Brandes Investment Partners LP Reduces Stock Position in Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA)

Brandes Investment Partners LP cut its stake in Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA) by 7.5% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 661,261 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock after selling 53,509 shares during the period. Brandes Investment Partners LP’s holdings in Alibaba Group were worth $56,068,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Principal Financial Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Alibaba Group by 6.2% in the third quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 52,563 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $5,578,000 after acquiring an additional 3,046 shares during the last quarter. Assetmark Inc. lifted its holdings in Alibaba Group by 225.4% in the third quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 397 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $42,000 after acquiring an additional 275 shares during the last quarter. Axxcess Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Alibaba Group in the third quarter valued at approximately $230,000. Apollon Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Alibaba Group in the third quarter valued at approximately $923,000. Finally, GSA Capital Partners LLP acquired a new position in Alibaba Group in the third quarter valued at approximately $762,000. 13.47% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Alibaba Group Trading Up 1.9 %

NYSE:BABA opened at $140.99 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $334.99 billion, a PE ratio of 20.37, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.61 and a beta of 0.28. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $110.73 and a 200 day moving average price of $98.59. Alibaba Group Holding Limited has a 12-month low of $68.36 and a 12-month high of $145.36. The company has a current ratio of 1.48, a quick ratio of 1.48 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19.

Alibaba Group (NYSE:BABA) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 20th. The specialty retailer reported $2.77 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.84 by ($0.07). The company had revenue of $38.38 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $38.19 billion. Alibaba Group had a net margin of 12.29% and a return on equity of 12.89%. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Alibaba Group Holding Limited will post 7.86 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts recently commented on BABA shares. Benchmark upped their price objective on Alibaba Group from $118.00 to $190.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, February 21st. Robert W. Baird upped their price objective on Alibaba Group from $110.00 to $125.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 19th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on Alibaba Group from $125.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, February 21st. 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. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded Alibaba Group from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and upped their price target for the stock from $104.00 to $165.00 in a research note on Tuesday, February 25th. Fifteen research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Alibaba Group currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $144.07.

Alibaba Group 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.