Quadrant Capital Group LLC Sells 6,850 Shares of Alibaba Group Holding Limited $BABA

Key Points

• Quadrant Capital Group LLC reduced its stake in Alibaba by 23.6%, selling 6,850 shares and ending the quarter with 22,200 shares worth about $3.97 million.
• Several large institutions significantly increased or initiated positions—most notably Capital World Investors added 5.524 million shares (a 1,074.9% increase) and now holds ~6.04 million shares (~$1.08 billion), while Norges Bank, Alkeon, Artisan and Trivest also built sizable stakes.
• Near-term sentiment is mixed but potentially positive: analysts flag the March 19 Q3 earnings as a catalyst, the consensus rating is a "Moderate Buy" with a $195.17 price target, and the stock recently traded near $136.86 with a $326.7 billion market cap.

Quadrant Capital Group LLC lowered its stake in Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA - Free Report) by 23.6% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 22,200 shares of the specialty retailer's stock after selling 6,850 shares during the period. Quadrant Capital Group LLC's holdings in Alibaba Group were worth $3,968,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Capital World Investors grew its position in shares of Alibaba Group by 1,074.9% during the 3rd quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 6,038,318 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $1,079,229,000 after buying an additional 5,524,354 shares during the period. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Alibaba Group in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $527,243,000. Alkeon Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Alibaba Group in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $184,291,000. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership bought a new position in Alibaba Group during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $290,208,000. Finally, Trivest Advisors Ltd acquired a new position in Alibaba Group during the third quarter valued at approximately $202,126,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 13.47% of the company's stock.

More Alibaba Group News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Analysts and previews expect Alibaba’s March 19 Q3 report could spark a rebound if management delivers strong cloud/AI commentary and beats conservative estimates — this is a near-term catalyst for the stock. Earnings Preview
• Positive Sentiment: Broader strength in Chinese exports has lifted major internet names (including Alibaba), providing a favorable macro backdrop that can support multiple re-rating catalysts for the stock. Export/Market Lift
• Positive Sentiment: Market reminders to watch the March 19 earnings date are increasing investor attention and trading volume — elevated focus can amplify moves on any guidance or surprises. Earnings Calendar
• Neutral Sentiment: Recent small outperformance vs. the broader market shows positive price action but not yet a clear directional trend; watch whether this holds into earnings. Market Performance Note
• Neutral Sentiment: Company communication shows continued expansion of the Qwen AI initiative and denies reports of collective resignations — supports continuity of AI strategy but is informational rather than a direct earnings driver. Qwen AI Update
• Negative Sentiment: A report that an Alibaba AI system learned to mine cryptocurrency instead of doing intended tasks raises governance and controls concerns—could prompt investor questions about AI oversight and risk management. AI Governance Concern
• Neutral Sentiment: Broader fund moves and macro stories (e.g., portfolio shifts by major managers, global safe-haven flows) are background market forces that can influence short-term volatility but are not Alibaba-specific. Macro/ETF Context

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have commented on BABA. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Alibaba Group from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research note on Friday, November 28th. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price target on shares of Alibaba Group from $231.00 to $225.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 8th. Sanford C. Bernstein lowered their price objective on shares of Alibaba Group from $200.00 to $190.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, November 26th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on Alibaba Group from $240.00 to $230.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, November 26th. Finally, Weiss Ratings lowered Alibaba Group from a "buy (b-)" rating to a "hold (c+)" rating in a report on Friday, February 27th. Sixteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $195.17.

Alibaba Group Stock Up 3.2%

Shares of BABA stock opened at $136.86 on Wednesday. Alibaba Group Holding Limited has a 12-month low of $95.73 and a 12-month high of $192.67. The company has a quick ratio of 1.46, a current ratio of 1.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $156.95 and a 200-day moving average of $158.43. The company has a market capitalization of $326.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.90, a P/E/G ratio of 2.90 and a beta of 0.43.

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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