Alibaba Group (NYSE:BABA) Stock Rating Lowered by Arete

Alibaba Group (NYSE:BABA - Get Free Report) was downgraded by research analysts at Arete from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating in a report issued on Tuesday, Marketbeat reports. They presently have a $153.00 price objective on the specialty retailer's stock. Arete's price target would indicate a potential upside of 30.82% from the company's previous close.

Several other brokerages also recently commented on BABA. Mizuho cut their price target on shares of Alibaba Group from $170.00 to $160.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Friday, May 16th. Sanford C. Bernstein raised Alibaba Group from a "market perform" rating to an "outperform" rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $104.00 to $165.00 in a research note on Tuesday, February 25th. Citigroup reduced their target price on Alibaba Group from $170.00 to $169.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, April 8th. Benchmark lowered their price target on Alibaba Group from $190.00 to $176.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, May 16th. Finally, Loop Capital set a $176.00 price objective on Alibaba Group in a report on Friday, May 16th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Alibaba Group currently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and a consensus price target of $154.13.

Alibaba Group Stock Performance

BABA stock traded up $3.86 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $116.95. 17,074,536 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 23,861,033. The firm has a market capitalization of $278.91 billion, a PE ratio of 15.70, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.46 and a beta of 0.22. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $119.32 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $112.46. Alibaba Group has a 52 week low of $71.80 and a 52 week high of $148.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, a quick ratio of 1.48 and a current ratio of 1.55.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Brighton Jones LLC grew its holdings in Alibaba Group by 40.4% in the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 3,411 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $289,000 after acquiring an additional 981 shares during the last quarter. Rhumbline Advisers boosted its holdings in shares of Alibaba Group by 0.7% during the fourth quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 22,246 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $1,886,000 after purchasing an additional 154 shares during the period. ING Groep NV bought a new stake in shares of Alibaba Group in the fourth quarter worth about $227,000. Rothschild Investment LLC increased its holdings in Alibaba Group by 1,504.7% during the 4th quarter. Rothschild Investment LLC now owns 1,717 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $146,000 after purchasing an additional 1,610 shares during the period. Finally, Sierra Capital LLC raised its position in Alibaba Group by 6.8% during the 4th quarter. Sierra Capital LLC now owns 5,967 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $506,000 after purchasing an additional 380 shares during the last quarter. 13.47% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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.