Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) vs JD.com, Inc. (JD) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
Selected Stocks
Add up to 10 tickers. Use presets or search to get started.
Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | JD | 6.8% revenue growth vs BABA's 5.9% |
| Value | JD | Lower P/E (1.3x vs 3.4x) |
| Quality / Margins | BABA | 12.2% net margin vs JD's 2.5% |
| Stability / Safety | JD | Beta 0.84 vs BABA's 0.90 |
| Dividends | BABA | 1.2% yield, 2-year raise streak, vs JD's 3.0% |
| Momentum (1Y) | BABA | +10.2% vs JD's -34.3% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | BABA | 6.5% ROA vs JD's 4.5%, ROIC 9.6% vs 9.9% |
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
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.
JD.com is China's largest direct online retailer that operates an integrated supply chain and logistics network. It generates revenue primarily from direct online retail sales of electronics and general merchandise (~90% of revenue), complemented by marketplace commissions, logistics services, and advertising. Its key competitive advantage is its proprietary nationwide logistics infrastructure—including warehouses, delivery stations, and last-mile delivery—which enables fast, reliable fulfillment across China.
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). JD leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
JD and BABA operate at a comparable scale, with $1.30T and $1.01T in trailing revenue. BABA is the more profitable business, keeping 12.2% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to JD's 2.5%. On growth, JD holds the edge at +14.9% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | BABAAlibaba Group Hol… | JDJD.com, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.01T | $1.30T |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $114.6B | $23.8B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $123.4B | $32.2B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $2.6B | $9.1B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +41.2% | +12.7% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +10.9% | +1.3% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +12.2% | +2.5% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +0.3% | +0.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +4.8% | +14.9% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -52.0% | -56.3% |
Valuation Metrics
At 6.8x trailing earnings, JD trades at a 63% valuation discount to BABA's 18.4x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, JD's 0.8x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than BABA's 104.2x.
| Metric | BABAAlibaba Group Hol… | JDJD.com, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $2.66T | $8.4B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $2.67T | $5.7B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 18.44x | 6.77x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 3.42x | 1.26x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 0.25x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 104.23x | 0.84x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 18.33x | 0.05x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.19x | 0.89x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 233.68x | 1.30x |
Profitability & Efficiency
BABA delivers a 11.1% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $11 in annual profit, vs $11 for JD. BABA carries lower financial leverage with a 0.23x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to JD's 0.29x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), BABA scores 7/9 vs JD's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | BABAAlibaba Group Hol… | JDJD.com, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +11.1% | +10.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +6.5% | +4.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +9.6% | +9.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +10.4% | +10.2% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.23x | 0.29x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $66.8B | -$18.6B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $181.7B | $108.3B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $248.5B | $89.8B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 15.74x | 17.17x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in BABA five years ago would be worth $6,154 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $3,076 for JD. Over the past 12 months, BABA leads with a +10.2% total return vs JD's -34.3%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors BABA at 19.2% vs JD's -13.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | BABAAlibaba Group Hol… | JDJD.com, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -7.5% | -10.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +10.2% | -34.3% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +69.4% | -35.0% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -38.5% | -69.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +116.1% | +17.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +19.2% | -13.4% |
Risk & Volatility
JD is the less volatile stock with a 0.84 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than BABA's 0.90 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. BABA currently trades 74.8% from its 52-week high vs JD's 57.1% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | BABAAlibaba Group Hol… | JDJD.com, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.90x | 0.84x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $192.67 | $46.45 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $95.73 | $26.40 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +74.8% | +57.1% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 33.4 | 36.7 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 10.2M | 8.0M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates BABA as "Buy" and JD as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 39.5% upside for JD (target: $37) vs 30.9% for BABA (target: $189). For income investors, JD offers the higher dividend yield at 2.95% vs BABA's 1.23%.
| Metric | BABAAlibaba Group Hol… | JDJD.com, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $188.62 | $37.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 58 | 44 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +1.2% | +3.0% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 2 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $12.14 | $5.37 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.5% | +45.0% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alibaba Group Holdi… (BABA) | 100 | 79.81 | -20.2% |
| JD.com, Inc. (JD) | 100 | 65.89 | -34.1% |
Alibaba Group Holdi… (BABA) returned -38% over 5 years vs JD.com, Inc. (JD)'s -69%.
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alibaba Group Holdi… (BABA) | $101.1B | $996.3B | +885.1% |
| JD.com, Inc. (JD) | $260.1B | $1.2T | +345.5% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alibaba Group Holdi… (BABA) | 70.7% | 13.1% | -81.5% |
| JD.com, Inc. (JD) | -0.8% | 3.6% | +564.1% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alibaba Group Holdi… (BABA) | 8.8 | 2.7 | -69.3% |
| JD.com, Inc. (JD) | 4.3 | 1.3 | -69.8% |
Alibaba Group Holding Limited has traded in a 2x–9x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~18x. JD.com, Inc. has traded in a 1x–9x P/E range over 5 years; current trailing P/E is ~7x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alibaba Group Holdi… (BABA) | 34 | 53.6 | +57.6% |
| JD.com, Inc. (JD) | -2.4 | 26.9 | +1220.8% |
Alibaba Group Holding Limited's EPS grew from $34.00 (2016) to $53.60 (2025) — a 5% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Alibaba Group Holding Limited generated $78B FCF in 2025 (-57% vs 2021). JD.com, Inc. generated $44B FCF in 2024 (+87% vs 2021).
BABA vs JD: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is BABA or JD a better buy right now?
JD.com, Inc. (JD) offers the better valuation at 6.8x trailing P/E (1.3x 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 — BABA or JD?
On trailing P/E, JD.com, Inc. (JD) is the cheapest at 6.8x versus Alibaba Group Holding Limited at 18.4x. On forward P/E, JD.com, Inc. is actually cheaper at 1.3x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — BABA or JD?
Over the past 5 years, Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) delivered a total return of -38.5%, compared to -69.2% for JD.com, Inc. (JD). 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 JD's +17.3%. 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 JD?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), JD.com, Inc. (JD) is the lower-risk stock at 0.84β versus Alibaba Group Holding Limited's 0.90β — meaning BABA is approximately 7% more volatile than JD relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 23% versus 29% for JD.com, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — BABA or JD?
Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) is the more profitable company, earning 13.1% net margin versus 3.6% for JD.com, 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 3.3% for JD. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — BABA leads at 40.0%, 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 BABA or JD more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, JD.com, Inc. (JD) trades at 1.3x forward P/E versus 3.4x for Alibaba Group Holding Limited — 2.2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for JD: 39.5% to $37.00.
07Which pays a better dividend — BABA or JD?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. JD.com, Inc. (JD) offers the highest yield at 3.0%, versus 1.2% for Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA).
08Is BABA or JD 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%, JD: +17.3%), 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 BABA and JD?
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. In terms of investment character: BABA is a mega-cap quality compounder stock; JD is a small-cap deep-value stock. 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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that beat both.