Google has all but squeezed out the competition in such European countries as the Netherlands, Belgium, Latvia, Lituania, Hungary, Romania, and Poland all with greater than 95% share. However, to the south Google’s market share is stronger with Mexico and all of South America hovering around 90%. In the US, Google claims an impressive 72% percent of search market share despite established competition. Some of this shift in valuation is certainly warranted, especially for Baidu, however we think that the reaction has created an opportunity to pick up shares of the global leader in search advertising.Ī recent info-graphic provided through Barry Ritholtz’s blog shows the degree to which “googling” has gone global (all statistics are as of February 2010). Much of the pessimism towards the internet search giant is related to its pull back from the lucrative Chinese market after a throw down over censorship, and Google’s pain has been Baidu‘s (BIDU) gain as their shares have grown nearly 80% already this year. Some of that can be blamed on the recent correction, but with the broad market indexes just about even for the year there is obviously something more. Google’s ( GOOG) stock has been punished thus far in calendar 2010 falling more than 20% from its 52-week high.

Ockham research company