Alphabet (GOOGL) was one of many high tech shares on the US market in 2025, with the inventory roaring over 60% through the yr. Coming into 2026, the bulls are out but once more, projecting one other massive yr for the Google mother or father firm. Whereas there are various catalysts for a possible inventory growth, one which has most analysts salivating is Waymo, the Alphabet-owned robotaxi program.
Waymo, a part of Alphabet, started in 2009 as an in-house startup inside Google’s X initiative and formally grew to become Waymo in 2016. With Tesla (TSLA) dominating the robotaxi sphere in the previous couple of years, Waymo has quietly caught on in a number of states within the US. Coming into 2026, each Tesla and Waymo are anticipated to proceed their enlargement throughout the nation. Nevertheless, Tesla has skilled loads of hiccups, whereas Alphabet’s Waymo has gotten constant reward.
Waymo’s 2026 Projections: a GOOGL inventory Catalyst?
Waymo says it has essentially the most robotaxi miles pushed and that it performs round 250,000 journeys per week and has carried out 20 million trips because the service started. However these numbers are more likely to leap, maybe big-time. The corporate is concentrating on around 1 million rides a week by the tip of 2026 — 4 occasions its present quantity. Moreover, in 2026, Waymo will enter its most aggressive enlargement part but, shifting past its present territories to deal with extra US cities and worldwide markets.
At the moment, Waymo has robotaxi fleets in San Francisco, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Austin, and Atlanta. Customers are capable of hail the robotaxis by way of Waymo’s app or from companions like Uber in Austin and Atlanta. The plan for 2026 strikes past these areas, finally including 20 new markets throughout the nation. Certainly, Waymo says it’s progressing in check areas within the South, together with Miami, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Orlando, with full service anticipated to start in early 2026. Ought to these numbers come to fruition and enlargement show successful, traders might flood GOOGL inventory with optimism of Alphabet’s success.
Also Read: Tesla Stock Climbs Despite Q4 Earnings Miss: TSLA Unstoppable?
For GOOGL inventory, regardless of a slowdown in earnings-per-share development, Alphabet’s income is anticipated to develop by 14% in 2026, pushed by its cloud and AI initiatives. Waymo may also spur the corporate’s income greater, which can reap a strong return for Alphabet (GOOGL) inventory. Analysts have numerous opinions on GOOGL’s future, with worth targets starting from $220 to $375. The consensus leans in the direction of a optimistic outlook, with most analysts sustaining their present scores.
