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There are so many reasons to like this dominant internet enterprise The company that investors might view as a no-brainer opportunity today is "Magnificent Seven" constituent Alphabet (GOOGL +1.71%) (GOOG +1.99%). In the past five years, its share price has rocketed almost 200% higher (as of April 17). There are plenty of reasons to appreciate this great business. Alphabet's dominant position in the digital advertising market is enviable, particularly as it relates to the flagship Google Search platform, as well as the leading video entertainment service YouTube. They both possess network effects. And combined, these two segments raked in $74.5 billion in ad sales in Q4 2025, with both growing at healthy rates on a yearly basis. When it comes to AI, Alphabet has basically been all-in for a decade now. Its AI capabilities continue to improve the functionality of all its internet platforms. And advertising customers benefit from new features, like AI Max, that can boost audience targeting and monetization. But Google Cloud is where AI is showing up the most. This burgeoning cloud computing platform, which is dramatically improving its profitability, has a monster backlog of $240 billion. "Nearly 75% of Google Cloud customers have used our vertically optimized AI, from chips, to models, to AI platforms, and enterprise AI agents," CEO Sundar Pichai said on the Q4 2025 earnings call. With free cash flow exceeding $73 billion in 2025, Alphabet is in a unique position to direct capital to high-risk/high-reward projects. Waymo is one of these Other Bets. With more than 500,000 weekly rides, the autonomous driving enterprise is leading the pack in this new technological wave. Alphabet's valuation isn't too demanding today In the past 12 months, this internet stock has soared 120%, supporting Alphabet's gargantuan market cap of $4.1 trillion today. Even at this scale, the business presents investors with a smart buying opportunity. Examine the valuation. Shares trade at 31.3 times 2025 earnings. This is a premium to the trailing-five-year average of 24.6. I agree that this doesn't resemble a bargain. But the company's net income rose 725% between 2015 and 2025. And no one doubts that Alphabet is one of the world's truly elite businesses. As AI starts to infiltrate the global economy, there aren't many companies better positioned.
Premium gym chains are entering a “golden era” that is ending or already in decline, as rising operating costs collide with shifting consumer preferences toward more flexible, community-based ways to exercise. Long-term memberships are shrinking, margins are pressured by higher rents and facility expenses, and competition from smaller, more personalized…
