• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

As CEO of the $96 billion Sam’s Club, Latriece Watkins is testing her mettle at the warehouse retailer that produced CEOs for Walmart, Target, and Walgreens

2

Jeff Bezos wants the bottom half of earners to pay zero income tax—he says nurses making just $75K should save $12K a year

3

As AI slashes white-collar jobs, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff says almost no one is being hired—except in sales

1

As CEO of the $96 billion Sam’s Club, Latriece Watkins is testing her mettle at the warehouse retailer that produced CEOs for Walmart, Target, and Walgreens

2

Jeff Bezos wants the bottom half of earners to pay zero income tax—he says nurses making just $75K should save $12K a year

3

As AI slashes white-collar jobs, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff says almost no one is being hired—except in sales

Google: Still a One-Trick Pony

Michal Lev-Ram
By
Michal Lev-Ram
Michal Lev-Ram
Special Correspondent
Down Arrow Button Icon
Michal Lev-Ram
By
Michal Lev-Ram
Michal Lev-Ram
Special Correspondent
Down Arrow Button Icon
October 18, 2007, 8:55 PM ET

Google’s (GOOG) third quarter earnings — $1.07 billion, up 46% over 2006 — handily beat analysts’ expectations today, but the company once again failed to convince skeptics that it is capable of being anything more than the world’s most popular search engine.

“Looking back at the quarter, it’s obvious our model works very well,” Google chief executive Eric Schmidt told analysts. But that model doesn’t seem to change, despite vigorous efforts to expand into non-search businesses such as online office applications and mobile services and to move its lucrative advertising model into television, print and radio.

“Eric Schmidt told us about a year ago his goal is to build a $100 billion company,” says Bear Stearns analyst Robert Peck. “You just can’t get there with online ad revenues alone.”

There’s no disputing Google’s dominance in search. In the U.S., more than 5.3 billion searches were conducted across Google sites last month alone, representing 57 percent of the domestic search market, according to comScore. The problem is that today, nearly 99 percent of the search giant’s revenues come from online ads. That may have to change if Google is to continue to justify the premium its shares currently enjoy. The stock closed at a record $639 a share, up nearly 1 percent for the day, and climbed another 2.68 points in after hours trading.

Speaking to analysts earlier this week, Schmidt said Google is “building deeper ad solutions.”

To that end, the company launched a new ad platform that puts a text overlay in the bottom 20 percent of a video box. There were fears that users would resent the intrusion, but according to the company, “initial user response and feedback have been positive.”

But Google has yet to figure out how to make real money in online video – one of two ad platforms the company says it is most interested in pursuing. Television is the other major focus for Google. The company is now in trials with EchoStar and Astound Cable to bring its auction-style advertising model to TV.

Many analysts worry, however, that this technology company run by three technologists doesn’t have the media and old-school advertising savvy necessary to get much traction in Hollywood or Madison Avenue.

“If they expand into these markets they’ve got to realize they’re stepping into areas where there are very large, powerful incumbents,” says Peck. “They can gang up on you.”

That’s already starting to happen in mobile communications, where AT&T (T) and Verizon Wireless (VZ) have complained loudly about Google’s efforts to snap up some of the last remaining slices of spectrum available for cellphone use.

To compete in display ads — where Google trails behind rival Yahoo (YHOO) – the company was banking on its acquisition of advertising pioneer DoubleClick. But that deal is now tied up in antitrust hearings.

Google is also pressing its advantage in web-based email, online office applications and a online payment system called Checkout similar to PayPal, but none of these efforts are generating much revenue.

“I think that all of Google’s new products have been much less impressive than the original product,” says Laura Martin, an analyst with Soleil – Media Metrics. “To me, they’re still a single product company because they’ve yet to prove monetization of their non-search products.”

No one is saying that Google can’t succeed with its non-search products, just that it hasn’t done so yet.

“We could likely be into 2009 before these businesses will be tangible enough to start monitoring very closely,” says Peck, the Bear Stearns analyst.

Meanwhile, ad-supported search is still paying a handsome dividend for Google and continues to grow at a dizzying pace, with no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

“Google is something of a ‘one-trick-pony’ in its current form,” writes Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Derek Brown. “But what an absolutely extraordinary trick it has proven to be.”

About the Author
Michal Lev-Ram
By Michal Lev-RamSpecial Correspondent
Twitter icon

Michal Lev-Ram is a special correspondent covering the technology and entertainment sectors for Fortune, writing analysis and longform reporting.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in

America finally crushed smoking—then defunded the playbook
HealthTobacco
America finally crushed smoking—then defunded the playbook
By Mike Stobbe and The Associated PressMay 29, 2026
7 hours ago
Reverse Health App Review (2026): Our Honest Thoughts
HealthWorkouts
Reverse Health App Review (2026): Our Honest Thoughts
By Emily PharesMay 29, 2026
9 hours ago
Green Chef Review (2026): Opinions from Testers and Experts
Healthmeal delivery
Green Chef Review (2026): Opinions from Testers and Experts
By Christina SnyderMay 29, 2026
10 hours ago
Best certificates of deposit (CDs) for May 2026
Personal FinanceCertificates of Deposit (CDs)
Best certificates of deposit (CDs) for May 2026
By Glen Luke FlanaganMay 29, 2026
10 hours ago
Dan Rogers speaking on stage.
AIAsana
Asana was battered by the AI boom. Now it’s betting its future on humans and agents working together.
By Beatrice NolanMay 29, 2026
11 hours ago
Russia warns war costs are ravaging its finances while Ukrainian ‘drone overmatch’ sends Putin’s forces reeling in new phase of combat
PoliticsRussia
Russia warns war costs are ravaging its finances while Ukrainian ‘drone overmatch’ sends Putin’s forces reeling in new phase of combat
By Jason MaMay 29, 2026
12 hours ago

Most Popular

As CEO of the $96 billion Sam’s Club, Latriece Watkins is testing her mettle at the warehouse retailer that produced CEOs for Walmart, Target, and Walgreens
Magazine
As CEO of the $96 billion Sam’s Club, Latriece Watkins is testing her mettle at the warehouse retailer that produced CEOs for Walmart, Target, and Walgreens
By Emma HinchliffeMay 27, 2026
3 days ago
Jeff Bezos wants the bottom half of earners to pay zero income tax—he says nurses making just $75K should save $12K a year
Success
Jeff Bezos wants the bottom half of earners to pay zero income tax—he says nurses making just $75K should save $12K a year
By Preston ForeMay 21, 2026
9 days ago
As AI slashes white-collar jobs, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff says almost no one is being hired—except in sales
Success
As AI slashes white-collar jobs, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff says almost no one is being hired—except in sales
By Emma BurleighMay 28, 2026
2 days ago
UBS says Ron DeSantis has a problem with his plan to help 92% of homeowners save on property taxes: His own state's data
Personal Finance
UBS says Ron DeSantis has a problem with his plan to help 92% of homeowners save on property taxes: His own state's data
By Nick LichtenbergMay 28, 2026
2 days ago
Current price of oil as of May 28, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of May 28, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerMay 28, 2026
2 days ago
Researchers let AI models run a simulated society. Claude was the safest—and Grok committed 180 crimes and went extinct within 4 days
AI
Researchers let AI models run a simulated society. Claude was the safest—and Grok committed 180 crimes and went extinct within 4 days
By Jake AngeloMay 28, 2026
2 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.