Alibaba Group (NYSE:BABA) Downgraded by StockNews.com to Hold

StockNews.com downgraded shares of Alibaba Group (NYSE:BABA) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday morning.

Other research analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Alibaba Group from $130.00 to $180.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, February 21st. Morgan Stanley upgraded Alibaba Group from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $100.00 to $180.00 in a report on Monday, February 24th. Bank of America boosted their target price on Alibaba Group from $117.00 to $150.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, February 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on Alibaba Group from $125.00 to $170.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, February 21st. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded Alibaba Group from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $104.00 to $165.00 in a report on Tuesday, February 25th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $144.07.

Alibaba Group Stock Performance

Shares of Alibaba Group stock opened at $132.23 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of $314.18 billion, a PE ratio of 19.11, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.61 and a beta of 0.28. Alibaba Group has a 12 month low of $68.36 and a 12 month high of $148.43. The company has a quick ratio of 1.48, a current ratio of 1.48 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $119.59 and a 200-day simple moving average of $101.86.

Alibaba Group (NYSE:BABA) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 20th. The specialty retailer reported $2.77 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.84 by ($0.07). The business had revenue of $38.38 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $38.19 billion. Alibaba Group had a net margin of 12.29% and a return on equity of 12.89%. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Alibaba Group will post 7.86 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Alibaba Group

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of BABA. Decker Retirement Planning Inc. bought a new position in shares of Alibaba Group in the fourth quarter worth about $31,000. Sierra Ocean LLC acquired a new stake in Alibaba Group in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL increased its position in Alibaba Group by 59.0% in the 4th quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL now owns 539 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $46,000 after buying an additional 200 shares during the period. Redwood Park Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Alibaba Group during the fourth quarter worth approximately $52,000. Finally, Kieckhefer Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Alibaba Group in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $55,000. Institutional investors own 13.47% of the company’s stock.

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.