Evanson Asset Management LLC Purchases Shares of 5,080 Alibaba Group Holding Limited $BABA

Key Points

• Evanson Asset Management initiated a new position in Alibaba in Q4, purchasing 5,080 shares valued at roughly $745,000.
• XuanTie C950 5nm AI chip launch and a push to separate/monetize AI products (Accio Work) have driven upbeat investor reaction, but recent quarterly results showed margin pressure from heavy AI spending and prompted several firms to trim targets.
• The stock carries a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" (16 Buys, 4 Holds, 1 Sell) with an average price target of $188.95; shares trade near $125.55 with a market cap of about $300 billion and a P/E of ~23.7.

Evanson Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA - Free Report) during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund acquired 5,080 shares of the specialty retailer's stock, valued at approximately $745,000.

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Ameriflex Group Inc. boosted its stake in Alibaba Group by 101.4% during the third quarter. Ameriflex Group Inc. now owns 143 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 72 shares in the last quarter. Mather Group LLC. acquired a new stake in Alibaba Group in the 3rd quarter valued at about $30,000. Foster Dykema Cabot & Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Alibaba Group in the 3rd quarter valued at about $30,000. NBT Bank N A NY boosted its position in shares of Alibaba Group by 231.5% during the 3rd quarter. NBT Bank N A NY now owns 179 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 125 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Palisade Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Alibaba Group in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $37,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 13.47% of the company's stock.

Alibaba Group Stock Performance

Shares of BABA opened at $125.55 on Wednesday. The company has a 50-day moving average of $152.36 and a two-hundred day moving average of $158.51. The stock has a market cap of $299.75 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.69, a PEG ratio of 2.87 and a beta of 0.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22, a current ratio of 1.33 and a quick ratio of 1.33. Alibaba Group Holding Limited has a one year low of $95.73 and a one year high of $192.67.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts recently commented on the stock. Robert W. Baird dropped their target price on shares of Alibaba Group from $174.00 to $164.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, March 20th. Freedom Capital lowered shares of Alibaba Group from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 6th. Sanford C. Bernstein dropped their price target on Alibaba Group from $200.00 to $190.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, November 26th. DZ Bank downgraded Alibaba Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and set a $135.00 price objective for the company. in a research report on Friday, March 20th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on Alibaba Group from $200.00 to $180.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 8th. Sixteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $188.95.

Alibaba Group News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Alibaba Group this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Alibaba unveiled the XuanTie C950, a 5nm RISC‑V CPU optimized for agentic AI and inference — a move that advances chip self‑reliance, could lower cloud costs over time and bolsters Alibaba’s vertical AI strategy. Alibaba reveals new AI chip designed for 'agents'
• Positive Sentiment: The company is pushing standalone AI products (Accio Work) and separating AI businesses from cloud operations — actions that could accelerate monetization of AI services and grow international cloud revenue. Alibaba launches latest agentic AI platform with international unit's Accio Work
• Positive Sentiment: Initial market reaction to the chip launch was upbeat (reports of a near‑3% intraday rally), signaling investor belief that proprietary silicon could be a strategic game‑changer. Alibaba (BABA) Stock Climbs Nearly 3% on Launch of XuanTie C950 Processor
• Neutral Sentiment: Alibaba granted new employee share awards under its 2024 equity plan — standard retention tool that dilutes shares modestly but supports talent retention. Alibaba Grants New Employee Share Awards Under 2024 Equity Plan
• Neutral Sentiment: Chairman Joseph Tsai framed Alibaba’s AI push as focused on broad social benefit — positive PR but not directly material to near‑term earnings. Alibaba Chairman Joseph Tsai Says AI’s Ultimate Aim Is Broad Social Benefit
• Negative Sentiment: Recent quarterly results disappointed on margins and showed heavy AI‑related spending; analysts warn profit pressures may persist, driving multiple compression. Alibaba's Q3 Earnings Disappoint
• Negative Sentiment: Several firms trimmed price targets (JPMorgan, Mizuho, Robert W. Baird, Jefferies), reflecting near‑term risk from spending and slower e‑commerce recovery. JPMorgan Chase & Co. Cuts Alibaba Group Price Target
• Negative Sentiment: Regulatory pressure — AliExpress is under EU scrutiny for product safety/counterfeit controls — adds legal/compliance risk for international commerce operations. China's AliExpress tells EU lawmakers it is working to comply with law

Alibaba Group Company Profile

Alibaba Group Holding Limited is a Chinese multinational conglomerate founded in 1999 in Hangzhou, China, by Jack Ma and a group of co‑founders. The company built its business around internet-based commerce and related services and has grown into one of the largest e-commerce and technology companies in the world. Alibaba completed a high‑profile initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange in 2014.

The company operates a portfolio of online marketplaces and platforms serving different customer segments: Alibaba.com for global and domestic B2B trade, Taobao for consumer-to-consumer shopping, and Tmall for brand and retailer storefronts targeted at Chinese consumers.

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