Alibaba Group (NYSE:BABA) Stock Price Expected to Rise, Mizuho Analyst Says

Alibaba Group (NYSE:BABA - Get Free Report) had its price objective upped by analysts at Mizuho from $140.00 to $170.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Friday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has an "outperform" rating on the specialty retailer's stock. Mizuho's target price points to a potential upside of 28.84% from the stock's current price.

Other equities research analysts have also issued reports about the stock. Citigroup increased their target price on shares of Alibaba Group from $133.00 to $138.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, January 10th. Arete Research upgraded Alibaba Group to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Friday, February 28th. Robert W. Baird increased their price objective on shares of Alibaba Group from $110.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 19th. StockNews.com cut shares of Alibaba Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 26th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised Alibaba Group from an "equal weight" rating to an "overweight" rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $100.00 to $180.00 in a research note on Monday, February 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Alibaba Group currently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of $148.14.

Alibaba Group Stock Performance

Shares of Alibaba Group stock traded down $0.48 during trading on Friday, hitting $131.95. 7,074,189 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 19,409,149. The stock has a market capitalization of $313.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.02, a PEG ratio of 0.61 and a beta of 0.28. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $121.60 and a 200-day simple moving average of $102.70. Alibaba Group has a 52-week low of $68.36 and a 52-week high of $148.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, a quick ratio of 1.48 and a current ratio of 1.48.

Alibaba Group (NYSE:BABA - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 20th. The specialty retailer reported $2.77 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $2.84 by ($0.07). The company had revenue of $38.38 billion for 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%. On average, research analysts forecast that Alibaba Group will post 7.86 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Trading of Alibaba Group

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in BABA. Rings Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Alibaba Group by 1.4% during the 4th quarter. Rings Capital Management LLC now owns 7,100 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $602,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the period. Lindbrook Capital LLC raised its holdings in shares of Alibaba Group by 3.7% during the 4th quarter. Lindbrook Capital LLC now owns 2,829 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $240,000 after purchasing an additional 101 shares in the last quarter. Global Endowment Management LP lifted its stake in shares of Alibaba Group by 1.4% in the 4th quarter. Global Endowment Management LP now owns 7,570 shares of the specialty retailer's stock valued at $642,000 after purchasing an additional 106 shares during the last quarter. Pinnacle Wealth Planning Services Inc. boosted its holdings in Alibaba Group by 3.6% in the fourth quarter. Pinnacle Wealth Planning Services Inc. now owns 3,134 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $266,000 after purchasing an additional 108 shares in the last quarter. Finally, TRUE Private Wealth Advisors boosted its stake in shares of Alibaba Group by 3.7% during the 3rd quarter. TRUE Private Wealth Advisors now owns 3,123 shares of the specialty retailer's stock worth $331,000 after acquiring an additional 112 shares in the last quarter. 13.47% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.