The article compares Google to Microsoft. Microsoft, too, had a dominant position in a lucrative market (and still does, with revenues ~50% higher than Google). Microsoft also underwent a decade of a flat stock price.

Their revenue kept growing during this period. It grew by a lot! But their P/E declined, from the 40s to 12 or so. This is because all of the action (iPod, Google Search, iPhone) was happening outside of MSFT. The "growth genie" was gone, and they transitioned from a growth stock to a value stock, and (as perceived) an innovative company to a company protecting its cash cows.

The article discusses whether Google will undergo the same fate. Being the undisputed leader in online advertising is an enviable position; the question is whether Google can grow to be more than that.

It seemingly can as it actively has ventures in several out of band ventures and is encroaching in all the areas Microsoft already is, while having search/advertising as a massive foundation which MS doesnt have.

And yes, advertising will continue to grow, native/video/mobile are all still growing at double digits and Google is slowly rolling out their products to extract even more value here. The ad industry is going through another revolution and Google, while not innovating, has plenty of growth potential still left.

> Google is not going anywhere anytime soon

And this article never said it was. Did you even read the article, or just jump into to defend Google?

I never care enough to defend a company. The article was arguing about growth slowing but Google's foundation in advertising needs to be studied in more detail than these signals. The ad market is going through massive changes and Google has plenty of potential still left, along with all of the other areas where they are starting to cut into MS business.

Stalled and similar words is not how I would describe them.