Amazon.com (AMZN) vs. Alibaba (BABA)
This page compares Amazon.com (AMZN) with Alibaba (BABA) using performance and risk, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividends, and valuation metrics.
Company Profile
Amazon.com (AMZN) and Alibaba (BABA) are both classified in the Broadline Retail sub-industry within the broader Broadline Retail industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
Amazon.com (AMZN) trades as a standard ordinary-equity line, while Alibaba (BABA) is an ADR tied to a foreign-share or depositary-receipt structure — compare with FX exposure, program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.
| Symbol | AMZN | BABA |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Amazon.com, Inc. | Alibaba Group Holding Limited SP ADR |
| Country/Region | United States | Hong Kong |
| GICS Sector | Consumer Discretionary | Consumer Discretionary |
| GICS Industry Group | Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail | Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail |
| GICS Industry | Broadline Retail | Broadline Retail |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Broadline Retail | Broadline Retail |
| Market Capitalization | 2,646.57 billion USD | 290.44 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | Nasdaq | NYSE |
| Listing Date | May 15, 1997 | September 19, 2014 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | ADR |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
Alibaba (BABA) at 18.62 carries typical industry Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM), while Amazon.com (AMZN) at 31.66 sits in the higher-multiple quartile — AMZN carries a higher trailing earnings multiple relative to peers.
AMZN
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
31.66
- Max
- 50.72
- Q3
- 29.77
- Median
- 19.01
- Q1
- 12.23
- Min
- 1.26
BABA
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
18.62
- Max
- 50.72
- Q3
- 29.77
- Median
- 19.01
- Q1
- 12.23
- Min
- 1.26
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
Alibaba (BABA) at 0.28 is priced about in line with its industry on Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM), while Amazon.com (AMZN) at 3.56 sits in the pricier quartile — AMZN costs more per dollar of sales.
AMZN
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
3.56
- Max
- 3.56
- Q3
- 1.70
- Median
- 0.65
- Q1
- 0.27
- Min
- 0.03
BABA
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
0.28
- Max
- 3.56
- Q3
- 1.70
- Median
- 0.65
- Q1
- 0.27
- Min
- 0.03
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
Alibaba (BABA) at 1.79 is valued about in line with its industry on Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ), while Amazon.com (AMZN) at 5.99 carries a peer-beating premium to book — AMZN is pricier on assets.
AMZN
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
5.99
- Max
- 10.34
- Q3
- 4.94
- Median
- 2.11
- Q1
- 1.09
- Min
- -3.20
BABA
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
1.79
- Max
- 10.34
- Q3
- 4.94
- Median
- 2.11
- Q1
- 1.09
- Min
- -3.20
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | AMZN | BABA |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 31.66 | 18.62 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 3.56 | 0.28 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 5.99 | 1.79 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield | 0.37% | -15.18% |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
Both Amazon.com (AMZN) at 24.29% and Alibaba (BABA) at 9.22% post Return on Equity (TTM) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on this measure.
AMZN
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
24.29%
- Max
- 61.25%
- Q3
- 31.39%
- Median
- 12.96%
- Q1
- 4.38%
- Min
- -29.94%
BABA
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
9.22%
- Max
- 61.25%
- Q3
- 31.39%
- Median
- 12.96%
- Q1
- 4.38%
- Min
- -29.94%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
For every dollar of sales, both Amazon.com (AMZN) at 12.22% and Alibaba (BABA) at 10.12% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top Net Profit Margin (TTM) quartile of their industries.
AMZN
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
12.22%
- Max
- 20.45%
- Q3
- 8.65%
- Median
- 3.47%
- Q1
- 0.46%
- Min
- -11.15%
BABA
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
10.12%
- Max
- 20.45%
- Q3
- 8.65%
- Median
- 3.47%
- Q1
- 0.46%
- Min
- -11.15%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
Amazon.com (AMZN) at 13.14% runs a top-quartile operating margin, while Alibaba (BABA) at 1.02% operates in the bottom quartile.
AMZN
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
13.14%
- Max
- 23.15%
- Q3
- 11.33%
- Median
- 4.94%
- Q1
- 1.66%
- Min
- -8.07%
BABA
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
1.02%
- Max
- 23.15%
- Q3
- 11.33%
- Median
- 4.94%
- Q1
- 1.66%
- Min
- -8.07%
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | AMZN | BABA |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 24.29% | 9.22% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 6.85% | 2.12% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 12.22% | 10.12% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 13.14% | 1.02% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 50.60% | 39.81% |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Revenue Growth at a Glance
| Symbol | AMZN | BABA |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year Revenue Growth | 12.38% | 2.74% |
| 3-Year Revenue CAGR | 11.73% | 5.62% |
EPS Growth
EPS Growth at a Glance
| Symbol | AMZN | BABA |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year EPS Growth | 29.66% | -17.91% |
| 3-Year EPS CAGR | -- | 17.05% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
Both Amazon.com (AMZN) at 1.18 and Alibaba (BABA) at 1.28 carry Current Ratio (MRQ) within their industry mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.
AMZN
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
1.18
- Max
- 2.97
- Q3
- 1.87
- Median
- 1.38
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- 0.46
BABA
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
1.28
- Max
- 2.97
- Q3
- 1.87
- Median
- 1.38
- Q1
- 1.03
- Min
- 0.46
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
Both Amazon.com (AMZN) at 0.53 and Alibaba (BABA) at 0.25 maintain Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) in the lower-leverage quartile of industry peers, indicating less debt relative to equity than typical competitors.
AMZN
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
0.53
- Max
- 3.27
- Q3
- 1.83
- Median
- 1.09
- Q1
- 0.72
- Min
- 0.01
BABA
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
0.25
- Max
- 3.27
- Q3
- 1.83
- Median
- 1.09
- Q1
- 0.72
- Min
- 0.01
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | AMZN | BABA |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 1.18 | 1.28 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 0.53 | 0.25 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.59 | -0.32 |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Amazon.com (AMZN) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — often a deliberate choice to reinvest earnings rather than return cash. Meanwhile Alibaba (BABA) reports a yield of 0.87%, ranking against industry peers normally.
AMZN
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 6.55%
- Q3
- 2.65%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
BABA
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
0.87%
- Max
- 6.55%
- Q3
- 2.65%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Amazon.com (AMZN) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Alibaba (BABA) reports a payout of 17.12%, ranking against industry peers normally.
AMZN
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 78.51%
- Q3
- 34.24%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
BABA
Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group
17.12%
- Max
- 78.51%
- Q3
- 34.24%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividends at a Glance
| Symbol | AMZN | BABA |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.87% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 17.12% |
Performance & Risk
Amazon.com (AMZN) has an aggressive beta of 1.46, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while Alibaba (BABA) is defensive at 0.48 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.
Performance & Risk at a Glance
| Symbol | AMZN | BABA |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Year Return | 18.33% | 2.62% |
| 1-Year Volatility | 30.24% | 43.79% |
| Beta | 1.46 | 0.48 |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 44.96M | 11.40M |