GOOGL 10-K Analysis: 32% Earnings Growth, Zero Incremental Free Cash Flow
Alphabet reported $132.2 billion in net income for FY2025 — a record. But the 10-K reveals $149.1 billion in contractually locked purchase commitments, $24.1 billion in unrealized equity gains inflating headline growth, and a tax timing benefit that boosted cash flow by $13.5 billion. Adjusted earnings grew 15.6%, not 32%, and free cash flow was flat. The investment question: can Google Cloud's 956-basis-point margin expansion convert the largest corporate infrastructure buildout in history into returns?