Understanding Alphabet's Share Classes and Voting Power

Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google, manages its capital and governance structure through three distinct classes of shares, each designed to address different investor needs and company objectives. Class A shares, identified by the ticker symbol GOOGL, provide voting power, enabling shareholders to influence corporate decisions with one vote per share. This class mainly attracts both institutional and individual investors who wish to play a part in the company's governance. In contrast, Class C shares, trading under the ticker GOOG, do not offer voting rights but serve a strategic purpose. They were introduced during a stock split in 2014 and allow the company to raise capital without diluting the voting power held by existing shareholders. Notably, Class B shares exist but are not publicly traded, emphasizing the controlled governance model of Alphabet, where founders and insiders retain significant influence. This structure reflects a careful balance between raising capital and maintaining control, essential for a company as innovative and impactful as Alphabet.