Meritage Portfolio Management Cuts Stock Position in Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA)

Meritage Portfolio Management decreased its holdings in Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA) by 2.2% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 186,747 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock after selling 4,241 shares during the quarter. Alibaba Group accounts for about 1.0% of Meritage Portfolio Management’s holdings, making the stock its 20th biggest holding. Meritage Portfolio Management’s holdings in Alibaba Group were worth $15,834,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. TRUE Private Wealth Advisors grew its position in shares of Alibaba Group by 3.7% during the third quarter. TRUE Private Wealth Advisors now owns 3,123 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $331,000 after buying an additional 112 shares in the last quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in Alibaba Group by 6.0% during the 3rd quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,152 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $228,000 after acquiring an additional 121 shares in the last quarter. Capital Investment Advisory Services LLC increased its position in shares of Alibaba Group by 3.3% in the 4th quarter. Capital Investment Advisory Services LLC now owns 3,883 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $329,000 after purchasing an additional 124 shares during the last quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC raised its holdings in shares of Alibaba Group by 3.6% in the 4th quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 3,825 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $324,000 after purchasing an additional 134 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wynn Capital LLC lifted its position in shares of Alibaba Group by 1.0% during the 4th quarter. Wynn Capital LLC now owns 13,013 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $1,103,000 after purchasing an additional 135 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 13.47% of the company’s stock.

Alibaba Group Stock Performance

Shares of BABA stock opened at $102.37 on Wednesday. Alibaba Group Holding Limited has a 52-week low of $68.36 and a 52-week high of $117.82. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $87.19 and its 200 day moving average price is $89.26. The company has a quick ratio of 1.37, a current ratio of 1.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16. The stock has a market capitalization of $243.52 billion, a PE ratio of 20.77, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.42 and a beta of 0.31.

Alibaba Group (NYSE:BABA) last released its earnings results on Friday, November 15th. The specialty retailer reported $15.06 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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 during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $239.45 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.82 EPS. The business’s revenue was up 5.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Alibaba Group Holding Limited will post 7.86 EPS for the current year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

BABA has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Benchmark restated a “buy” rating and issued a $118.00 price target on shares of Alibaba Group in a research note on Friday, November 15th. Robert W. Baird raised their target price on Alibaba Group from $88.00 to $110.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 24th. Bank of America upped their price target on Alibaba Group from $106.00 to $124.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 9th. StockNews.com cut shares of Alibaba Group from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday, December 14th. Finally, Citigroup upped their target price on shares of Alibaba Group from $133.00 to $138.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 10th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price 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.