Alibaba Group (NYSE:BABA) Stock Rating Lowered by StockNews.com

Alibaba Group (NYSE:BABA) was downgraded by analysts at StockNews.com from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a note issued to investors on Friday.

Other research analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. Morgan Stanley set a $180.00 price target on Alibaba Group in a report on Wednesday. Arete Research upgraded Alibaba Group to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Friday, February 28th. Loop Capital set a $176.00 target price on Alibaba Group in a report on Friday. Bank of America upped their target price on Alibaba Group from $117.00 to $150.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, February 21st. Finally, Citigroup reduced their target price on Alibaba Group from $170.00 to $169.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $154.21.

Alibaba Group Stock Down 0.4%

Shares of NYSE:BABA opened at $123.37 on Friday. Alibaba Group has a 1 year low of $71.80 and a 1 year high of $148.43. The company has a market cap of $294.59 billion, a PE ratio of 17.83, a P/E/G ratio of 0.61 and a beta of 0.24. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, a current ratio of 1.48 and a quick ratio of 1.48. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $123.38 and its 200 day moving average is $107.27.

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

Institutional Trading of Alibaba Group

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in BABA. North Ridge Wealth Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Alibaba Group in the 1st quarter worth approximately $26,000. Summit Securities Group LLC grew its stake in shares of Alibaba Group by 100.3% in the 1st quarter. Summit Securities Group LLC now owns 200 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 59,000 shares during the last quarter. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. lifted its position in Alibaba Group by 1,960.0% in the 1st quarter. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. now owns 206 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 196 shares in the last quarter. Decker Retirement Planning Inc. bought a new position in Alibaba Group in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Finally, Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC bought a new position in Alibaba Group in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 13.47% of the company’s stock.

Alibaba Group Company 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.