Thanks to cost cutting, Google (GOOG) handily beat profit expectations, but it offered no assurance that overall business conditions would turn around anytime soon.

由于削减成本，谷歌(GOOG)的利润超出预期，但它没有提供任何保证，总体经营状况将扭转的迹象。

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You would be hard-pressed to beat that cost buying directly.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Scooterman's prices aim to beat the cost of a return taxi ride - one to get home after a night drinking and a second to pick up your car the following day.

BBC: NEWS | UK | Wales | Scooter idea to cut drink-driving

In future, numerous trading businesses will no longer be able to beat their cost of capital, says Brad Hintz of Alliance Bernstein, though some of these may still be run as loss-leaders.

ECONOMIST: Why the industry��s best days may be behind it