Google’s parent, Alphabet Inc., reported profit and sales that topped estimates, lifted by robust sales of online ads and tighter cost controls.

The results, reported for the first time under a new structure that separates Google’s main search and advertising operations from riskier investments, show that fourth-quarter revenue, excluding sales passed on to partners, rose 19 percent to $17.3 billion. That exceeded analysts’ average projection for $16.9 billion, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Profit, before certain items, was $8.67 a share, beating the prediction for $8.08.

Google, which has been investing in artificial intelligence, self-driving cars and health technology, changed its name and structure last year to give investors a clearer view into the performance of its Web business and the money Alphabet Chief Executive Officer Larry Page is devoting to new projects. The health of Google’s main business and investor confidence in the company’s ability to innovate in new areas has helped to more than double the stock price in the past three years, putting Alphabet within sight of overtaking Apple Inc. as the world’s most valuable company.

“Everything’s working in their favor right now,” said James Cakmak, an analyst at Monness Crespi Hardt & Co. “You have the search experience being much more optimized to mobile than it had been, so that should help drive engagement.”

The shares of Mountain View, California-based Alphabet rose in extended trading. The stock advanced 1.2 percent to $770.77 at the close in New York, giving it a market capitalization of $523.1 billion, compared with $534.7 billion for Apple.

The new structure is designed to accelerate Google’s forays into other businesses beyond ad sales, by giving the newer divisions more autonomy and flexibility. The shift to Alphabet has also given more freedom to top executives who would otherwise want to go more run their own companies. Still, such ambitions cost money, and operating expenses rose 14 percent during the fourth quarter to $7.76 billion. Fourth-quarter net income was $4.92 billion, or $7.06 a share, compared with $4.68 billion, or $6.79, a year earlier.

The new structure has also given more autonomy to Google’s main business under CEO Sundar Pichai. He has devoted resources to buffing up Google’s ad products, introducing new formats, while improving the delivery and accuracy of targeted marketing spots. A key challenge is to control spending on initiatives to boost traffic, which are aimed at making up for declining ad prices on mobile devices. Total clicks on ads were up 31 percent in the latest period, even as the average price for an ads on Google’s websites fell 16 percent.

“Between the secular trends, the product improvements, and the sheer scale it’s tough to see how agencies would stay away,” Cakmak said.

Alphabet’s other bets span everything from robotics and Internet-beaming balloons to self-driving cars and health-care research. While they are mainly costs that rely on the Google search-ad operations, they have the potential for long-term growth, according to Ivan Feinseth, chief investment officer of Tigress Financial Partners LLC, who has a buy rating on the stock.

“They are not distractions,” Feinseth said. “They provide Google with insights and opportunities into other things that are complementary to their other businesses and could be future-leading businesses.”