April 21 - Alphabet (GOOG, Financial) is gearing up to release its first-quarter 2025 earnings after the bell on Thursday, and Wall Street will be watching closely.

Analysts are calling for a 7% year-over-year rise in earnings per share to $2.02, and an 11% jump in revenue to about $89.18 billion.

But the numbers aren't the only thing in focus. Just days ahead of the report, a U.S. judge ruled that Google illegally held onto monopolies in the online ad tech space. The ruling said Google tied its publisher ad server (DFP) to its ad exchange (AdX), locking in dominance for over a decade. That's not Alphabet's only legal headache; another antitrust trial over its search business is set to kick off next week.

Still, Alphabet has a solid track record. The company has topped EPS estimates eight quarters in a row and beat revenue targets in seven of them.

Even with shares down 19% so far this year, many analysts remain upbeat. Alphabet's $75 billion push into AI, especially its Gemini model, is seen as a key growth engine. Backed by strong margins, steady cash flow, and a global footprint, the company is well-positioned to weather the storm.