WCM Investment Management LLC Increases Stake in Alibaba Group Holding Limited $BABA

WCM Investment Management LLC grew its stake in Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA) by 16.7% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 30,869 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock after purchasing an additional 4,412 shares during the period. WCM Investment Management LLC’s holdings in Alibaba Group were worth $5,553,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in BABA. Brighton Jones LLC lifted its stake in shares of Alibaba Group by 40.4% in the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 3,411 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $289,000 after purchasing an additional 981 shares during the period. AQR Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in Alibaba Group in the first quarter valued at $254,000. Hilltop National Bank purchased a new position in Alibaba Group in the second quarter valued at $58,000. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management raised its position in shares of Alibaba Group by 9.1% in the second quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management now owns 2,855 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $324,000 after acquiring an additional 239 shares during the period. Finally, Ameritas Advisory Services LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Alibaba Group during the 2nd quarter worth about $112,000. 13.47% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Trending Headlines about Alibaba Group

Here are the key news stories impacting Alibaba Group this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Alibaba is committing large marketing and incentive budgets to grow users of its Qwen AI app during Lunar New Year, which could accelerate user acquisition and strengthen its consumer AI foothold. Alibaba to spend $431 million for Lunar New Year AI push as chatbot war heats up
• Positive Sentiment: Reporting highlights Alibaba’s broader AI and chip ambitions (new processor and Qwen model focus). Successful execution on AI chips and compelling apps would improve long‑term competitive positioning beyond pure marketing spend. Analysis: Alibaba’s New Processor Shows Applications Are Key to AI Chip Success
• Neutral Sentiment: Subsidiary/strategic investments continue: reports say Alibaba’s Robovan unit is set to invest in Zelos Technology — a targeted deal that signals M&A/strategic deployment but is not clearly material to near‑term financials. Alibaba Group Holding’s Robovan unit set to invest in Zelos Technology, WSJ reports
• Negative Sentiment: Some market coverage flags the stock’s underperformance vs. the broader market today, reflecting investor caution that the sizable promotional outlays (≈3 billion yuan) may pressure near‑term margins and require measurable user monetization to justify the spend. Alibaba (BABA) Sees a More Significant Dip Than Broader Market: Some Facts to Know

Alibaba Group Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:BABA opened at $163.57 on Wednesday. The business’s 50 day moving average price is $158.86 and its 200-day moving average price is $153.19. Alibaba Group Holding Limited has a 1 year low of $95.73 and a 1 year high of $192.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23, a current ratio of 1.46 and a quick ratio of 1.46. The firm has a market capitalization of $390.51 billion, a PE ratio of 22.59, a P/E/G ratio of 3.67 and a beta of 0.39.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on the company. Loop Capital set a $140.00 price target on Alibaba Group in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. Barclays boosted their price objective on Alibaba Group from $190.00 to $195.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 26th. Macquarie reiterated an “outperform” rating on shares of Alibaba Group in a research report on Tuesday, November 25th. Arete Research raised shares of Alibaba Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $190.00 price target for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein reduced their price objective on shares of Alibaba Group from $200.00 to $190.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, November 26th. Eighteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Alibaba Group presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $195.17.

Alibaba Group Profile

Alibaba Group Holding Limited is a Chinese multinational conglomerate founded in 1999 in Hangzhou, China, by Jack Ma and a group of co‑founders. The company built its business around internet-based commerce and related services and has grown into one of the largest e-commerce and technology companies in the world. Alibaba completed a high‑profile initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange in 2014.

The company operates a portfolio of online marketplaces and platforms serving different customer segments: Alibaba.com for global and domestic B2B trade, Taobao for consumer-to-consumer shopping, and Tmall for brand and retailer storefronts targeted at Chinese consumers.