Arete Research Upgrades Alibaba Group (NYSE:BABA) to Strong-Buy

Key Points

• Alibaba Group has received an upgraded rating of "Strong-Buy" from Arete Research, improving from a previous "hold" rating.
• Despite the upgrade, other analysts have mixed reactions, with Wall Street Zen downgrading their rating to "hold" and multiple firms setting varying price targets for the stock, ranging from $160 to $180.
• Alibaba's stock currently has a market capitalization of $325.31 billion and a consensus analyst rating of "Buy", with an average price target of $163.53.

Arete Research upgraded shares of Alibaba Group (NYSE:BABA - Free Report) from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report released on Wednesday morning,Zacks.com reports.

Several other research analysts have also recently commented on the stock. Citigroup boosted their price target on shares of Alibaba Group from $148.00 to $187.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday. Loop Capital set a $176.00 price target on shares of Alibaba Group in a report on Friday, May 16th. Bank of America boosted their price target on shares of Alibaba Group from $135.00 to $152.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday. UBS Group reiterated a "buy" rating and set a $162.00 price target on shares of Alibaba Group in a report on Sunday, August 31st. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein reiterated an "outperform" rating and set a $160.00 price target on shares of Alibaba Group in a report on Saturday, August 30th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and thirteen have assigned a Buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Alibaba Group has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus price target of $163.53.

Alibaba Group Stock Up 3.5%

Shares of BABA stock traded up $4.57 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $135.49. The company's stock had a trading volume of 19,166,179 shares, compared to its average volume of 17,007,000. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, a current ratio of 1.45 and a quick ratio of 1.55. The company has a market capitalization of $323.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.75, a P/E/G ratio of 1.83 and a beta of 0.11. The stock's 50-day moving average price is $119.59 and its 200 day moving average price is $122.11. Alibaba Group has a 1-year low of $80.06 and a 1-year high of $148.43.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of BABA. Kingstone Capital Partners Texas LLC raised its position in Alibaba Group by 1,349,768.3% in the 2nd quarter. Kingstone Capital Partners Texas LLC now owns 49,013,718 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $5,558,646,000 after purchasing an additional 49,010,087 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Alibaba Group in the 2nd quarter valued at $527,243,000. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. raised its position in Alibaba Group by 3,214.5% in the 1st 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. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC raised its position in Alibaba Group by 85.6% in the 1st quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 8,557,495 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $1,131,558,000 after purchasing an additional 3,947,460 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. raised its position in Alibaba Group by 22.6% in the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 15,648,064 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $2,069,144,000 after purchasing an additional 2,885,154 shares during 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.