BMO Capital analyst Brian Pitz has maintained an Outperform rating on Alphabet and raised the price target to $455. The revised target, up from $435, reflects increased confidence in the company's shares listed on NASDAQ under the ticker GOOGL. This adjustment signals a positive outlook for the stock's future performance.

Analyst Rating

Brian Pitz sustained the Outperform assessment for Alphabet, indicating that the stock is expected to outperform the market average. The analyst also updated the valuation, setting a higher price objective for investors.

Alphabet Inc. shares rose 3.43% to $369.58 on Wednesday after Warren Buffett publicly confirmed he personally drove Berkshire Hathaway Inc's decision to build a position in the company, while admitting he should have made the move years earlier.

In a conversation with CNBC’s Becky Quick, Buffett clarified that he initiated the trade. He noted that while he and incoming CEO Greg Abel consult each other regularly and operate with mutual sign-off on major moves, Abel is firmly in charge of day-to-day decisions at Berkshire following the formal handover at the start of this year. Buffett expressed regret for waiting, acknowledging that watching Google’s advertising machine generate returns through Geico should have been a sufficient signal as early as 2018. He held back due to skepticism that any single company would remain dominant in a fast-moving industry, a hesitation he now considers an error.

The stock’s longer-term trend remains intact. GOOG is trading 15.7% above the 200-day SMA at $319.91 and 8.3% above the 100-day SMA at $341.73, sustaining a broader uptrend following a 102.09% gain over the past 12 months. In the near term, the stock is 0.3% above the 50-day SMA at $369.25, a tight zone where breakouts often confirm or fade.

Technical Indicators and Key Levels

Momentum is improving, with the MACD above its signal line and a positive histogram indicating easing downside pressure. The moving-average structure presents a mixed picture: the 20-day SMA remains below the 50-day SMA, a bearish short-term crossover, while the 50-day SMA stays above the 200-day SMA. This golden cross formed in July 2025, suggesting the primary trend is up despite recent digestion.

Key levels are closely watched. Resistance sits at $371.00, a pivot where rallies often stall. Support is located at $343.50, aligning with the broader $340s zone and sitting near the 100-day SMA.