- Alphabet rallied more than 60% in 2025 and enters 2026 with investor optimism tied to its robotaxi unit, Waymo.
- Waymo reports it now runs about “around 250,000 trips a week” and has completed 20 million trips since launch.
- The company targets around 1 million rides a week by the end of 2026 and plans to enter roughly 20 additional U.S. markets.
- Waymo currently operates in San Francisco, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Austin and Atlanta, with partner hailing via Uber in Austin and Atlanta.
- Analysts expect Alphabet revenue to grow about 14% in 2026; price targets for GOOGL range from $220 to $375 amid mixed analyst views.
Entering 2026, investors are focusing on Alphabet and its robotaxi unit, Waymo, as a key growth driver after the parent stock climbed over 60% in 2025. Waymo, founded in 2009 inside Google’s X and renamed in 2016, plans major expansion across the U.S. and abroad and aims to boost ride volume substantially by year-end 2026.
The company reports it performs about “around 250,000 trips a week” and has completed 20 million trips since service began. Management is targeting around 1 million rides a week by the end of 2026, roughly four times current weekly volume.
Waymo already operates robotaxi fleets in San Francisco, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Austin and Atlanta. Riders hail vehicles through the Waymo app or via partners such as Uber in Austin and Atlanta.
The firm plans to add about 20 new U.S. markets and is testing in Southern cities including Miami, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Orlando, with full service expected to begin in early 2026. If expansion proceeds as outlined, the company could significantly raise its trip totals and geographic footprint.
On the financial side, analysts note a slowdown in earnings-per-share growth but expect about 14% revenue growth for Alphabet in 2026 driven by cloud and AI initiatives. Price targets for GOOGL cited by analysts range from $220 to $375, and most analysts have maintained their ratings.
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