BABA
Alibaba Group Holding Limited
Specialty Retail
Market Cap$319.30B
5Y Perf.-36.2%
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Stock Comparison
BABA vs GOOGL
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
GOOGL
Alphabet Inc.
Internet Content & Information
Market Cap$4.70T
5Y Perf.+442.0%
BABA vs GOOGL — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | BABA | GOOGL |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Specialty Retail | Internet Content & Information |
| Market Cap | $319.30B | $4.70T |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.01T | $422.57B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $123.35B | $160.21B |
| Gross Margin | 41.2% | 60.4% |
| Operating Margin | 10.9% | 32.7% |
| Forward P/E | 3.9x | 28.9x |
| Total Debt | $248.49B | $59.29B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $181.73B | $30.71B |
BABA vs GOOGL — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
BABA
GOOGL
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alibaba Group Holdi… (BABA) | 100 | 63.8 | -36.2% |
| Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) | 100 | 542.0 | +442.0% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: BABA vs GOOGL
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: GOOGL leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. Alibaba Group Holding Limited is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and capital preservation and lower volatility. This set spans 2 sectors — these stocks serve different portfolio roles, not just different price points.
BABA
Alibaba Group Holding Limited
The Income Pick
BABA is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 2 yrs, beta 1.21, yield 1.3%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.21, Low D/E 22.8%, current ratio 1.54x
- Beta 1.21, yield 1.3%, current ratio 1.54x
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
GOOGL
Alphabet Inc.
The Growth Play
GOOGL carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 15.1%, EPS growth 34.5%, 3Y rev CAGR 12.5%
- 9.9% 10Y total return vs BABA's 73.6%
- 15.1% revenue growth vs BABA's 5.9%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | GOOGL | 15.1% revenue growth vs BABA's 5.9% |
| Value | BABA | Lower P/E (3.9x vs 28.9x) |
| Quality / Margins | GOOGL | 37.9% margin vs BABA's 12.2% |
| Stability / Safety | BABA | Beta 1.21 vs GOOGL's 1.26 |
| Dividends | BABA | 1.3% yield, 2-year raise streak, vs GOOGL's 0.2% |
| Momentum (1Y) | GOOGL | +137.1% vs BABA's +6.1% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | GOOGL | 27.4% ROA vs BABA's 6.7%, ROIC 25.1% vs 9.6% |
BABA vs GOOGL — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
BABA vs GOOGL — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLGOOGLLAGGINGBABA
BABAAlibaba Group Holding…
2leads
GOOGLAlphabet Inc.
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs BABAMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
GOOGL6/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
BABA6/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
GOOGL8/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
GOOGL6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
BABA1/1
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
GOOGL leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
BABA is the larger business by revenue, generating $1.01T annually — 2.4x GOOGL's $422.6B. GOOGL is the more profitable business, keeping 37.9% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to BABA's 12.2%. On growth, GOOGL holds the edge at +21.8% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | BABAAlibaba Group Hol… | GOOGLAlphabet Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.01T | $422.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $114.6B | $161.3B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $123.4B | $160.2B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $2.6B | $73.3B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +41.2% | +60.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +10.9% | +32.7% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +12.2% | +37.9% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +0.3% | +17.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +4.8% | +21.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -52.0% | +81.9% |
GOOGL leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
BABA leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 16.8x trailing earnings, BABA trades at a 53% valuation discount to GOOGL's 35.9x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, BABA's 12.8x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than GOOGL's 31.5x.
| Metric | BABAAlibaba Group Hol… | GOOGLAlphabet Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $319.3B | $4.70T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $329.1B | $4.73T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 16.84x | 35.94x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 3.87x | 28.91x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.20x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 12.77x | 31.46x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.19x | 11.66x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.00x | 11.44x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 27.89x | 64.14x |
BABA leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
GOOGL leads this category, winning 8 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
GOOGL delivers a 39.0% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $39 in annual profit, vs $11 for BABA. GOOGL carries lower financial leverage with a 0.14x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to BABA's 0.23x.
| Metric | BABAAlibaba Group Hol… | GOOGLAlphabet Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +11.2% | +39.0% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +6.7% | +27.4% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +9.6% | +25.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +10.4% | +30.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.23x | 0.14x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $66.8B | $28.6B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $181.7B | $30.7B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $248.5B | $59.3B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 15.74x | 392.15x |
GOOGL leads this category, winning 8 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
GOOGL leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in GOOGL five years ago would be worth $33,706 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $6,035 for BABA. Over the past 12 months, GOOGL leads with a +137.1% total return vs BABA's +6.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors GOOGL at 54.6% vs BABA's 18.0% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | BABAAlibaba Group Hol… | GOOGLAlphabet Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -15.1% | +23.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +6.1% | +137.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +64.5% | +269.5% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -39.6% | +237.1% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +73.6% | +991.5% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +18.0% | +54.6% |
GOOGL leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — BABA and GOOGL each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
BABA is the less volatile stock with a 1.21 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than GOOGL's 1.26 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. GOOGL currently trades 98.9% from its 52-week high vs BABA's 68.6% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | BABAAlibaba Group Hol… | GOOGLAlphabet Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.21x | 1.26x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $192.67 | $392.82 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $103.71 | $147.84 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +68.6% | +98.9% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 51.2 | 80.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 10.1M | 28.3M |
Evenly matched — BABA and GOOGL each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
BABA leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates BABA as "Buy" and GOOGL as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 46.9% upside for BABA (target: $194) vs 4.6% for GOOGL (target: $406). For income investors, BABA offers the higher dividend yield at 1.34% vs GOOGL's 0.21%.
| Metric | BABAAlibaba Group Hol… | GOOGLAlphabet Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $194.23 | $406.28 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 59 | 82 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.3% | +0.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $12.14 | $0.82 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +4.0% | +1.0% |
BABA leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Key Takeaway
GOOGL leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). BABA leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Analyst Outlook). 1 tied.
Best OverallAlphabet Inc. (GOOGL)Leads 3 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
BABA vs GOOGL: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is BABA or GOOGL a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Alphabet Inc.
(GOOGL) is the stronger pick with 15. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 5. 9% for Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA). Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) offers the better valuation at 16. 8x trailing P/E (3. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) a "Buy" — based on 59 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 — BABA or GOOGL?
On trailing P/E, Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) is the cheapest at 16.
8x versus Alphabet Inc. at 35. 9x. On forward P/E, Alibaba Group Holding Limited is actually cheaper at 3. 9x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — BABA or GOOGL?
Over the past 5 years, Alphabet Inc.
(GOOGL) delivered a total return of +237. 1%, compared to -39. 6% for Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: GOOGL returned +991. 5% versus BABA's +73. 6%. 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 — BABA or GOOGL?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) is the lower-risk stock at 1.
21β versus Alphabet Inc. 's 1. 26β — meaning GOOGL is approximately 4% more volatile than BABA relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 14% versus 23% for Alibaba Group Holding Limited — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — BABA or GOOGL?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Alphabet Inc.
(GOOGL) is pulling ahead at 15. 1% versus 5. 9% for Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Alibaba Group Holding Limited grew EPS 70. 9% year-over-year, compared to 34. 5% for Alphabet Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, GOOGL leads at 12. 5% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — BABA or GOOGL?
Alphabet Inc.
(GOOGL) is the more profitable company, earning 32. 8% net margin versus 13. 1% for Alibaba Group Holding Limited — meaning it keeps 32. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: GOOGL leads at 32. 1% versus 14. 1% for BABA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — GOOGL leads at 59. 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.
07Is BABA or GOOGL more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) trades at 3.
9x forward P/E versus 28. 9x for Alphabet Inc. — 25. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for BABA: 46. 9% to $194. 23.
08Which pays a better dividend — BABA or GOOGL?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) offers the highest yield at 1. 3%, versus 0. 2% for Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL).
09Is BABA or GOOGL better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Alphabet Inc.
(GOOGL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 26), +991. 5% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (GOOGL: +991. 5%, BABA: +73. 6%), 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.
10What are the main differences between BABA and GOOGL?
These companies operate in different sectors (BABA (Consumer Cyclical) and GOOGL (Communication Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.
In terms of investment character: BABA is a large-cap deep-value stock; GOOGL is a mega-cap high-growth stock. BABA pays a dividend while GOOGL does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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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Revenue Growth>
%
(BABA: 4.8% · GOOGL: 21.8%)Net Margin>
%
(BABA: 12.2% · GOOGL: 37.9%)P/E Ratio<
x
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