[erickj]

This is a flat rate dividend, which at the current price equates to a 0.1% dividend. It seems more likely that it's just designed to satisfy a checkmark on the portfolio investor prospectus. This equates to ~$2B payout, while they simultaneously announced another $70B stock buy back.

Overall Google announced they spent $12B on server and datacenters capex in Q1. This is up 100% y/y. Also this spending level will continue for at least the rest of the year, that's $50B in capex spending in a single year... But people are going to focus on a $0.20 dividend I suppose.

It's difficult to say that they're not continuing to invest in future tech. Focusing on the dividend announcement is a nothing burger (for now)