Alibaba Group (NYSE:BABA) Shares Up 3.1% - Still a Buy?

Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA - Get Free Report)'s share price rose 3.1% during trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $116.90 and last traded at $116.39. Approximately 3,942,476 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 80% from the average daily volume of 19,935,877 shares. The stock had previously closed at $112.87.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts recently issued reports on the company. Arete Research raised Alibaba Group to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Friday, February 28th. Barclays upped their price target on Alibaba Group from $130.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, February 21st. Loop Capital set a $176.00 price objective on Alibaba Group in a report on Friday, May 16th. Benchmark dropped their target price on Alibaba Group from $190.00 to $176.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, May 16th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded shares of 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 report on Tuesday, February 25th. Fifteen analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Buy" and an average target price of $154.21.

Alibaba Group Stock Up 2.9%

The firm's 50 day simple moving average is $118.35 and its 200-day simple moving average is $111.27. 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 company has a market cap of $277.00 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.78, a P/E/G ratio of 0.61 and a beta of 0.22.

Alibaba Group Cuts Dividend

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

Institutional Trading of Alibaba Group

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of BABA. Accent Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Alibaba Group by 5.5% in the 1st quarter. Accent Capital Management LLC now owns 1,582 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $209,000 after acquiring an additional 82 shares during the last quarter. Greenleaf Trust increased its stake in Alibaba Group by 1.0% in the 1st quarter. Greenleaf Trust now owns 8,336 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $1,102,000 after purchasing an additional 85 shares in the last quarter. Marcum Wealth LLC raised its holdings in Alibaba Group by 3.2% during the 1st quarter. Marcum Wealth LLC now owns 2,745 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $363,000 after buying an additional 86 shares during the period. Principal Securities Inc. lifted its stake in Alibaba Group by 0.5% during the first quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 16,823 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $2,225,000 after buying an additional 89 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Institute for Wealth Management LLC. boosted its holdings in shares of Alibaba Group by 1.1% in the first quarter. Institute for Wealth Management LLC. now owns 8,578 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $1,134,000 after buying an additional 93 shares during the period. 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.

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