The results announced Thursday are the strongest sign yet that the Internet search leader has shaken off the recession's doldrums. Investors are now counting on Google to build upon its fourth-quarter momentum and accelerate its financial pace this year.
Google earned nearly $2 billion in the final three months of 2009.
Fourth-quarter revenue totaled $6.7 billion, a 17 percent increase.
Google's growth had bogged down to just 5 percent through the first nine months of 2009. The company's quarterly growth had never fallen below 10 percent until last year.
