Alibaba Group (NYSE:BABA) Shares Up 1.5% – What’s Next?

Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA) traded up 1.5% on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $161.28 and last traded at $160.0490. 12,396,336 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 40% from the average session volume of 20,734,402 shares. The stock had previously closed at $157.71.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on BABA shares. Erste Group Bank upgraded Alibaba Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, October 3rd. Robert W. Baird boosted their price objective on shares of Alibaba Group from $153.00 to $174.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 24th. Arete raised shares of Alibaba Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $152.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, September 3rd. Barclays boosted their price target on shares of Alibaba Group from $145.00 to $190.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, September 8th. Finally, Citigroup reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Alibaba Group in a report on Wednesday, September 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seventeen have given a Buy rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Alibaba Group has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $190.18.

Alibaba Group Stock Performance

The stock has a market cap of $381.89 billion, a PE ratio of 18.61, a P/E/G ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 0.19. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $168.23 and its 200 day moving average is $137.03. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, a quick ratio of 1.45 and a current ratio of 1.45.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Alibaba Group

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Temasek Holdings Private Ltd raised its stake in shares of Alibaba Group by 23.4% during the 1st quarter. Temasek Holdings Private Ltd now owns 5,510,348 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $728,633,000 after buying an additional 1,045,789 shares in the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. grew its holdings in Alibaba Group by 52.1% during the first quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 2,293,085 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $303,215,000 after acquiring an additional 785,494 shares during the period. Verde Servicos Internacionais S.A. raised its position in Alibaba Group by 6.9% in the second quarter. Verde Servicos Internacionais S.A. now owns 67,773 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $7,686,000 after acquiring an additional 4,373 shares in the last quarter. Causeway Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in Alibaba Group by 42.6% in the first quarter. Causeway Capital Management LLC now owns 1,356,010 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $179,305,000 after acquiring an additional 404,842 shares during the period. Finally, Independent Advisor Alliance boosted its position in shares of Alibaba Group by 53.1% during the 1st quarter. Independent Advisor Alliance now owns 13,043 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $1,725,000 after purchasing an additional 4,521 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other 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.