hitthedeck - 5:38 pm on Jul 30, 2004 (gmt 0)

Reuters reported investors were startled by a price range of upto $135 per Class A share. Besides from valuing the company at more then $36 billion it would have a price to 2003 earnings ratio of 329, twice that of closest competitor Yahoo and way above the S&P's average of more than 20. A public offering of 3.3 billion would rank google as the 8th largest IPO by a U.S company.

So a cynic might say there past goodwill and lack of monetization of their SERPs may have been a ruse ultimately for IPO Greed. It has been a great ride, they have made the SEO and themselves alot of money. Their pious original aims are surely imcompatiable with public shareholding profiteering aims. Will they not just be like Yahoo soon? Wont that goodwill evaporate on both sides consquently?

Personally I wouldnt entertain paying even a fraction of this for their shares as a long term price goal. Why? Because just like my business based on a SE it is ultimately built on a house of cards.

But... short term greed may result in profit with these shares, remember the foolery and unjustified crazy valuations prior to March 2000 and yahoo's listed price. Be careful watch closely..get out at any sign of trouble and hold onto any potential profit.