BABA vs. EBAY: Alibaba vs. eBay Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Alibaba (BABA) and eBay (EBAY) 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 eBay (EBAY) are both classified in the Broadline Retail sub-industry within the broader Broadline Retail industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

eBay (EBAY) 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 eBay (EBAY)
Profile Item	BABA	EBAY
Name	Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. ADR	eBay 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	Broadline Retail
GICS Sub-Industry	Broadline Retail	Broadline Retail
Market Capitalization	272.28 billion USD	53.54 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	Nasdaq
Listing Date	September 19, 2014	September 24, 1998
Security Type	ADR	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BABA

EBAY

GSPC

Alibaba (BABA) vs. eBay (EBAY), 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 eBay (EBAY). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Alibaba (BABA) and eBay (EBAY)
Metric	BABA	EBAY
Total Return (1Y)	-35.96%	47.54%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	10.68%	47.56%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-6.88%	12.50%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BABA

EBAY

GSPC

Alibaba (BABA) vs. eBay (EBAY), 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 eBay (EBAY). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Alibaba (BABA) and eBay (EBAY)
Metric	BABA	EBAY
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	40.95%	32.35%
Beta (5Y)	0.39	1.27
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-62.51%	-50.71%
Avg. Volume (3M)	10.02M	4.37M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

BABA and EBAY 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 eBay (EBAY)
Metric	BABA	EBAY
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.98	1.34
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-1.48	1.97

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

eBay (EBAY) at 46.04% 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%

EBAY

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

46.04%

Max: 62.17%
EBAY: 46.04%
Q3: 29.44%
Median: 15.69%
Q1: 6.73%
Min: -12.16%

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

Net Margin (TTM)

eBay (EBAY) at 16.94% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Alibaba (BABA) at 7.04%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

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%

EBAY

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

16.94%

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

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

eBay (EBAY) at 19.21% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Alibaba (BABA) at 7.30%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

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%

EBAY

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

19.21%

Max: 21.45%
EBAY: 19.21%
Q3: 10.89%
Median: 5.57%
Q1: 2.28%
Min: -7.12%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Alibaba (BABA) and eBay (EBAY)
Metric	BABA	EBAY
ROE (TTM)	6.36%	46.04%
ROA (TTM)	1.56%	9.33%
Net Margin (TTM)	7.04%	16.94%
Operating Margin (TTM)	7.30%	19.21%
Gross Margin (TTM)	38.20%	72.17%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Alibaba (BABA) at 2.74% and eBay (EBAY) at 7.95% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

EPS Growth

Both Alibaba (BABA) at -17.91% and eBay (EBAY) at 10.15% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Alibaba (BABA) and eBay (EBAY)
Metric	BABA	EBAY
Revenue Growth (YoY)	2.74%	7.95%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	5.62%	4.26%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-17.91%	10.15%
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 eBay (EBAY) at 0.78 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for EBAY.

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

EBAY

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.78

Max: 2.62
Q3: 1.75
Median: 1.35
Q1: 1.00
EBAY: 0.78
Min: 0.48

Alibaba (BABA) vs. eBay (EBAY): 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 eBay (EBAY) at 1.63 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

EBAY

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.63

Max: 3.93
Q3: 2.14
EBAY: 1.63
Median: 1.25
Q1: 0.73
Min: 0.01

Alibaba (BABA) vs. eBay (EBAY): 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 eBay (EBAY)
Metric	BABA	EBAY
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.36	0.78
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.24	1.63
Net Debt / EBITDA	-1.20	1.65

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

eBay (EBAY) at 0.99% pays an industry-typical yield; Alibaba (BABA) at 6.70% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.

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%

EBAY

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.99%

Max: 5.84%
Q3: 2.50%
EBAY: 0.99%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Alibaba (BABA) at 25.44% and eBay (EBAY) at 26.64% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

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%

EBAY

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

26.64%

Max: 72.73%
Q3: 32.44%
EBAY: 26.64%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Alibaba (BABA) and eBay (EBAY)
Metric	BABA	EBAY
Dividend Yield (TTM)	6.70%	0.99%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	25.44%	26.64%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Alibaba (BABA) at 26.50 and eBay (EBAY) at 26.63 sit in the richer earnings-multiple quartile for P/E ratio, so investors are paying more for TTM earnings than they pay for typical peers.

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

EBAY

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

26.63

Max: 40.50
EBAY: 26.63
Q3: 24.26
Median: 19.23
Q1: 12.64
Min: 4.67

Alibaba (BABA) vs. eBay (EBAY): 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 eBay (EBAY) at 4.32 looks rich in the upper quartile — a clear gap in price per dollar of revenue.

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

EBAY

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

4.32

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

Alibaba (BABA) vs. eBay (EBAY): 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 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while eBay (EBAY) at 12.16 prices above its benchmark range — EBAY looks rich relative to book.

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

EBAY

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

12.16

EBAY: 12.16
Max: 10.96
Q3: 5.26
Median: 2.16
Q1: 1.08
Min: -4.45

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Alibaba (BABA) and eBay (EBAY)
Metric	BABA	EBAY
P/E Ratio (TTM)	26.50	26.63
P/S Ratio (TTM)	0.26	4.32
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	1.63	12.16
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	-30.35%	3.18%