Alibaba Group (NYSE:BABA) Trading 2% Higher – Still a Buy?

Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA)’s share price was up 2% during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $84.39 and last traded at $83.96. Approximately 4,927,332 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 72% from the average daily volume of 17,358,576 shares. The stock had previously closed at $82.28.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have commented on BABA. Barclays decreased their target price on Alibaba Group from $137.00 to $130.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, November 19th. StockNews.com cut Alibaba Group from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday, December 14th. Loop Capital restated a “buy” rating and set a $115.00 target price on shares of Alibaba Group in a research report on Thursday, August 29th. Benchmark reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $118.00 price objective on shares of Alibaba Group in a report on Friday, November 15th. Finally, Macquarie upgraded Alibaba Group from a “neutral” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $145.00 price target for the company in a research note on Monday, October 7th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $114.07.

Alibaba Group Price Performance

The company has a market cap of $201.93 billion, a PE ratio of 17.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.44 and a beta of 0.30. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $92.23 and a 200-day moving average price of $86.56. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16, a current ratio of 1.37 and a quick ratio of 1.37.

Alibaba Group (NYSE:BABA) last issued its earnings results on Friday, November 15th. The specialty retailer reported $15.06 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.87 by $13.19. Alibaba Group had a net margin of 8.98% and a return on equity of 12.28%. The company had revenue of $236.50 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $239.45 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.82 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 5.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts expect that Alibaba Group Holding Limited will post 8.44 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Alibaba Group

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. First Command Advisory Services Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Alibaba Group during the second quarter worth approximately $25,000. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL bought a new stake in shares of Alibaba Group in the second quarter valued at about $27,000. Concord Wealth Partners grew its position in Alibaba Group by 155.0% during the third quarter. Concord Wealth Partners now owns 255 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 155 shares in the last quarter. Highline Wealth Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Alibaba Group during the third quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Finally, Asset Dedication LLC raised its position in Alibaba Group by 315.0% in the second quarter. Asset Dedication LLC now owns 527 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $38,000 after purchasing an additional 400 shares in the last quarter. 13.47% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Alibaba Group

Alibaba Group Holding Limited, through its subsidiaries, provides technology infrastructure and marketing reach to help merchants, brands, retailers, and other businesses to engage with their users and customers in the People's Republic of China and internationally. The company operates through seven segments: China Commerce, International Commerce, Local Consumer Services, Cainiao, Cloud, Digital Media and Entertainment, and Innovation Initiatives and Others.