Alibaba Group (NYSE:BABA) Shares Down 1.4% - Should You Sell?

Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA - Get Free Report)'s share price dropped 1.4% on Wednesday . The company traded as low as $115.10 and last traded at $115.43. Approximately 4,133,164 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 79% from the average daily volume of 19,916,548 shares. The stock had previously closed at $117.01.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts recently weighed in on BABA shares. Mizuho reduced 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. Morgan Stanley set a $180.00 price target on Alibaba Group in a research note on Wednesday, May 14th. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Alibaba Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday. Benchmark lowered their price target on shares of Alibaba Group from $190.00 to $176.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Friday, May 16th. Finally, Arete Research lowered Alibaba Group from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $154.13.

Alibaba Group Stock Performance

The company has a 50-day moving average price of $119.76 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $112.82. The stock has a market capitalization of $272.13 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.32, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.48 and a beta of 0.22. The company has a current ratio of 1.55, a quick ratio of 1.48 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19.

Alibaba Group Cuts Dividend

The business also recently declared a -- dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 10th. Investors of record on Thursday, June 12th will be issued a $0.95 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 12th. This represents a dividend yield of 0.8%. Alibaba Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 13.83%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Alibaba Group

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. North Ridge Wealth Advisors Inc. bought a new position in shares of Alibaba Group in the first quarter worth about $26,000. Summit Securities Group LLC increased its stake in shares of Alibaba Group by 100.3% during the first quarter. Summit Securities Group LLC now owns 200 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 59,000 shares in the last quarter. Ransom Advisory Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Alibaba Group during the first quarter worth $26,000. 1248 Management LLC acquired a new position in Alibaba Group in the 1st quarter valued at about $26,000. Finally, Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. boosted its stake in Alibaba Group by 1,960.0% during the first quarter. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. now owns 206 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 196 shares during the period. 13.47% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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.