Alphabet surpasses $3 trillion market cap amid antitrust ruling

On September 15, 2025, shares of Alphabet, Google's parent company, experienced a significant surge, leading to the company's market capitalization exceeding $3 trillion for the first time. This notable increase occurred following a favorable ruling related to an antitrust lawsuit filed by the U.S. Justice Department against Google. The federal judge, Amit Mehta, ruled that Google would not be required to divest its Chrome browser or Android operating system, which represented critical elements of the case against the tech giant. As a result, Alphabet’s stock rose by over 4%, trading at approximately $250 per share, with analysts anticipating this upward trend after the ruling. The ruling by Judge Amit Mehta was transformative because it meant that Google dodged some of the most severe penalties that federal prosecutors sought. The lawsuit accused Google of maintaining an illegal monopoly in the search engine market. By alleviating the pressure of having to sell off key assets, the decision allowed investors to express optimism about Alphabet’s long-term position in the technology sector. Additionally, the judge mandated that Google share certain data with its competitors, which underlines ongoing scrutiny of its business practices. Shares of Alphabet have seen a significant increase in value this year, with Monday’s gains accounting for nearly a third of the company's overall valuation growth. Alphabet now joins an elite group of tech giants that have reached the $3 trillion market cap milestone, alongside Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia, the AI chipmaker. Market observers noted that the ruling could bolster Alphabet’s market strategies and reaffirm investor confidence in its growth prospects amidst one's deepening scrutiny of antitrust issues in the tech industry. Overall, Alphabet's achievement in market valuation is indicative of a broader trend where technology companies are booming amid fears of aggressive regulatory challenges. While the favorable ruling provides a temporary boost to Alphabet, the long-term implications of antitrust investigations remain to be seen, as the tech landscape continues to evolve in the face of increasing governmental oversight.