tiprankstipranks
Trending News
More News >
Alibaba (BABA)
NYSE:BABA
Advertisement

Alibaba (BABA) AI Stock Analysis

Compare
102,904 Followers

Top Page

BABA

Alibaba

(NYSE:BABA)

Rating:79Outperform
Price Target:
$134.00
▲(10.61%Upside)
Alibaba's overall stock score is driven primarily by strong financial performance and positive earnings guidance, particularly in AI and cloud growth. The valuation also supports the score, though technical analysis indicates a neutral trend. Challenges in traditional commerce and cash flow are notable, but the strategic focus on high-growth sectors offsets these concerns.
Positive Factors
AI and Cloud Infrastructure
BABA's positioning as a leading GenAI and cloud infrastructure provider remains unchanged, supporting a positive long-term outlook.
E-commerce Growth
The merger of Ele.me and Fliggy into BABA's China ecommerce business group, if well executed, could drive long-term growth in core commerce.
Financial Strength
BABA's financial strength provides the flexibility to scale, adapt, and potentially increase user engagement over time.
Negative Factors
Earnings Disruption
Lower price objective to US$135 on near-term earnings disruption.
Near-term Margins
The RMB 50B investment plan is likely to weigh on near-term margins, reflecting potential short-term margin volatility.
Profitability Challenges
Heightened investment in instant commerce is expected to weigh on near-term profitability.

Alibaba (BABA) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Alibaba Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionAlibaba Group Holding Limited, founded in 1999, is a leading Chinese multinational conglomerate specializing in e-commerce, retail, internet, and technology. It operates various business units including online retail platforms such as Taobao, Tmall, and AliExpress, as well as cloud computing through Alibaba Cloud, digital media and entertainment, and logistics via Cainiao Network. Alibaba is headquartered in Hangzhou, China, and is renowned for its comprehensive ecosystem that connects buyers and sellers globally, providing a wide range of services to facilitate trade and commerce.
How the Company Makes MoneyAlibaba primarily makes money through its core commerce segment, which encompasses its retail marketplaces like Taobao and Tmall, where it charges merchants for listings, advertisements, and value-added services. The company also earns substantial revenue from its cloud computing division, Alibaba Cloud, which provides a suite of services such as data storage, processing, and analytics. Additionally, Alibaba's digital media and entertainment arm, including platforms like Youku Tudou, contributes to its income through advertising, subscriptions, and content distribution. The firm's logistic network, Cainiao, enhances its e-commerce operations by providing efficient delivery and supply chain solutions. Key partnerships with international brands and expansion into new geographical markets further bolster its revenue streams.

Alibaba Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Revenue by Segment
Revenue by Segment
Breaks down sales across Alibaba’s various business areas, revealing which segments are contributing most to growth and where there might be potential risks or opportunities.
Chart InsightsAlibaba's cloud segment is experiencing robust growth, with a notable 18% increase in the latest quarter, driven by AI-related products. However, traditional commerce faces challenges, with a 12% revenue decline in China due to logistics integration. The Taobao and Tmall Group show resilience with a 12% rise in customer management revenue. Despite a significant decrease in free cash flow, Alibaba is committed to shareholder returns, distributing $16.5 billion through dividends and buybacks. The company is strategically focusing on cloud and AI to offset traditional commerce challenges.
Data provided by:Main Street Data

Alibaba Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:May 15, 2025
(Q4-2025)
|
% Change Since: -8.11%|
Next Earnings Date:Jul 30, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call presented a strong narrative on revenue and EBITDA growth, driven by successful performances in AI, cloud, and e-commerce sectors, as well as significant returns to shareholders. However, challenges were noted in traditional commerce and cash flow, and increased losses in local services due to seasonal factors.
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Revenue and EBITDA Growth
Total revenue excluding Sun Art at Intime grew 10% year-over-year. Adjusted EBITDA increased 36% year-over-year.
AI and Cloud Performance
Alibaba Cloud's revenue growth accelerated to 18% this quarter. AI-related products maintained triple-digit year-over-year growth for the seventh consecutive quarter.
E-commerce Success
Taobao and Tmall Group saw customer management revenue rise 12% year-over-year. 88VIP members surpassed 50 million.
International E-commerce Growth
AIDC achieved year-over-year revenue growth of 22%. The company remains on track to achieve overall quarterly profitability in the coming fiscal year.
Shareholder Returns
A cash dividend of $2 per ADS, totaling $4.6 billion, was declared. Combined with $11.9 billion in share repurchases, total returns to shareholders were $16.5 billion.
Negative Updates
Challenges in Traditional Commerce
Revenue from China decreased by 12% due to the integration of logistic offerings into e-commerce businesses.
Decreased Free Cash Flow
Free cash flow decreased 76% to RMB3.7 billion, mainly due to increased cloud infrastructure expenditure.
Local Service Group Challenges
Adjusted EBITDA loss increased quarter-over-quarter due to seasonal effects and high investments during the Chinese New Year holiday.
Company Guidance
During the Alibaba Group's March Quarter 2025 and Full Fiscal Year 2025 Results Conference Call, the company provided guidance on several key metrics. Total revenue, excluding Sun Art and Intime, increased by 10% year-over-year, while adjusted EBITDA rose by 36% year-over-year. Alibaba Cloud's revenue grew by 18% this quarter, with AI-related product revenue maintaining triple-digit year-over-year growth for the seventh consecutive quarter. The Taobao and Tmall Group reported a 12% year-over-year increase in customer management revenue, contributing to an 8% rise in adjusted EBITDA. The group's consolidated revenue reached RMB236.5 billion, marking a 7% increase year-over-year, and consolidated adjusted EBITDA climbed 36% to RMB32.6 billion. Non-GAAP net income increased by 22% to RMB29.8 billion, while GAAP net income rose to RMB12 billion. Operating cash flow was RMB27.5 billion, a growth of 18%, although free cash flow decreased by 76% to RMB3.7 billion. The company reported a strong net cash position of RMB366.4 billion as of March 31, 2025. Additionally, the company announced a total cash dividend distribution of $2 per ADS, amounting to $4.6 billion for the fiscal year, alongside $11.9 billion in share repurchases, leading to a total return of $16.5 billion to shareholders.

Alibaba Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Alibaba presents a strong financial position with consistent revenue growth, healthy profit margins, and robust cash flow management. The income statement and cash flow indicators show excellent profitability and cash conversion, while the balance sheet reflects a solid equity base with manageable leverage.
Income Statement
85
Very Positive
Alibaba demonstrates strong income statement metrics with a consistent revenue growth rate of approximately 5.9% in 2025 compared to 2024. The company maintains healthy profit margins, with a gross profit margin at approximately 39.9% and a net profit margin at 13.1% for the latest fiscal year. The EBIT margin is robust at 14.1%, indicating efficient operational management. EBITDA margins also remain strong at 18.3%. These factors suggest a stable and profitable income statement performance.
Balance Sheet
78
Positive
Alibaba's balance sheet reflects a favorable equity ratio of 55.9%, indicating a strong equity position. The debt-to-equity ratio is reasonable at 0.25, showing balanced leverage. Return on Equity (ROE) is strong at 12.9%, demonstrating effective use of shareholder funds to generate profit. Although the company maintains a solid equity base, the growth in liabilities requires monitoring to ensure long-term financial stability.
Cash Flow
82
Very Positive
The cash flow statement indicates a positive trajectory with stable free cash flow, despite a 48.2% decline in free cash flow in 2025 compared to 2024. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is favorable at 1.26, demonstrating strong cash generation from operations. The free cash flow to net income ratio stands at 0.60, highlighting efficient cash conversion. Overall, Alibaba's cash flow management remains robust amid investment activities.
BreakdownMar 2025Mar 2024Mar 2023Mar 2022Mar 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue996.35B941.17B868.69B853.06B717.29B
Gross Profit398.06B354.85B318.99B313.61B296.08B
EBITDA182.67B164.01B153.11B128.23B217.96B
Net Income130.11B80.01B72.78B62.25B150.58B
Balance Sheet
Total Assets1.80T1.76T1.75T1.70T1.69T
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments428.09B571.03B524.47B455.08B483.44B
Total Debt248.35B205.61B161.35B141.34B149.15B
Total Liabilities714.12B652.23B630.12B613.36B606.58B
Stockholders Equity1.01T986.54B989.66B948.48B937.47B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow77.54B149.66B165.40B89.44B188.60B
Operating Cash Flow163.51B182.59B199.75B142.76B231.79B
Investing Cash Flow-185.41B-21.82B-135.51B-198.59B-244.19B
Financing Cash Flow-76.22B-108.24B-65.62B-64.45B30.08B

Alibaba Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price121.15
Price Trends
50DMA
116.11
Positive
100DMA
119.99
Positive
200DMA
107.93
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
1.71
Negative
RSI
61.29
Neutral
STOCH
88.95
Negative
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For BABA, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 121.15 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 113.47, above the 50-day MA of 116.11, and above the 200-day MA of 107.93, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 1.71 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 61.29 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 88.95 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for BABA.

Alibaba Risk Analysis

Alibaba disclosed 70 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Alibaba reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Alibaba Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (63)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
79
Outperform
$293.91B16.0513.04%0.01%5.17%74.55%
78
Outperform
$164.51B12.7636.31%35.04%22.04%
78
Outperform
$93.88B111.5111.13%30.18%1995.22%
77
Outperform
$54.65B8.2819.81%0.09%8.13%91.39%
74
Outperform
$55.45B220.826.06%20.88%-80.08%
73
Outperform
$2.42T37.2325.24%10.08%71.88%
63
Neutral
$17.10B10.79-8.01%2.94%1.62%-25.73%
* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
BABA
Alibaba
121.15
46.99
63.36%
AMZN
Amazon
232.23
52.38
29.12%
JD
JD
33.47
7.14
27.12%
SE
Sea
157.87
93.77
146.29%
PDD
PDD Holdings
118.21
-11.53
-8.89%
CPNG
Coupang
30.14
10.35
52.30%
Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Jul 16, 2025