TLDR

Table of Contents

Alibaba Group Holding (NYSE
) completed a $600 million share buyback after a 1% dip
BABA’s share price has surged 53% this past quarter and 83.02% over the last year
The company bought back 51 million shares, part of a larger buyback program since 2019
Alibaba announced a joint venture with E-MART Inc. to expand into the Korean market
BABA is favored by 17 billionaire investors and has jumped nearly 60% this year

Alibaba Group Holding has completed a $600 million share buyback, purchasing 51 million shares after experiencing a 1% dip in its stock price. This buyback is part of a broader repurchase initiative that began in June 2019.

The Chinese e-commerce titan has seen its share price jump by 53% this past quarter. This impressive growth comes despite recent market instability caused by new tariffs imposed by the United States.

Investor confidence in Alibaba has been further strengthened by positive earnings results. The company reported a nearly threefold increase in net income year-over-year in its most recent quarterly report.

Strong Performance Against Market Trends

Over the last year, Alibaba’s total shareholder return, which includes both share price appreciation and dividends, reached a robust 83.02%. This performance notably exceeded both the US Market and the US Multiline Retail industry.

The US Market saw returns of 8.4% during the same period. The US Multiline Retail industry posted returns of 13.3%.

Alibaba’s aggressive share repurchase program has played a major role in this strong performance. The company has bought back over 1.54 billion shares under the plan initiated in June 2019.

These buybacks have effectively reduced the number of outstanding shares. This strategy has enhanced shareholder value by increasing earnings per share.

Strategic Expansion and Innovation

January 1, 2025 marked an important milestone for Alibaba with the announcement of a joint venture with E-MART Inc. This partnership aims to expand Alibaba’s presence in the Korean online market.

The joint venture combines E-MART’s local expertise with Alibaba’s technology capabilities. This strategic move shows Alibaba’s commitment to international growth.

In February 2025, Alibaba unveiled plans to invest RMB 380 billion (US$53 billion) in cloud computing and AI infrastructure. This massive investment highlights the company’s dedication to strengthening its position in high-growth technology sectors.

For Q4 2024, Alibaba’s revenue was up 8% year-over-year, reaching $38.38 billion. Operating income jumped an impressive 83% to $5.65 billion, helped by fewer asset write-downs and improved profitability.

Net income showed remarkable growth, skyrocketing 333% to $6.36 billion for the quarter. This was boosted by gains in equity investments.

Billionaire Backing and Analyst Optimism

Alibaba is currently favored by 17 billionaire investors, making it one of the most popular foreign stocks among wealthy investors. The value of billionaire holdings in BABA stands at $2.60 billion.

The company’s US-listed shares have jumped nearly 60% this year alone. This surge has added over $100 billion to Alibaba’s market value.

On March 28, Mizuho Securities raised its price target for Alibaba from $140 to $170, maintaining an Outperform rating. The firm sees Alibaba as a leader in AI, working toward artificial general intelligence and expanding AI model APIs.

Mizuho expects these investments to boost productivity, improve recommendations, and increase conversions. Alibaba has now been placed on Mizuho’s Top Picks list for Asia’s Internet sector.

As of December 31, 2024, Alibaba held $83.58 billion in cash, short-term investments, and other treasury assets. This represents a slight decrease from $83.98 billion in March.

The decline in cash reserves was mainly due to share buybacks of $11.25 billion, dividend payments of $3.98 billion, and acquisitions of more equity in subsidiaries for $2.73 billion.

Despite global economic growth forecasts showing potential slowdowns, with the OECD projecting global growth at 3.1% in 2025 and 3% in 2026, Alibaba continues to show resilience and growth in its core business areas.

Alibaba completed the $600 million share buyback after reporting a 1% dip in its stock price on April 3, 2025.

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