Empirical Asset Management LLC Buys Shares of 50,485 Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA)

Empirical Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA - Free Report) during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor purchased 50,485 shares of the specialty retailer's stock, valued at approximately $4,281,000.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Generate Investment Management Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Alibaba Group during the 3rd quarter valued at about $12,656,000. Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV boosted its position in Alibaba Group by 63.9% during the third quarter. Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV now owns 28,716 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $3,047,000 after purchasing an additional 11,192 shares in the last quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB grew its holdings in Alibaba Group by 6.5% in the third quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB now owns 822,904 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $87,327,000 after purchasing an additional 50,000 shares during the period. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA increased its position in shares of Alibaba Group by 7,734.1% in the third quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 269,805 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $28,632,000 after buying an additional 266,361 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Aspex Management HK Ltd acquired a new position in shares of Alibaba Group during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $115,995,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 13.47% of the company's stock.

Alibaba Group Trading Up 3.3 %

Shares of NYSE BABA traded up $2.73 during trading on Friday, hitting $85.16. 21,072,995 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 12,020,852. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $86.24 and a 200-day moving average price of $87.59. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16, a quick ratio of 1.37 and a current ratio of 1.37. The firm has a market capitalization of $202.93 billion, a PE ratio of 17.27, a P/E/G ratio of 0.40 and a beta of 0.30. Alibaba Group Holding Limited has a 12-month low of $66.63 and a 12-month high of $117.82.

Alibaba Group (NYSE:BABA - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Friday, November 15th. The specialty retailer reported $15.06 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.87 by $13.19. Alibaba Group had a net margin of 8.98% and a return on equity of 12.28%. The company had revenue of $236.50 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $239.45 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.82 earnings per share. Alibaba Group's quarterly revenue was up 5.2% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Alibaba Group Holding Limited will post 8.44 EPS for the current year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. Bank of America boosted their price target on shares of Alibaba Group from $106.00 to $124.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, October 9th. Mizuho upped their price target on shares of Alibaba Group from $92.00 to $113.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 12th. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of Alibaba Group from $137.00 to $130.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, November 19th. Citigroup boosted their price objective on Alibaba Group from $133.00 to $138.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, January 10th. Finally, Macquarie upgraded Alibaba Group from a "neutral" rating to an "outperform" rating and set a $145.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Monday, October 7th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $115.13.

About Alibaba Group

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.