Merit Financial Group LLC Grows Stake in Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA)

Merit Financial Group LLC raised its position in Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA) by 5.1% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 4,405 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock after purchasing an additional 214 shares during the period. Merit Financial Group LLC’s holdings in Alibaba Group were worth $341,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in Alibaba Group during the third quarter worth $26,000. Baystate Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Alibaba Group by 184.6% during the fourth quarter. Baystate Wealth Management LLC now owns 333 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 216 shares during the period. First Command Advisory Services Inc. purchased a new stake in Alibaba Group in the 3rd quarter valued at about $30,000. Milestone Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Alibaba Group in the third quarter worth approximately $31,000. Finally, Anchor Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in Alibaba Group in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 13.47% of the company’s stock.

Alibaba Group Price Performance

Shares of BABA stock opened at $78.47 on Thursday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $73.60 and a two-hundred day moving average of $75.11. The firm has a market cap of $199.12 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.48 and a beta of 0.44. Alibaba Group Holding Limited has a 1-year low of $66.63 and a 1-year high of $102.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a current ratio of 1.80 and a quick ratio of 1.80.

Alibaba Group (NYSE:BABA) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 7th. The specialty retailer reported $18.97 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $19.12 by ($0.15). Alibaba Group had a return on equity of 12.65% and a net margin of 10.75%. The firm had revenue of $260.35 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $260.26 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.44 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 5.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Alibaba Group Holding Limited will post 7.54 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have weighed in on BABA. Susquehanna decreased their price target on shares of Alibaba Group from $150.00 to $135.00 and set a “positive” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, February 8th. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their price target on Alibaba Group from $121.00 to $105.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, February 8th. Mizuho restated a “buy” rating and issued a $95.00 price objective on shares of Alibaba Group in a report on Wednesday, March 27th. Morgan Stanley reiterated an “equal weight” rating and set a $85.00 target price on shares of Alibaba Group in a report on Tuesday, April 9th. Finally, Robert W. Baird cut their price target on shares of Alibaba Group from $95.00 to $90.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 19th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $112.49.

Alibaba Group Profile

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.