Key Points
- Alibaba President J. Michael Evans sold 720,000 shares on June 29 at an average price of $94.95, totaling about $68.4 million. After the sale, he retained 28,000 shares, cutting his ownership by 96.26%.
- Alibaba stock was up 2.1% in the trading session referenced, opening at $97.95, though it remains well below its 50-day and 200-day moving averages and near its 52-week low of $91.99.
- Wall Street sentiment remains cautiously positive, with an average “Moderate Buy” rating and a consensus price target of $187.38, even as recent headlines include insider sales and legal scrutiny tied to a DOJ settlement.
Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA - Get Free Report) President J. Michael Evans sold 720,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $94.95, for a total transaction of $68,364,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the president owned 28,000 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,658,600. This trade represents a 96.26% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink.
Alibaba Group Trading Up 2.1%
Alibaba Group stock opened at $97.95 on Thursday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $123.13 and a 200 day simple moving average of $138.69. The stock has a market capitalization of $235.00 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.08, a PEG ratio of 1.67 and a beta of 0.51. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a current ratio of 1.28. Alibaba Group Holding Limited has a 52 week low of $91.99 and a 52 week high of $192.67.
Alibaba Group (NYSE:BABA - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, March 31st. The specialty retailer reported $0.01 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Alibaba Group had a return on equity of 4.76% and a net margin of 10.31%.The firm had revenue of $35.30 billion for the quarter. Analysts expect that Alibaba Group Holding Limited will post 6.66 earnings per share for the current year.
Alibaba Group Announces Dividend
The firm also recently declared an annual dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 13th. Investors of record on Thursday, June 11th will be paid a $1.05 dividend. This represents a yield of 93.0%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 11th. Alibaba Group's dividend payout ratio is 16.91%.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth
Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Susquehanna increased their price objective on shares of Alibaba Group from $170.00 to $185.00 and gave the company a "positive" rating in a research report on Friday, May 15th. Robert W. Baird reduced their target price on shares of Alibaba Group from $174.00 to $164.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Friday, March 20th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a "hold (c+)" rating on shares of Alibaba Group in a research note on Wednesday, May 27th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Alibaba Group from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, May 23rd. Finally, Argus upgraded shares of Alibaba Group to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 24th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, sixteen have given a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $187.38.
Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Alibaba Group
More Alibaba Group News
Here are the key news stories impacting Alibaba Group this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Some commentary still argues Alibaba’s AI-powered commerce ecosystem, merchant monetization, and quick commerce expansion could support growth into FY2027, suggesting the core business thesis remains intact.
- Neutral Sentiment: Several insider sales were disclosed by top executives and a director, but the filings say at least some were tied to tax withholding on vested equity awards rather than a clear negative signal.
- Neutral Sentiment: Erste Group Bank trimmed its earnings estimates for FY2027 and FY2028, but the revisions were small, so this looks more like a modest caution signal than a major change in outlook.
- Negative Sentiment: Alibaba and an Ant Group subsidiary agreed to pay $600 million to settle DOJ claims that they failed to prevent illegal sales on Alibaba.com and AliExpress, which raises legal and reputational concerns. Article: Alibaba, U.S. Payment Processor to Pay $600 Million in DOJ Settlement Over Illegal Drug Sales
- Negative Sentiment: A separate investor-investigation headline from a shareholder law firm may also weigh on sentiment, because it increases the risk of further legal scrutiny even though no wrongdoing has been proven. Article: BABA Investors Have Opportunity to Join Alibaba Group Holding Limited Fraud Investigation with the Schall Law Firm
- Negative Sentiment: Multiple insider and institutional selling headlines, including a large stock sale by President J. Michael Evans, can reinforce a cautious tone around the shares.
- Negative Sentiment: Additional pressure may be coming from policy and trade concerns, including the EU’s new fee on low-value Chinese e-commerce parcels and reports that Alibaba is losing lobbyists under U.S. restrictions.
Institutional Trading of Alibaba Group
A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. grew its holdings in shares of Alibaba Group by 7,680.3% during the 4th quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 6,014,147 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $881,554,000 after purchasing an additional 5,936,847 shares in the last quarter. Capital World Investors raised its stake in Alibaba Group by 1,074.9% in the third quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 6,038,318 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $1,079,229,000 after purchasing an additional 5,524,354 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Alibaba Group in the fourth quarter valued at about $594,477,000. Coatue Management LLC lifted its position in Alibaba Group by 130.1% during the third quarter. Coatue Management LLC now owns 1,996,593 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $356,851,000 after purchasing an additional 1,128,826 shares during the period. Finally, Altshuler Shaham Ltd bought a new stake in Alibaba Group during the fourth quarter worth about $160,410,000. 13.47% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.
Alibaba Group Company Profile
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Get Free Report)
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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