Google has announced its financial results for 2012's Q4, with the search engine giant generating $14.42 billion during last year's fourth quarter.
The figure represents an increase of 36 percent when compared to the same period in 2011, consequently resulting in Google enjoying its first year where it earned in excess of $50 billion.
"Not a bad achievement in just a decade and a half," said Google co-founder and CEO Larry Page. "In today's multi-screen world we face tremendous opportunities as a technology company focused on user benefit. It's an incredibly exciting time to be at Google."
Google generated revenues of $50.18 billion during 2012, an increase from $37.91 billion in 2011. When excluding restructuring charges and losses from discontinued operations, the firm reported net income of $3.57 billion during 2012's fourth quarter, a jump from $3.11 billion in 2011. After it announced its quarterly results, Google shares increased by $27, or almost 4 percent, in after-hours trading.
"While the growth in paid clicks has compensated for the decline in price, it is worth watching closely how the dynamic of supply growth impacts pricing as mobile monetization remains a laggard," said BGC Partners analyst Colin W. Gillis.
Google will report Motorola Home revenues as a separate item in its 2012 report, according to a note from Google's chief accountant, Brent Callinicos. The firm stressed that its revenues would have been $15.24 billion had Motorola Home, which it sold for $2.35 billion, been included.
Other highlights to the earnings result include:
- Google has $48.1 billion in cash and cash equivalents.
- It has 53,861 full time employees -- 37,544 for Google, 11,113 for Motorola Mobile and 5,204 for Motorola Home, which is up from 53,546 employees in September, 2012.
- International revenues accounted for 54 percent of Google revenues in the fourth quarter of 2012 versus 53 percent in the previous quarter and 53 percent in the fourth quarter of 2011.
- Motorola Mobile continues to lose money for its parent company, with the smartphone manufacturer losing $152 million during 2012's fourth quarter.