AZO vs. BABA: AutoZone vs. Alibaba Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do AutoZone (AZO) and Alibaba (BABA) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

AutoZone (AZO) and Alibaba (BABA) both fall under the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group, but AZO is classified in Specialty Retail while BABA is classified in Broadline Retail.

AutoZone (AZO) trades as ordinary local shares, while Alibaba (BABA) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for AutoZone (AZO) and Alibaba (BABA)
Profile Item	AZO	BABA
Name	AutoZone, Inc.	Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. ADR
Country/Region	United States	China
GICS Sector	Consumer Discretionary	Consumer Discretionary
GICS Industry Group	Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail	Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail
GICS Industry	Specialty Retail	Broadline Retail
GICS Sub-Industry	Automotive Retail	Broadline Retail
Market Capitalization	51.77 billion USD	272.28 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	April 2, 1991	September 19, 2014
Security Type	Common Stock	ADR

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AZO

BABA

GSPC

AutoZone (AZO) vs. Alibaba (BABA), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for AutoZone (AZO) and Alibaba (BABA). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for AutoZone (AZO) and Alibaba (BABA). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for AutoZone (AZO) and Alibaba (BABA)
Metric	AZO	BABA
Total Return (1Y)	-12.81%	-35.96%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	6.56%	10.68%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	11.68%	-6.88%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AZO

BABA

GSPC

AutoZone (AZO) vs. Alibaba (BABA), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for AutoZone (AZO) and Alibaba (BABA). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Alibaba (BABA) is heavily traded at around 10.02M shares per day, whereas AutoZone (AZO) sees a more moderate 268.95K — larger orders in the latter may require more patience and tighter control over order sizing.

Risk profile metrics for AutoZone (AZO) and Alibaba (BABA)
Metric	AZO	BABA
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	30.55%	40.95%
Beta (5Y)	0.37	0.39
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-35.88%	-62.51%
Avg. Volume (3M)	268.95K	10.02M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

AZO and BABA are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for AutoZone (AZO) and Alibaba (BABA)
Metric	AZO	BABA
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.56	-0.98
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.74	-1.48

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Alibaba (BABA) earns 6.36% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; AutoZone (AZO) has no ROE this period.

AZO

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

Max: 62.17%
Q3: 29.44%
Median: 15.69%
Q1: 6.73%
Min: -12.16%
AZO: --

BABA

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

6.36%

Max: 62.17%
Q3: 29.44%
Median: 15.69%
Q1: 6.73%
BABA: 6.36%
Min: -12.16%

AutoZone (AZO) vs. Alibaba (BABA): AZO does not report ROE, so it has no value marker; BABA is benchmarked against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group.

Net Margin (TTM)

AutoZone (AZO) at 12.65% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Alibaba (BABA) at 7.04%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

AZO

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

12.65%

Max: 16.94%
AZO: 12.65%
Q3: 8.69%
Median: 3.55%
Q1: 1.14%
Min: -9.41%

BABA

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

7.04%

Max: 16.94%
Q3: 8.69%
BABA: 7.04%
Median: 3.55%
Q1: 1.14%
Min: -9.41%

AutoZone (AZO) vs. Alibaba (BABA): A comparison of their net margin against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

AutoZone (AZO) at 18.03% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Alibaba (BABA) at 7.30%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

AZO

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

18.03%

Max: 21.45%
AZO: 18.03%
Q3: 10.89%
Median: 5.57%
Q1: 2.28%
Min: -7.12%

BABA

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

7.30%

Max: 21.45%
Q3: 10.89%
BABA: 7.30%
Median: 5.57%
Q1: 2.28%
Min: -7.12%

AutoZone (AZO) vs. Alibaba (BABA): A comparison of their operating margin against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for AutoZone (AZO) and Alibaba (BABA)
Metric	AZO	BABA
ROE (TTM)	--	6.36%
ROA (TTM)	10.97%	1.56%
Net Margin (TTM)	12.65%	7.04%
Operating Margin (TTM)	18.03%	7.30%
Gross Margin (TTM)	51.71%	38.20%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both AutoZone (AZO) at 7.39% and Alibaba (BABA) at 2.74% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

AutoZone (AZO) vs. Alibaba (BABA): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Alibaba (BABA) reports EPS growth of -17.91%, ranked against its industry; AutoZone (AZO) has no EPS growth figure this period.

AutoZone (AZO) vs. Alibaba (BABA): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for AutoZone (AZO) and Alibaba (BABA)
Metric	AZO	BABA
Revenue Growth (YoY)	7.39%	2.74%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	5.22%	5.62%
EPS Growth (YoY)	--	-17.91%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	--	17.05%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Alibaba (BABA) at 1.36 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while AutoZone (AZO) at 0.90 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for AZO.

AZO

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.90

Max: 2.62
Q3: 1.75
Median: 1.35
Q1: 1.00
AZO: 0.90
Min: 0.48

BABA

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.36

Max: 2.62
Q3: 1.75
BABA: 1.36
Median: 1.35
Q1: 1.00
Min: 0.48

AutoZone (AZO) vs. Alibaba (BABA): A comparison of their current ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Only one side’s leverage can be read here: Alibaba (BABA) carries debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24 against its industry range, while AutoZone (AZO) reports no figure this period.

AZO

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

Max: 3.93
Q3: 2.14
Median: 1.25
Q1: 0.73
Min: 0.01
AZO: --

BABA

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.24

Max: 3.93
Q3: 2.14
Median: 1.25
Q1: 0.73
BABA: 0.24
Min: 0.01

AutoZone (AZO) vs. Alibaba (BABA): AZO does not report debt-to-equity ratio, so it has no value marker; BABA is benchmarked against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for AutoZone (AZO) and Alibaba (BABA)
Metric	AZO	BABA
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.90	1.36
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	--	0.24
Net Debt / EBITDA	3.00	-1.20

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

AutoZone (AZO) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Alibaba (BABA) reports a yield of 6.70%, ranking against industry peers normally.

AZO

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.00%

Max: 5.84%
Q3: 2.50%
AZO: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

BABA

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

6.70%

BABA: 6.70%
Max: 5.84%
Q3: 2.50%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

AutoZone (AZO) vs. Alibaba (BABA): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

AutoZone (AZO) 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 25.44%, ranking against industry peers normally.

AZO

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.00%

Max: 72.73%
Q3: 32.44%
AZO: 0.00%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

BABA

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

25.44%

Max: 72.73%
Q3: 32.44%
BABA: 25.44%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

AutoZone (AZO) vs. Alibaba (BABA): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for AutoZone (AZO) and Alibaba (BABA)
Metric	AZO	BABA
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.00%	6.70%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	0.00%	25.44%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

AutoZone (AZO) at 21.08 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Alibaba (BABA) at 26.50 sits in the richer quartile — BABA needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

AZO

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

21.08

Max: 40.50
Q3: 24.26
AZO: 21.08
Median: 19.23
Q1: 12.64
Min: 4.67

BABA

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

26.50

Max: 40.50
BABA: 26.50
Q3: 24.26
Median: 19.23
Q1: 12.64
Min: 4.67

AutoZone (AZO) vs. Alibaba (BABA): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Alibaba (BABA) at 0.26 looks cheap on sales in the lower P/S ratio quartile, while AutoZone (AZO) at 2.55 looks rich in the upper quartile — a clear gap in price per dollar of revenue.

AZO

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

2.55

Max: 4.32
AZO: 2.55
Q3: 1.99
Median: 0.70
Q1: 0.26
Min: 0.03

BABA

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.26

Max: 4.32
Q3: 1.99
Median: 0.70
Q1: 0.26
BABA: 0.26
Min: 0.03

AutoZone (AZO) vs. Alibaba (BABA): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

AutoZone (AZO) reports a negative P/B ratio of -20.79, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile Alibaba (BABA) reports 1.63, ranking against industry peers normally.

AZO

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

-20.79

Max: 10.96
Q3: 5.26
Median: 2.16
Q1: 1.08
Min: -4.45
AZO: -20.79

BABA

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.63

Max: 10.96
Q3: 5.26
Median: 2.16
BABA: 1.63
Q1: 1.08
Min: -4.45

AutoZone (AZO) vs. Alibaba (BABA): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for AutoZone (AZO) and Alibaba (BABA)
Metric	AZO	BABA
P/E Ratio (TTM)	21.08	26.50
P/S Ratio (TTM)	2.55	0.26
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	-20.79	1.63
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	2.31%	-30.35%