50% Off! Beat the market in 2025 with InvestingProCLAIM SALE

Alphabet's Verily plans cost cuts amid pressure on Other Bets unit - WSJ

Published 08/17/2023, 12:45 AM
Updated 08/17/2023, 12:52 AM
© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Small figurines are seen in front of displayed Alphabet logo in this illustration taken February 11, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Ilustration
GOOGL
-

(Reuters) - Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL)'s health science unit is planning additional expense cuts after losing more money than expected so far this year, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing an internal presentation.

Verily Life Sciences posted wider-than-expected operating losses through June, missing its projections by $17 million, the report said. Last year, operating losses totaled $568 million on revenue of $559 million.

Part of Google parent Alphabet's Other Bets unit, which was born out of the Google X research program in 2015, Verily already laid off employees and discontinued some products earlier this year, the report added.

Alphabet and Verily did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

The Other Bets businesses, which have racked up more than $30 billion in losses since Alphabet began separately reporting their financial performance, now feel pressure to rein in spending and turn their research into commercial profits, the report said, citing people familiar with their operations.

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Small figurines are seen in front of displayed Alphabet logo in this illustration taken February 11, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Ilustration

According to the report, Verily's chief financial officer, Utpal Koppikar, told employees last week that the company was performing below expectations, but Google would still provide additional funding if necessary.

In January, Verily laid off more than 200 employees, or about 15% of its workforce, marking the first time in at least six years when Alphabet or its affiliate announced job cuts.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.