NEW YORK (AFP) ― Google on Thursday reported a sharp drop in third-quarter profits, in disappointing results which sent the Internet giant’s stock price tumbling after an erroneous early release.

Net profit was reported at $2.18 billion, down 20 percent from $2.73 billion in the same period a year ago.

Google stock slid 8.0 percent to end at $695, taking the company’s market value back down below that of Microsoft, which it overtook earlier this month as the number two player in the tech sector behind Apple.

The results were made public in a regulatory filing hours ahead of their scheduled release, which Google called a “draft” released by a printer “without authorization.”

The final version came a few hours later, with the same numbers but with a comment from chief executive Larry Page in place of a line on the draft which said, “PENDING LARRY QUOTE.”

“We had a strong quarter,” Page said in the statement.

“Revenue was up 45 percent year-on-year, and, at just 14 years old, we cleared our first $14 billion revenue quarter. I am also really excited about the progress we’re making creating a beautifully simple, intuitive Google experience across all devices.”

In a conference call, Page later apologized for the mistake.

“I am sorry for the scramble earlier today. As our printers have said, they hit send on the release just a bit early,” he said.

Google said revenue including sales from its newly acquired Motorola Mobility unit amounted to $14.1 billion. Google’s own ad and other revenue rose 19 percent from a year ago to $11.53 billion.

Google’s earnings per share adjusted for special items amounted to $9.03, far below Wall Street expectations of $10.65 per share.

Analysts were largely unfazed by the weak results.

“At first blush Google missed on the revenue and earnings per share lines, but a closer look suggests problems seem related to Motorola,” said Brian Pitz and Brian Fitzgerald at Jefferies in a note to clients.