Page skipped Google's I/O developer conference in June claiming that he lost his voice. Shortly after, The Wall Street Journal reported that Page had sent an email to staffers stating, "There's nothing seriously wrong with me."
Google Chairman Eric Schmidt announced last month that Page would not be on the company's second-quarter earnings call, which is set for 1:30 p.m. PT. Schmidt told attendees at a June meeting that Page had “lost his voice,” according to reports. Schmidt also wished Page a “quick recovery” and joked that co-founder Sergey Brin “has said that this problem will make Larry a better CEO because he’s going to have to choose his words very carefully."
Not everyone is as sanguine as Schmidt. "Why Mr. Page feels he can't speak for three to four weeks is beyond us." wrote Mark Mahaney of Citigroup in a note Monday. "Investors have put a Management Discount on Google's multiple and this adds fuel to that fire, in our view."