Investors Purchase Large Volume of Alibaba Group Call Options (NYSE:BABA)

Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA - Get Free Report) was the target of unusually large options trading on Thursday. Traders bought 329,809 call options on the company. This represents an increase of 35% compared to the typical volume of 243,619 call options.

Alibaba Group Price Performance

Shares of NYSE BABA traded up $4.82 during trading on Thursday, hitting $80.33. The company had a trading volume of 36,425,035 shares, compared to its average volume of 17,998,086. The company has a market cap of $203.84 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.82 and a beta of 0.44. Alibaba Group has a 52 week low of $66.63 and a 52 week high of $102.50. The business's 50-day moving average is $73.36 and its 200 day moving average is $75.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a quick ratio of 1.80 and a current ratio of 1.80.

Alibaba Group (NYSE:BABA - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 7th. The specialty retailer reported $18.97 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $19.12 by ($0.15). The company had revenue of $260.35 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $260.26 billion. Alibaba Group had a net margin of 10.75% and a return on equity of 12.65%. Alibaba Group's quarterly revenue was up 5.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.44 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that Alibaba Group will post 7.54 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have commented on the company. Mizuho restated a "buy" rating and issued a $95.00 target price on shares of Alibaba Group in a research note on Wednesday, March 27th. Susquehanna decreased their target price on Alibaba Group from $150.00 to $135.00 and set a "positive" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, February 8th. Robert W. Baird decreased their target price on Alibaba Group from $95.00 to $90.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 19th. Citigroup decreased their target price on Alibaba Group from $126.00 to $124.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 10th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded Alibaba Group from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 27th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $112.91.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Princeton Global Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in Alibaba Group during the 3rd quarter valued at $26,000. Baystate Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in Alibaba Group by 184.6% during the 4th quarter. Baystate Wealth Management LLC now owns 333 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 216 shares during the period. EdgeRock Capital LLC acquired a new stake in Alibaba Group during the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC raised its stake in Alibaba Group by 116.7% during the 3rd quarter. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC now owns 325 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 175 shares during the period. Finally, First Command Advisory Services Inc. acquired a new stake in Alibaba Group during the 3rd quarter valued at $30,000. 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.