wildpixel/iStock via Getty Images Listen below or on the go via Apple Podcasts and Spotify Alphabet ( GOOG ) ( GOOGL ) stock rises on strong financial growth and quarterly beat: Key takeaways. (00:14) Meta's ( META ) increased capex, lackluster guidance spook investors . (00:58) Amazon ( AMZN ) discusses ' The Apprentice ' reboot, with Don Jr. as potential host - WSJ. (02:14) This is an abridged transcript. Alphabet ( GOOGL ) ( GOOG ) reported strong financial growth and a quarterly beat. The stock is up 6% in premarket action. Total revenues in the first quarter rose 22% (19% in constant currency) to $109.9B, clearing analyst consensus for $107B and marking its 11th straight quarter of double-digit growth. For the first quarter, capital spending more than doubled year-over-year to $35.67B—slightly less than analyst expectations compiled by Bloomberg, for $36.4B. Those analysts expect Q2 capex to hit $42.5B. Alphabet also announced a 5% increase to its quarterly dividend, to $0.22 per share.…