Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (AAP) vs Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | BABA | 5.9% revenue growth vs AAP's -5.4% |
| Value | BABA | Lower P/E (3.4x vs 19.6x) |
| Quality / Margins | BABA | 12.2% net margin vs AAP's 0.5% |
| Stability / Safety | BABA | Beta 0.90 vs AAP's 1.01, lower leverage |
| Dividends | AAP | 1.9% yield, vs BABA's 1.2% |
| Momentum (1Y) | AAP | +46.8% vs BABA's +10.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | BABA | 6.5% ROA vs AAP's 0.4%, ROIC 9.6% vs 2.9% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Advance Auto Parts is a specialty retailer of automotive aftermarket parts and accessories for both professional installers and do-it-yourself customers. It generates revenue primarily through retail store sales — with professional/commercial sales representing about 60% of revenue and DIY retail making up the remaining 40% — supplemented by e-commerce. The company's competitive advantage lies in its extensive physical store network — over 4,700 locations across North America — which provides convenient access and local market penetration that pure online competitors cannot match.
Alibaba is a Chinese e-commerce and technology conglomerate that operates digital marketplaces connecting buyers and sellers. It generates revenue primarily from its core commerce segments — China Commerce (~65%) and International Commerce (~10%) — along with cloud services (~10%) and logistics through Cainiao. Its key competitive advantage is its massive ecosystem network effect, where its platforms like Taobao and Tmall create a self-reinforcing cycle of merchants and consumers that's difficult for competitors to replicate.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
BABA leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). AAP leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
BABA is the larger business by revenue, generating $1.01T annually — 118.1x AAP's $8.6B. BABA is the more profitable business, keeping 12.2% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to AAP's 0.5%. On growth, BABA holds the edge at +4.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | AAPAdvance Auto Part… | BABAAlibaba Group Hol… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $8.6B | $1.01T |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $433M | $114.6B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $44M | $123.4B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$298M | $2.6B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +43.2% | +41.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +1.9% | +10.9% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +0.5% | +12.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -3.5% | +0.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -1.2% | +4.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +101.4% | -52.0% |
Valuation Metrics
At 18.4x trailing earnings, BABA trades at a 75% valuation discount to AAP's 72.8x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, AAP's 12.2x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than BABA's 104.2x.
| Metric | AAPAdvance Auto Part… | BABAAlibaba Group Hol… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $3.2B | $2.66T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $5.3B | $2.67T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 72.84x | 18.44x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 19.56x | 3.42x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 12.22x | 104.23x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.37x | 18.33x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.47x | 2.19x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 233.68x |
Profitability & Efficiency
BABA delivers a 11.1% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $11 in annual profit, vs $2 for AAP. BABA carries lower financial leverage with a 0.23x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to AAP's 2.38x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), BABA scores 7/9 vs AAP's 4/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | AAPAdvance Auto Part… | BABAAlibaba Group Hol… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +2.0% | +11.1% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +0.4% | +6.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +2.9% | +9.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +2.3% | +10.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 2.38x | 0.23x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $2.1B | $66.8B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $3.1B | $181.7B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $5.2B | $248.5B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 1.16x | 15.74x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in BABA five years ago would be worth $6,154 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $4,099 for AAP. Over the past 12 months, AAP leads with a +46.8% total return vs BABA's +10.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors BABA at 19.2% vs AAP's -26.6% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | AAPAdvance Auto Part… | BABAAlibaba Group Hol… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +37.4% | -7.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +46.8% | +10.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -60.4% | +69.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -59.0% | -38.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -53.9% | +116.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -26.6% | +19.2% |
Risk & Volatility
BABA is the less volatile stock with a 0.90 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than AAP's 1.01 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | AAPAdvance Auto Part… | BABAAlibaba Group Hol… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.01x | 0.90x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $70.00 | $192.67 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $28.89 | $95.73 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +76.0% | +74.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 48.8 | 33.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.8M | 10.2M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates AAP as "Hold" and BABA as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 30.9% upside for BABA (target: $189) vs 6.1% for AAP (target: $56). For income investors, AAP offers the higher dividend yield at 1.86% vs BABA's 1.23%.
| Metric | AAPAdvance Auto Part… | BABAAlibaba Group Hol… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $56.40 | $188.62 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 44 | 58 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.9% | +1.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.99 | $12.14 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +0.5% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advance Auto Parts,… (AAP) | 100 | 36.63 | -63.4% |
| Alibaba Group Holdi… (BABA) | 100 | 79.81 | -20.2% |
Alibaba Group Holdi… (BABA) returned -38% over 5 years vs Advance Auto Parts,… (AAP)'s -59%.
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advance Auto Parts,… (AAP) | $9.6B | $8.6B | -10.1% |
| Alibaba Group Holdi… (BABA) | $101.1B | $996.3B | +885.1% |
Advance Auto Parts, Inc.'s revenue grew from $9.6B (2016) to $8.6B (2025) — a -1.2% CAGR. Alibaba Group Holding Limited's revenue grew from $101.1B (2016) to $996.3B (2025) — a 28.9% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advance Auto Parts,… (AAP) | 4.8% | 0.5% | -89.4% |
| Alibaba Group Holdi… (BABA) | 70.7% | 13.1% | -81.5% |
Advance Auto Parts, Inc.'s net margin went from 5% (2016) to 1% (2025). Alibaba Group Holding Limited's net margin went from 71% (2016) to 13% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advance Auto Parts,… (AAP) | 15.5 | 53.8 | +247.1% |
| Alibaba Group Holdi… (BABA) | 8.8 | 2.7 | -69.3% |
Advance Auto Parts, Inc. has traded in a 16x–122x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~73x. Alibaba Group Holding Limited has traded in a 2x–9x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~18x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advance Auto Parts,… (AAP) | 6.2 | 0.73 | -88.2% |
| Alibaba Group Holdi… (BABA) | 34 | 53.6 | +57.6% |
Advance Auto Parts, Inc.'s EPS grew from $6.20 (2016) to $0.73 (2025) — a -21% CAGR. Alibaba Group Holding Limited's EPS grew from $34.00 (2016) to $53.60 (2025) — a 5% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Advance Auto Parts, Inc. generated $-298M FCF in 2025 (-136% vs 2021). Alibaba Group Holding Limited generated $78B FCF in 2025 (-57% vs 2021).
AAP vs BABA: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is AAP or BABA a better buy right now?
Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) offers the better valuation at 18.4x trailing P/E (3.4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) a "Buy" — based on 58 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — AAP or BABA?
On trailing P/E, Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) is the cheapest at 18.4x versus Advance Auto Parts, Inc. at 72.8x. On forward P/E, Alibaba Group Holding Limited is actually cheaper at 3.4x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — AAP or BABA?
Over the past 5 years, Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) delivered a total return of -38.5%, compared to -59.0% for Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (AAP). A $10,000 investment in BABA five years ago would be worth approximately $6K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: BABA returned +116.1% versus AAP's -53.9%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — AAP or BABA?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) is the lower-risk stock at 0.90β versus Advance Auto Parts, Inc.'s 1.01β — meaning AAP is approximately 13% more volatile than BABA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 23% versus 2% for Advance Auto Parts, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — AAP or BABA?
Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) is the more profitable company, earning 13.1% net margin versus 0.5% for Advance Auto Parts, Inc. — meaning it keeps 13.1% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: BABA leads at 14.1% versus 1.9% for AAP. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AAP leads at 43.7%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
06Is AAP or BABA more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) trades at 3.4x forward P/E versus 19.6x for Advance Auto Parts, Inc. — 16.1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for BABA: 30.9% to $188.62.
07Which pays a better dividend — AAP or BABA?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (AAP) offers the highest yield at 1.9%, versus 1.2% for Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA).
08Is AAP or BABA better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.90), 1.2% yield, +116.1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (BABA: +116.1%, AAP: -53.9%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
09What are the main differences between AAP and BABA?
Both stocks operate in the Consumer Cyclical sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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