BABA vs. BBY: Alibaba vs. Best Buy Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Alibaba (BABA) and Best Buy (BBY) 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

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

Best Buy (BBY) 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 Alibaba (BABA) and Best Buy (BBY)
Profile Item	BABA	BBY
Name	Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. ADR	Best Buy Co., Inc.
Country/Region	China	United States
GICS Sector	Consumer Discretionary	Consumer Discretionary
GICS Industry Group	Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail	Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail
GICS Industry	Broadline Retail	Specialty Retail
GICS Sub-Industry	Broadline Retail	Computer & Electronics Retail
Market Capitalization	272.28 billion USD	20.90 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	September 19, 2014	April 18, 1985
Security Type	ADR	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BABA

BBY

GSPC

Alibaba (BABA) vs. Best Buy (BBY), 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 Alibaba (BABA) and Best Buy (BBY). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Alibaba (BABA) and Best Buy (BBY)
Metric	BABA	BBY
Total Return (1Y)	-35.96%	41.84%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	10.68%	25.12%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-6.88%	0.22%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BABA

BBY

GSPC

Alibaba (BABA) vs. Best Buy (BBY), 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 Alibaba (BABA) and Best Buy (BBY). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Alibaba (BABA) and Best Buy (BBY)
Metric	BABA	BBY
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	40.95%	39.78%
Beta (5Y)	0.39	1.14
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-62.51%	-52.60%
Avg. Volume (3M)	10.02M	3.37M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

BABA and BBY 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 Alibaba (BABA) and Best Buy (BBY)
Metric	BABA	BBY
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.98	0.94
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-1.48	1.61

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Best Buy (BBY) at 43.13% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Alibaba (BABA) at 6.36% is in the bottom quartile, showing a clear gap in returns on equity.

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%

BBY

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

43.13%

Max: 62.17%
BBY: 43.13%
Q3: 29.44%
Median: 15.69%
Q1: 6.73%
Min: -12.16%

Alibaba (BABA) vs. Best Buy (BBY): A comparison of their ROE against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Alibaba (BABA) at 7.04% and Best Buy (BBY) at 3.01% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

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%

BBY

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

3.01%

Max: 16.94%
Q3: 8.69%
Median: 3.55%
BBY: 3.01%
Q1: 1.14%
Min: -9.41%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Alibaba (BABA) at 7.30% and Best Buy (BBY) at 3.90% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

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%

BBY

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

3.90%

Max: 21.45%
Q3: 10.89%
Median: 5.57%
BBY: 3.90%
Q1: 2.28%
Min: -7.12%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Alibaba (BABA) and Best Buy (BBY)
Metric	BABA	BBY
ROE (TTM)	6.36%	43.13%
ROA (TTM)	1.56%	7.25%
Net Margin (TTM)	7.04%	3.01%
Operating Margin (TTM)	7.30%	3.90%
Gross Margin (TTM)	38.20%	22.60%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Alibaba (BABA) at 2.74% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Best Buy (BBY) at 0.39% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

Alibaba (BABA) vs. Best Buy (BBY): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Best Buy (BBY) at 17.76% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Alibaba (BABA) at -17.91% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for BBY.

Alibaba (BABA) vs. Best Buy (BBY): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Alibaba (BABA) and Best Buy (BBY)
Metric	BABA	BBY
Revenue Growth (YoY)	2.74%	0.39%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	5.62%	-3.43%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-17.91%	17.76%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	17.05%	-7.12%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Alibaba (BABA) at 1.36 and Best Buy (BBY) at 1.12 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

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

BBY

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.12

Max: 2.62
Q3: 1.75
Median: 1.35
BBY: 1.12
Q1: 1.00
Min: 0.48

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

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Alibaba (BABA) at 0.24 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Best Buy (BBY) at 1.30 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

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

BBY

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.30

Max: 3.93
Q3: 2.14
BBY: 1.30
Median: 1.25
Q1: 0.73
Min: 0.01

Alibaba (BABA) vs. Best Buy (BBY): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Alibaba (BABA) and Best Buy (BBY)
Metric	BABA	BBY
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.36	1.12
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.24	1.30
Net Debt / EBITDA	-1.20	0.66

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Best Buy (BBY) at 3.84% earns its spot in the top quartile of its industry’s yields; Alibaba (BABA) at 6.70% is past the top of its own peer range — territory where a dividend-safety check matters more than the headline number.

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%

BBY

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

3.84%

Max: 5.84%
BBY: 3.84%
Q3: 2.50%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Alibaba (BABA) at 25.44% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Best Buy (BBY) at 63.56% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

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%

BBY

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

63.56%

Max: 72.73%
BBY: 63.56%
Q3: 32.44%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Alibaba (BABA) and Best Buy (BBY)
Metric	BABA	BBY
Dividend Yield (TTM)	6.70%	3.84%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	25.44%	63.56%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Best Buy (BBY) at 16.58 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.

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

BBY

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

16.58

Max: 40.50
Q3: 24.26
Median: 19.23
BBY: 16.58
Q1: 12.64
Min: 4.67

Alibaba (BABA) vs. Best Buy (BBY): 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 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Best Buy (BBY) at 0.50 prices around its industry’s middle — BABA costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

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

BBY

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.50

Max: 4.32
Q3: 1.99
Median: 0.70
BBY: 0.50
Q1: 0.26
Min: 0.03

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Alibaba (BABA) at 1.63 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Best Buy (BBY) at 6.59 carries an above-peer premium to book — BBY is pricier on assets.

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

BBY

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

6.59

Max: 10.96
BBY: 6.59
Q3: 5.26
Median: 2.16
Q1: 1.08
Min: -4.45

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Alibaba (BABA) and Best Buy (BBY)
Metric	BABA	BBY
P/E Ratio (TTM)	26.50	16.58
P/S Ratio (TTM)	0.26	0.50
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	1.63	6.59
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	-30.35%	6.72%