CWA Asset Management Group LLC Increases Stake in Alibaba Group Holding Limited

On January 7th, 2025, CWA Asset Management Group LLC announced that it had increased its position in Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA – Free Report) by 20.9% during the fourth quarter, as per its latest filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. After acquiring an additional 6,153 shares, the fund's total holdings in the specialty retailer reached 35,584 shares. At the end of the reporting period, these shares were valued at approximately $3,017,000.

Alongside CWA Asset Management, several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made significant changes to their positions in Alibaba. For instance, Assenagon Asset Management S.A. boosted its stake in the company by an astonishing 1,392.6% during the third quarter, bringing its total to 6,125,542 shares worth about $650,043,000 after acquiring 5,715,155 additional shares in the latest quarter.

Another notable participant, UBS Asset Management Americas LLC, increased its stake by 3,180.1% in the same period, ending up with 3,857,760 shares valued at $409,385,000 after purchasing an extra 3,740,150 shares. Similarly, Hhlr Advisors LTD. saw a 64.1% rise in its holdings, now owning 8,827,600 shares worth roughly $936,785,000 following a purchase of 3,448,152 shares.

FMR LLC also made headlines with a 454.2% increase, now holding 3,611,571 shares valued at $383,260,000 after buying an additional 2,959,954 shares in the same quarter. Lastly, International Assets Investment Management LLC expanded its position by 9,205.2%, owning 1,697,358 shares worth around $1,801,240,000 after a purchase of 1,679,117 shares.

As a result of these transactions, institutional investors and hedge funds collectively control about 13.47% of Alibaba's stock.

Alibaba Group Stock Overview

Currently, Alibaba Group’s stock (NYSE:BABA) opened at $85.45. The company has a low debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16 and both its current and quick ratios stand at 1.37. With a 50-day moving average of $88.82 and a 200-day average of $87.28, Alibaba has seen significant price movement over the past year, hitting a low of $66.63 and a high of $117.82. The company's market capitalization stands at approximately $203.80 billion, with a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.33 and a PEG ratio of 0.44.

In its latest earnings report, released on November 15, Alibaba posted earnings per share (EPS) of $15.06 for the quarter, vastly surpassing analysts' expectations of $1.87. The company recorded a net margin of 8.98% and a return on equity of 12.28%. The revenue for the quarter was reported at $236.50 billion, slightly below the consensus estimate of $239.45 billion. Compared to the same period last year, the revenue grew by 5.2%.

Analysts’ Outlook for Alibaba Group

Analysts have a positive outlook for Alibaba Group, as reflected in recent research reports. Benchmark has reiterated a "buy" rating, setting a target price of $118.00 for the stock. Mizuho raised its price objective from $92.00 to $113.00 with an "outperform" rating. Robert W. Baird increased their target from $88.00 to $110.00, while Macquarie upgraded Alibaba from "neutral" to "outperform," projecting a price target of $145.00. Bank of America also raised its target price from $106.00 to $124.00, giving a "buy" rating in the process. Currently, analysts have a consensus of 14 buy ratings and two hold ratings for Alibaba, with an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a target price of $114.07.

About Alibaba Group

Alibaba Group Holding Limited, through its various subsidiaries, provides a range of technology services and marketing support, assisting merchants, brands, retailers, and other businesses engage with customers both in China and internationally. The company operates in several segments including China Commerce, International Commerce, Local Consumer Services, Cainiao, Cloud, Digital Media and Entertainment, and various innovation initiatives.

CWA, Alibaba, Shares