Google Tops Estimates, But Not Whisper Number (GOOG)

Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) reported quarterly results after the close that topped analyst expecations, but failed to beat the "whisper" number and shares fell.

The company earned $6.76 a share in its first quarter, up from $5.16 a share last year. Sales rose to $5.04 billion from $4.07 billion last year.

Wall Street was expecting the search giant to earn $6.60 a share on sales of $4.95 billion. However, the whisper EPS number was rumored to be around $6.76 a share.

Shares of Google finished the regular trading day at $595 but were trading down roughly $18, or 3.0%, to $577 in after hours trading.