Google posts higher-than-expected profit in the fourth segment

Google posts a higher-than-expected fourth-quarter profit, but returns growth was not well as some investors had expected, also its shares down 5%.
Analysts also pointed to signs that Google was ramping up spending as a possible cause for anxiety, but the company continued to control the Internet search market and bring a strong quarterly report that cut down short of only Wall Street's most bullish forecasts.

Net profits, which exclude the traffic achievement costs Google paid to partners, rose 13 % to $4.95 billion, which was at the low end of some estimates for 13 % to 15% growth. The averages predict was $4.92 billion.

"As we come into 2010, we remain massively positive about the Internet and are continuing to invest a lot in technological innovation for the advantage not only of our users and customers, but also the wider Web," said Chief Executive Eric Schmidt.

Net income was .97 billion, or .13 a share, in the 3 months ended December 31, contrast with 2.4 million, or .21 a share, in the year-earlier period when the company get charges for its investments in AOL Inc and Clearwire Corp.

Total profits at Google, the world's Number one search engine, rose 17% to $6.67 billion.

Google shares cut down about 5% to $552.52 in after-hours trade.