Alibaba Group HoldingBABAHOLDApr 18, 2023Stock price when the opinion was issued
As of Jul 24, 2026. Market Open.
Looks great on the numbers -- growth rate, EPS, etc. Trouble is you don't know what's going to happen with the Chinese government. This is a known hazard. Even when you do everything right with your portfolio, you'll still be hit by the unexpected. As an investor, you need open markets and the rule of law.
E-commerce and cloud computing (the most nascent piece). E-commerce is under a lot of strain. AI large-language models are compelling in Chinese market, but that entire market is very competitive and ripe for disruptors. A trading stock over the next 2-3 years. Not a buy-and-hold. Tactically a buy today, but be very careful.
Like Amazon, they dominate key secular growth areas in e-commerce, are in cloud computer though trade at only one third of Amazon's PE. Is a modest grower, but has a huge margin of safety. There's so much pessimism about tariffs now. Wait and see, but would be an opportunity if the tariffs are more bark than bite.
As China phases out its Covid policy and rapidly returns to normal, Alibaba has climbed, but it’s been a rocky ride. Year-to-date through mid-April, BABA has risen 9%, but soared 36% in January alone as shares passed $120. On March 20, they sank to $81 and in mid-April is bouncing between $95-100. To compare, Amazon has rallied 20% YTD with far less volatility. (Curiously, BABA’s beta is 0.63.) Read China reopens for our full analysis.