19 January 2012 - 23H26  

Google shares dip as earnings fall short
Google reported a fourth-quarter net profit of $2.71 billion on Thursday and said quarterly revenue blew past $10 billion for the first time.
Google reported a fourth-quarter net profit of $2.71 billion on Thursday and said quarterly revenue blew past $10 billion for the first time.

AFP - Google shares were down nearly 10 percent in after-hours trading on Thursday after the Internet search giant's earnings fell short of the expectations of Wall Street analysts.

Google reported a fourth-quarter net profit of $2.71 billion, compared to $2.54 billion in the same quarter a year ago.

Quarterly revenue rose 25 percent to $10.58 billion.

Earnings per share, however, of $9.50 were below the forecasts of $10.49 and Google shares were down 9.69 percent at $577.60 in after-hours trading.

"Google had a really strong quarter ending a great year," chief executive Larry Page said in a statement. "Full year revenue was up 29 percent, and our quarterly revenue blew past the $10 billion mark for the first time

"I am super excited about the growth of Android, Gmail, and Google+, which now has 90 million users globally -- well over double what I announced just three months ago," Page said.

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