Madison Investment Advisors LLC Takes Position in Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA)

Madison Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor purchased 44,641 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $3,785,000.

Other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Decker Retirement Planning Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Alibaba Group during the 4th quarter worth approximately $31,000. Sierra Ocean LLC purchased a new position in shares of Alibaba Group during the 4th quarter worth approximately $32,000. Kieckhefer Group LLC acquired a new stake in Alibaba Group during the 4th quarter worth approximately $55,000. Vision Financial Markets LLC acquired a new stake in Alibaba Group during the 4th quarter worth approximately $55,000. Finally, Golden State Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Alibaba Group during the 4th quarter worth approximately $60,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 13.47% of the company’s stock.

Alibaba Group Trading Down 1.3 %

Shares of Alibaba Group stock opened at $135.16 on Friday. Alibaba Group Holding Limited has a 1 year low of $68.36 and a 1 year 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. The company has a market capitalization of $321.14 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.53, a PEG ratio of 0.61 and a beta of 0.27. The company’s fifty day moving average is $116.49 and its two-hundred day moving average is $100.66.

Alibaba Group (NYSE:BABA) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 20th. The specialty retailer reported $2.77 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.84 by ($0.07). Alibaba Group had a net margin of 12.29% and a return on equity of 12.89%. The firm had revenue of $38.38 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $38.19 billion. Analysts forecast that Alibaba Group Holding Limited will post 7.86 earnings per share for the current year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on 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 report on Friday, January 10th. Benchmark increased their target price on shares of Alibaba Group from $118.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, February 21st. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Alibaba Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, February 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on shares of Alibaba Group from $125.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, February 21st. Finally, Robert W. Baird raised their price objective on shares of Alibaba Group from $110.00 to $125.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 19th. Fifteen analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $144.07.

Alibaba Group Profile

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.