance theory tells us that all the information available on Google is built into it's stock price.  But is it??

The Google search engine holds a strong monopoly in search engine technology.  We've all become accustomed to pulling up the simple html page and entering a term.  Glancing at the results and most likely choosing the top three.  The often clicked top three search results still hold importance but how it's determined has changed.  And, other ways of searching, such as Facebook and Linkedin are slowly creeping into our lifestyle.

The bottom line, you need the right information and you need it quickly.  Google's algorithms rely on human choices.  If many feel the information is right relating to thematic keywords, then it must be.  Discerning the most popular 'right' information relating to keywords has expanded into social media.  Google's algorithms now account for 'likes', shares, tweets as a measure of popularity.  In essence, Google has a symbiotic relationship with Facebook, Google+ and other popular social venues.  In the olden days, popularity of valuable information was measured not only in the number of links (i.e. how many shared your information) but the quality of links.  Or, the quality of links is measured for the potential of how many will see it.  A simple example, a contextual link is your quote in a CNN article that many will read.  Your quote will link back to your original text.  Now, Google's algorithms rank social media as a more important source of judging important and valauble information.  Google has a dependence on social media.

Over time, we've seen an emergence of search engines that serve specific purposes.  Amazon is a perfect example.  If I want to search for a type of product, Amazon quickly brings up a wealth of information Google does not.  Pictures of products, reviews, comparative prices, other related products.  If I want to find a Professional with specific skills, Linkedin serves as an excellent search tools.  It instantly provides contact information, experience, recommendations and ratings on specific skill sets.  Manta, Angie's List and others have chipped away at the need for Google's search engine by providing rich, well organized, concise information.  Not that Google hasn't tried to compete and do the same in specialized areas, others have done better.

So Google has some competition and they are increasingly depending more on social media to determine optimal search results.  What is Google's overall strength that would command such a high stock price?  The answer lies in the terrabytes of data Google gathers on us each day.  Searching our Gmail provides insight into our daily lives and interests  What we select as our news in Google.  If you use Google Chrome browser, your search results are skewed to prior browser behavior.  Look at it this way...  Instead of Google sizing up what is popular or what is most important out of the entire internet, they seek what is important to you, the individual.  What will you buy next??  What will be your individual choice?