Larry Page

Google's novel stock split will create a new class of shares with no voting rights. Confused? Google CEO Larry Page thought you might be, so he offered an explanatory note. Here's our read-between-the-lines translation of what he was really saying.

Google has faced heavy criticism since it announced its first-ever stock split, which creates a new class of nonvoting shares. Don't believe the hype. If you were happy owning Google stock before, you should be just as pleased now. Here's why:

Google CEO Larry Page, Chairman Eric Schmidt and co-founder Sergey Brin will gain greater influence over the company thanks to an unusual stock-split maneuver that will create a whole new class of Google shares with no voting rights.

On a split-adjusted basis, Apple went public at $2.75 a share 31 years ago; the stock closed at $378.25 yesterday. Investors lucky enough to hold for the entire period have enjoyed a 17% annualized return. Find a founder capable of delivering on a similar scale and you'll have a much easier time funding your retirement.

Google (GOOG) has ushered in new CEO Larry Page with second-quarter earnings that were far better than analysts expected. The results released Thursday may help reassure investors that Google is still thriving under Page's leadership. The Google co-founder replaced Eric Schmidt, the CEO of the...

Like Microsoft and IBM before it, Google has become two or three companies. Its dominant business of search is no longer much of a growth engine. And, the FTC and antitrust powers in Europe have begun to review that dominance. What its competitors could not do, government officials may.

Google co-founder Larry Page is set to take over as the search giant's new CEO on Monday. But some worry he may not have the management skills to steer the Internet's most powerful company. After all, early investors made him step down as Google's first CEO in 2001. Will he fare better the second time around?

Last month, 96 CEO changes were announced by U.S. based companies, reports job-services firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, among them the heads of Google and Advanced Micro Devices. The number is down 9% from December, but 8% higher than January 2010, when 89 CEOs left their corner offices behind.

When Google co-founder Larry Page replaces Eric Schmidt as CEO, he'll have a host of things to worry about: ad revenues, growth, Facebook, privacy concerns and just how to get the company's rebel groove back. But first on his agenda will have to be reversing the flow of top employees out the door.

As Larry Page takes the reins from CEO Eric Schmidt, the questions for investors are: Will Facebook keep gaining on Google? Or will Page steer it back to its original counter-corporate spirit, embracing risk over short-term profits? Or have the risk-takers gone soft?