Alphabet is the parent company that owns Google and has used a dual-class share structure since its 2015 reorganization.
Google reorganized under a new holding company called Alphabet Inc. in October 2015. Google became Alphabet’s largest subsidiary, while businesses such as its internet services, advertising, and several other ventures were placed within the broader corporate structure.
Alphabet’s share structure gives different classes of stock different voting rights. This arrangement allows founders and certain insiders to retain substantial voting influence even when they own a smaller proportion of the company’s economic interest.
Alphabet has often ranked among the world’s most valuable companies by market capitalization because of Google Search, YouTube, digital advertising, cloud computing, and Android. The company changed its stock ticker from GOOG and GOOGL only in corporate structure, not in the basic distinction between its share classes.