Alibaba Group (NYSE:BABA) Trading Up 1.6% - Should You Buy?

Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA - Get Free Report) rose 1.6% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as $105.41 and last traded at $105.48. Approximately 4,688,415 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 77% from the average daily volume of 19,966,284 shares. The stock had previously closed at $103.83.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

BABA has been the subject of a number of research reports. Citigroup decreased their price target on Alibaba Group from $170.00 to $169.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 8th. Robert W. Baird decreased their price target on Alibaba Group from $147.00 to $142.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, May 16th. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Alibaba Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, June 27th. Arete Research cut shares of Alibaba Group from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, June 24th. Finally, Benchmark lowered their price objective on shares of Alibaba Group from $190.00 to $176.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, May 16th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $154.13.

Alibaba Group Stock Up 2.7%

The business's 50 day moving average is $118.14 and its 200 day moving average is $114.23. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, a quick ratio of 1.55 and a current ratio of 1.55. The stock has a market cap of $254.40 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.31, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.45 and a beta of 0.21.

Alibaba Group Cuts Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a -- dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 10th. Investors of record on Thursday, June 12th will be paid a $0.95 dividend. This represents a yield of 0.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 12th. Alibaba Group's dividend payout ratio is 12.75%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Alibaba Group

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. North Ridge Wealth Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in Alibaba Group during the 1st quarter valued at about $26,000. Summit Securities Group LLC grew its stake in Alibaba Group by 100.3% during the 1st quarter. Summit Securities Group LLC now owns 200 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 59,000 shares in the last quarter. Ransom Advisory Ltd purchased a new position in Alibaba Group during the 1st quarter valued at about $26,000. 1248 Management LLC purchased a new position in Alibaba Group during the 1st quarter valued at about $26,000. Finally, Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. grew its stake in Alibaba Group by 1,960.0% during 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. Institutional investors and hedge funds 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.