Web search engine Google reported a 46 per cent rise in profit last night that topped analysts' expectations as revenues grew 57 per cent.
Net income rose to $1.07 billion compared with the year-earlier quarter's $733.3 million. Excluding one-time items, profit was $3.91 per share in the latest quarter, versus the Wall Street average target of $3.77, according to Reuters.
Revenue rose 57 per cent to $4.23 billion, compared with an average analyst forecast of $4.13 billion. Ever-larger numbers mean its growth rate is down from 70 per cent in the third quarter of 2006 and 96 per cent in the same period of 2005.
Excluding payments to affiliates carrying ads from Google, revenue grew 61.5 per cent. International business made up nearly half of revenue.
Google has moved rapidly over the past year to extend its reach beyond text-based, pay-per-click web search advertising by entering new markets, including online video, television, radio and print advertising.