IFP Advisors Inc Buys 1,442 Shares of Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA)

IFP Advisors Inc increased its stake in shares of Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA) by 25.3% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 7,150 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock after acquiring an additional 1,442 shares during the quarter. IFP Advisors Inc’s holdings in Alibaba Group were worth $945,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Norges Bank bought a new position in Alibaba Group during the fourth quarter valued at $585,479,000. Bank of America Corp DE lifted its position in Alibaba Group by 7.0% during the fourth quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 6,676,773 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $566,124,000 after purchasing an additional 438,537 shares during the last quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC lifted its position in Alibaba Group by 19.5% during the fourth quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 4,610,035 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $390,885,000 after purchasing an additional 752,275 shares during the last quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. lifted its position in Alibaba Group by 3,214.5% during the first quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 4,378,671 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $578,992,000 after purchasing an additional 4,246,564 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Alyeska Investment Group L.P. lifted its position in Alibaba Group by 1.1% during the fourth quarter. Alyeska Investment Group L.P. now owns 3,978,977 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $337,377,000 after purchasing an additional 44,901 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 13.47% of the company’s stock.

Alibaba Group Trading Up 1.6%

NYSE BABA opened at $122.61 on Thursday. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $116.07 and its two-hundred day moving average is $116.18. Alibaba Group Holding Limited has a 12 month low of $73.87 and a 12 month high of $148.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, a current ratio of 1.55 and a quick ratio of 1.55. The stock has a market capitalization of $292.55 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.46, a PEG ratio of 1.78 and a beta of 0.21.

Alibaba Group Cuts Dividend

The company also recently announced a — dividend, which was paid on Thursday, July 10th. Investors of record on Thursday, June 12th were issued a $0.95 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, June 12th. This represents a yield of 0.8%. Alibaba Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 12.75%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on BABA shares. Citigroup decreased their price objective on shares of Alibaba Group from $170.00 to $169.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 8th. Arete downgraded shares of Alibaba Group from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $153.00 target price on the stock. in a research report on Tuesday, June 24th. Benchmark reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Alibaba Group in a research report on Monday. Mizuho cut their price objective on shares of Alibaba Group from $170.00 to $160.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, May 16th. Finally, Bank of America cut their price objective on shares of Alibaba Group from $145.00 to $135.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, July 11th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $150.80.

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.