Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Casey's General Stores, Inc. (CASY) 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 | CASY | 7.3% revenue growth vs BABA's 5.9% |
| Value | BABA | Lower P/E (3.4x vs 39.5x) |
| Quality / Margins | BABA | 12.2% net margin vs CASY's 3.6% |
| Stability / Safety | CASY | Beta 0.43 vs BABA's 0.90 |
| Dividends | CASY | 0.3% yield, 19-year raise streak, vs BABA's 1.2% |
| Momentum (1Y) | CASY | +66.1% vs BABA's +10.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | CASY | 7.1% ROA vs BABA's 6.5%, ROIC 11.3% vs 9.6% |
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
Casey's General Stores operates a large chain of convenience stores primarily in rural and suburban communities across the Midwest. It generates revenue through fuel sales — which typically contribute around 70% of total revenue — and in-store merchandise including prepared foods, groceries, and beverages. The company's competitive advantage lies in its strategic rural locations with limited competition and strong brand loyalty built on its popular prepared food offerings — especially its pizza.
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
CASY leads in 3 of 6 categories — strongest in Profitability & Efficiency and Total Returns. 3 categories are tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
BABA is the larger business by revenue, generating $1.01T annually — 59.6x CASY's $17.0B. BABA is the more profitable business, keeping 12.2% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to CASY's 3.6%. On growth, CASY holds the edge at +14.2% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | CASYCasey's General S… | BABAAlibaba Group Hol… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $17.0B | $1.01T |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1.3B | $114.6B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $607M | $123.4B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $682M | $2.6B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +23.4% | +41.2% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +5.3% | +10.9% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +3.6% | +12.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +4.0% | +0.3% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +14.2% | +4.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +14.0% | -52.0% |
Valuation Metrics
At 18.4x trailing earnings, BABA trades at a 61% valuation discount to CASY's 46.8x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, CASY's 23.4x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than BABA's 104.2x.
| Metric | CASYCasey's General S… | BABAAlibaba Group Hol… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $25.4B | $2.66T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $28.0B | $2.67T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 46.83x | 18.44x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 39.47x | 3.42x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 3.01x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 23.37x | 104.23x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.59x | 18.33x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 7.30x | 2.19x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 43.47x | 233.68x |
Profitability & Efficiency
CASY delivers a 15.9% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $16 in annual profit, vs $11 for BABA. BABA carries lower financial leverage with a 0.23x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to CASY's 0.84x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), BABA scores 7/9 vs CASY's 6/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | CASYCasey's General S… | BABAAlibaba Group Hol… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +15.9% | +11.1% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +7.1% | +6.5% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +11.3% | +9.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +12.5% | +10.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.84x | 0.23x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $2.6B | $66.8B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $327M | $181.7B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $3.0B | $248.5B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 8.24x | 15.74x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in CASY five years ago would be worth $34,197 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $6,154 for BABA. Over the past 12 months, CASY leads with a +66.1% total return vs BABA's +10.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors CASY at 49.3% vs BABA's 19.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | CASYCasey's General S… | BABAAlibaba Group Hol… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +23.4% | -7.5% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +66.1% | +10.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +232.5% | +69.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +242.0% | -38.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +563.0% | +116.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +49.3% | +19.2% |
Risk & Volatility
CASY is the less volatile stock with a 0.43 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. CASY currently trades 99.4% from its 52-week high vs BABA's 74.8% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | CASYCasey's General S… | BABAAlibaba Group Hol… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.43x | 0.90x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $690.00 | $192.67 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $372.09 | $95.73 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +99.4% | +74.8% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 70.0 | 33.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 269K | 10.2M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates CASY as "Buy" and BABA as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 30.9% upside for BABA (target: $189) vs -8.0% for CASY (target: $631). For income investors, BABA offers the higher dividend yield at 1.23% vs CASY's 0.28%.
| Metric | CASYCasey's General S… | BABAAlibaba Group Hol… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $630.91 | $188.62 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 24 | 58 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.3% | +1.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 19 | 2 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.94 | $12.14 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.0% | +0.5% |
Historical Charts
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Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casey's General Sto… (CASY) | 100 | 382.16 | +282.2% |
| Alibaba Group Holdi… (BABA) | 100 | 79.81 | -20.2% |
Casey's General Sto… (CASY) returned +242% over 5 years vs Alibaba Group Holdi… (BABA)'s -38%. A $10,000 investment in CASY 5 years ago would be worth $34,197 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casey's General Sto… (CASY) | $7.1B | $15.9B | +123.8% |
| Alibaba Group Holdi… (BABA) | $101.1B | $996.3B | +885.1% |
Casey's General Stores, Inc.'s revenue grew from $7.1B (2016) to $15.9B (2025) — a 9.4% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casey's General Sto… (CASY) | 3.2% | 3.4% | +8.0% |
| Alibaba Group Holdi… (BABA) | 70.7% | 13.1% | -81.5% |
Casey's General Stores, Inc.'s net margin went from 3% (2016) to 3% (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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casey's General Sto… (CASY) | 25 | 37.8 | +51.2% |
| Alibaba Group Holdi… (BABA) | 8.8 | 2.7 | -69.3% |
Casey's General Stores, Inc. has traded in a 15x–38x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~47x. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casey's General Sto… (CASY) | 5.73 | 14.64 | +155.5% |
| Alibaba Group Holdi… (BABA) | 34 | 53.6 | +57.6% |
Casey's General Stores, Inc.'s EPS grew from $5.73 (2016) to $14.64 (2025) — a 11% 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
Casey's General Stores, Inc. generated $585M FCF in 2025 (+61% vs 2021). Alibaba Group Holding Limited generated $78B FCF in 2025 (-57% vs 2021).
CASY vs BABA: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CASY 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 Casey's General Stores, Inc. (CASY) a "Buy" — based on 24 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 — CASY or BABA?
On trailing P/E, Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) is the cheapest at 18.4x versus Casey's General Stores, Inc. at 46.8x. On forward P/E, Alibaba Group Holding Limited is actually cheaper at 3.4x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CASY or BABA?
Over the past 5 years, Casey's General Stores, Inc. (CASY) delivered a total return of +242.0%, compared to -38.5% for Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA). A $10,000 investment in CASY five years ago would be worth approximately $34K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CASY returned +563.0% versus BABA's +116.1%. 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 — CASY or BABA?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Casey's General Stores, Inc. (CASY) is the lower-risk stock at 0.43β versus Alibaba Group Holding Limited's 0.90β — meaning BABA is approximately 108% more volatile than CASY relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 23% versus 84% for Casey's General Stores, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — CASY or BABA?
Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) is the more profitable company, earning 13.1% net margin versus 3.4% for Casey's General Stores, 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 5.0% for CASY. 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 CASY or BABA more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) trades at 3.4x forward P/E versus 39.5x for Casey's General Stores, Inc. — 36.0x 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 — CASY or BABA?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) offers the highest yield at 1.2%, versus 0.3% for Casey's General Stores, Inc. (CASY).
08Is CASY or BABA better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Casey's General Stores, Inc. (CASY) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.43), +563.0% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CASY: +563.0%, BABA: +116.1%), 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 CASY 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. BABA pays a dividend while CASY 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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