Artisan Partners Limited Partnership Has $9.57 Million Stock Position in Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA)

Artisan Partners Limited Partnership lessened its stake in Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA) by 16.0% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 112,821 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock after selling 21,412 shares during the quarter. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership’s holdings in Alibaba Group were worth $9,566,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in BABA. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. increased its holdings in Alibaba Group by 28.6% during the 4th quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 28,203 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $2,412,000 after purchasing an additional 6,273 shares in the last quarter. Hardin Capital Partners LLC grew its holdings in shares of Alibaba Group by 4.5% during the fourth quarter. Hardin Capital Partners LLC now owns 5,794 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $491,000 after buying an additional 247 shares in the last quarter. Banco BTG Pactual S.A. raised its position in Alibaba Group by 102.6% in the 4th quarter. Banco BTG Pactual S.A. now owns 60,778 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $5,163,000 after buying an additional 30,778 shares during the last quarter. Financial Counselors Inc. lifted its stake in Alibaba Group by 6.7% in the 4th quarter. Financial Counselors Inc. now owns 3,910 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $332,000 after acquiring an additional 246 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Long Corridor Asset Management Ltd boosted its position in Alibaba Group by 20.0% during the 4th quarter. Long Corridor Asset Management Ltd now owns 120,000 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $10,175,000 after acquiring an additional 20,000 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 13.47% of the company’s stock.

Alibaba Group Stock Down 2.3 %

Shares of BABA opened at $132.49 on Friday. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $121.60 and its 200 day simple moving average is $102.45. 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 firm has a market cap of $314.80 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.15, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.61 and a beta of 0.28. Alibaba Group Holding Limited has a 52 week low of $68.36 and a 52 week high of $148.43.

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

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have recently commented on the stock. Robert W. Baird boosted their price objective on shares of Alibaba Group from $110.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 19th. Arete Research upgraded shares of Alibaba Group to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Friday, February 28th. StockNews.com downgraded Alibaba Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday. Citigroup increased their price target on Alibaba Group from $133.00 to $138.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, January 10th. Finally, Mizuho boosted their price target on Alibaba Group from $140.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $148.14.

Alibaba Group Company 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.