Thornburg Investment Management Inc. Decreases Stock Holdings in Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA)

Thornburg Investment Management Inc. reduced its holdings in Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA) by 0.2% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 497,933 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock after selling 920 shares during the period. Thornburg Investment Management Inc.’s holdings in Alibaba Group were worth $42,220,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in BABA. Decker Retirement Planning Inc. bought a new position in Alibaba Group during the 4th quarter valued at about $31,000. Sierra Ocean LLC purchased a new position in shares of Alibaba Group during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL grew its stake in shares of Alibaba Group by 59.0% during the fourth quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL now owns 539 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $46,000 after buying an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. Redwood Park Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Alibaba Group in the fourth quarter worth approximately $52,000. Finally, Vision Financial Markets LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Alibaba Group in the fourth quarter worth approximately $55,000. 13.47% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Alibaba Group Stock Performance

BABA stock opened at $123.37 on Friday. Alibaba Group Holding Limited has a one year low of $71.80 and a one year high of $148.43. The firm has a market cap of $294.59 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.83, a PEG ratio of 0.61 and a beta of 0.24. 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 50-day simple moving average of $123.38 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $107.27.

Alibaba Group (NYSE:BABA) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 20th. The specialty retailer reported $2.77 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates 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 for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $38.19 billion. On average, equities analysts forecast that Alibaba Group Holding Limited will post 7.86 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Alibaba Group Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently declared a — dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 10th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 12th will be paid a $0.95 dividend. This represents a yield of 0.8%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 12th. Alibaba Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 13.15%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have commented on the company. Loop Capital set a $176.00 price objective on Alibaba Group in a research report on Friday. Robert W. Baird cut their price target on shares of Alibaba Group from $147.00 to $142.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Friday. Bank of America lifted their price objective on shares of Alibaba Group from $117.00 to $150.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, February 21st. Benchmark lowered their price objective on shares of Alibaba Group from $190.00 to $176.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Friday. Finally, Morgan Stanley set a $180.00 target price on shares of Alibaba Group in a research report on Wednesday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Alibaba Group presently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $154.21.

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.