Google Profit Misses Estimate; Stock Down 4%

(RTTNews) - Google Inc (GOOG, GOOGL) on Thursday reported fourth-quarter net earnings of $4.76 billion or $6.91 per share compared with $3.38 billion or $4.95 per share last year.

Excluding items, adjusted earnings for the quarter were $6.88 per share compared with $6.70 per share a year ago.

On average, 43 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters estimated earnings of $7.11 per share for the quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items.

Total revenues for the quarter were up 15% at $18.1 billion compared with $15.7 billion in the prior year.

Thirty-two analysts had a consensus revenue estimate of $18.46 billion for the quarter.

Excluding traffic acquisition costs, revenues for the quarter totaled $14.48 billion.