Alphabet Inc. (Class A) (GOOGL): seasonality, best and worst months, and drawdowns
Communication Services · 22.2 years of daily prices, Aug 19, 2004 to Oct 29, 2026
Since 2004, GOOGL has closed higher in 60% of months and 76% of calendar years. Its strongest month on average has been October (+8.7%), and its weakest February (-3.0%). Its deepest drop was -65%, from Nov 6, 2007 to Nov 24, 2008, and it was back to the old high by Sep 24, 2012.
Average return by calendar month
| Average | Up | Years | |||
| Jan | +2.3% | 77% | 22 | ||
| Feb | -3.0% | 36% | 22 | ||
| Mar | +0.1% | 55% | 22 | ||
| Apr | +5.3% | 64% | 22 | ||
| May | +3.3% | 64% | 22 | ||
| Jun | -0.4% | 45% | 22 | ||
| Jul | +5.1% | 68% | 22 | ||
| Aug | -0.1% | 45% | 22 | ||
| Sep | +2.6% | 65% | 23 | ||
| Oct | +8.7% | 73% | 22 | ||
| Nov | +1.1% | 64% | 22 | ||
| Dec | +1.8% | 68% | 22 | ||
"Up" is the share of years that month closed higher. Unfinished months aren't counted.
Best and worst
| Best | Worst | |
|---|---|---|
| Day | +20.0% Apr 18, 2008 |
-12.6% Oct 29, 2026 |
| Month | +47.4% October 2004 |
-18.4% November 2008 |
| Year | +115% 2005 |
-56% 2008 |
This year so far: -9.2%.
Drawdowns
GOOGL has fallen 20% or more from a high 9 times and 10% or more 23 times since 2004. In a typical year it has dropped 20% from that year's high at some point, even in years it ended up.
How it moves
| Days that close higher | 52% |
| Typical daily move (1 std. dev.) | ±1.9% |
| Typical monthly move | ±8.9% |
| Moves beyond 3 std. dev. vs. a bell curve | 5.6× as often |
| Beta to the S&P 500 (5 yrs) | 1.27 |
| Price growth per year | +23.8% |
| ... missing its 10 best days | +16.8% |
Price only, before dividends.
See all of GOOGL's stats
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Start the free options lessons →Updated Oct 30, 2026 from daily closing prices. Educational information, not investment advice. Past patterns don't guarantee future results. All stock pages