BABA vs. GPC: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison

Updated on October 12, 2025

Here’s a clear look at BABA and GPC, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.

Company Profile

BABA trades as an American Depositary Receipt (ADR), offering U.S. investors a convenient way to access its foreign-listed shares. In contrast, GPC is a standard domestic listing.

Symbol	BABA	GPC
Company Name	Alibaba Group Holding Limited	Genuine Parts Company
Country	Hong Kong	United States
GICS Sector	Consumer Discretionary	Consumer Discretionary
GICS Industry	Broadline Retail	Distributors
Market Capitalization	423.30 billion USD	18.59 billion USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	September 19, 2014	March 17, 1980
Security Type	ADR	Common Stock

Historical Performance

This chart compares the performance of BABA and GPC by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.

BABA vs. GPC: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past one year.

Historical Performance at a Glance

Symbol	BABA	GPC
5-Day Price Return	-4.34%	-4.78%
13-Week Price Return	74.44%	6.73%
26-Week Price Return	40.04%	12.64%
52-Week Price Return	54.12%	-0.97%
Month-to-Date Return	1.34%	-3.55%
Year-to-Date Return	113.61%	14.49%
10-Day Avg. Volume	17.34M	0.93M
3-Month Avg. Volume	16.71M	1.16M
3-Month Volatility	49.26%	23.99%
Beta	0.31	0.77

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

BABA

14.91%

Broadline Retail Industry

Max: 47.53%
Q3: 31.20%
Median: 16.63%
Q1: 10.81%
Min: -7.57%

BABA’s Return on Equity of 14.91% is on par with the norm for the Broadline Retail industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.

GPC

17.79%

Distributors Industry

Max: 35.43%
Q3: 27.95%
Median: 14.57%
Q1: 11.23%
Min: 11.19%

GPC’s Return on Equity of 17.79% is on par with the norm for the Distributors industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.

BABA vs. GPC: A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against their respective Broadline Retail and Distributors industry benchmarks.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

BABA

14.82%

Broadline Retail Industry

Max: 24.63%
Q3: 12.77%
Median: 8.63%
Q1: 4.50%
Min: -1.62%

A Net Profit Margin of 14.82% places BABA in the upper quartile for the Broadline Retail industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.

GPC

3.40%

Distributors Industry

Max: 5.68%
Q3: 5.68%
Median: 5.36%
Q1: 4.87%
Min: 4.81%

GPC’s Net Profit Margin of 3.40% is below the typical range for the Distributors industry. This suggests the company may be facing challenges with cost control or operating in a highly competitive environment that limits its pricing power.

BABA vs. GPC: A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Broadline Retail and Distributors industry benchmarks.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

BABA

13.98%

Broadline Retail Industry

Max: 27.48%
Q3: 17.60%
Median: 10.82%
Q1: 7.76%
Min: -6.73%

BABA’s Operating Profit Margin of 13.98% is around the midpoint for the Broadline Retail industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.

GPC

4.95%

Distributors Industry

Max: 11.13%
Q3: 7.77%
Median: 5.57%
Q1: 5.27%
Min: 4.95%

GPC’s Operating Profit Margin of 4.95% is in the lower quartile for the Distributors industry. This indicates weaker profitability from core operations, which may stem from inefficiencies or competitive pressures on pricing.

BABA vs. GPC: A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Broadline Retail and Distributors industry benchmarks.

Profitability at a Glance

Symbol	BABA	GPC
Return on Equity (TTM)	14.91%	17.79%
Return on Assets (TTM)	8.16%	4.06%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)	14.82%	3.40%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)	13.98%	4.95%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)	41.18%	36.88%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

BABA

1.45

Broadline Retail Industry

Max: 3.54
Q3: 2.42
Median: 1.38
Q1: 1.20
Min: 0.69

BABA’s Current Ratio of 1.45 aligns with the median group of the Broadline Retail industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.

GPC

1.14

Distributors Industry

Max: 1.81
Q3: 1.66
Median: 1.21
Q1: 1.15
Min: 1.09

GPC’s Current Ratio of 1.14 falls into the lower quartile for the Distributors industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.

BABA vs. GPC: A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Broadline Retail and Distributors industry benchmarks.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

BABA

0.23

Broadline Retail Industry

Max: 2.01
Q3: 1.31
Median: 0.72
Q1: 0.32
Min: 0.00

Falling into the lower quartile for the Broadline Retail industry, BABA’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.23 points to a conservative financing strategy. This results in lower financial risk but potentially limits strategic investments compared to more leveraged competitors.

GPC

1.02

Distributors Industry

Max: 1.19
Q3: 1.00
Median: 0.81
Q1: 0.52
Min: 0.46

GPC’s leverage is in the upper quartile of the Distributors industry, with a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 1.02. While this approach can boost equity growth, it also exposes the company to greater financial vulnerability.

BABA vs. GPC: A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Broadline Retail and Distributors industry benchmarks.

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

BABA

9.56

Broadline Retail Industry

Max: 37.34
Q3: 21.16
Median: 8.60
Q1: 3.22
Min: -19.29

BABA’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 9.56 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Broadline Retail industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.

GPC

13.15

Distributors Industry

Max: 13.15
Q3: 10.84
Median: 5.59
Q1: 4.01
Min: 3.80

GPC’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 13.15 is in the upper quartile for the Distributors industry, signifying a strong and healthy capacity to meet its interest payments from operating profits.

BABA vs. GPC: A comparison of their Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) against their respective Broadline Retail and Distributors industry benchmarks.

Financial Strength at a Glance

Symbol	BABA	GPC
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.45	1.14
Quick Ratio (MRQ)	0.97	0.49
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)	0.23	1.02
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)	9.56	13.15

Growth

Revenue Growth

BABA vs. GPC: A side-by-side comparison of their Revenue Growth for the MRQ (YoY), TTM (YoY), 3-Year CAGR, and 5-Year CAGR periods.

EPS Growth

BABA vs. GPC: A side-by-side comparison of their EPS Growth for the MRQ (YoY), TTM (YoY), 3-Year CAGR, and 5-Year CAGR periods.

Dividend

Dividend Yield (TTM)

BABA

1.84%

Broadline Retail Industry

Max: 4.06%
Q3: 2.07%
Median: 0.37%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

BABA’s Dividend Yield of 1.84% is consistent with its peers in the Broadline Retail industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.

GPC

2.99%

Distributors Industry

Max: 48.14%
Q3: 37.24%
Median: 4.28%
Q1: 3.20%
Min: 1.61%

GPC’s Dividend Yield of 2.99% is in the lower quartile for the Distributors industry. This suggests the company’s strategy likely favors retaining earnings for growth over providing a high dividend income.

BABA vs. GPC: A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against their respective Broadline Retail and Distributors industry benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

BABA

103.01%

Broadline Retail Industry

Max: 114.82%
Q3: 62.39%
Median: 28.55%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

BABA’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 103.01% is in the upper quartile for the Broadline Retail industry. This indicates a strong commitment to shareholder returns but also suggests that a smaller portion of earnings is retained for reinvestment compared to many peers.

GPC

69.26%

Distributors Industry

Max: 903.92%
Q3: 695.25%
Median: 56.97%
Q1: 44.33%
Min: 26.53%

GPC’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 69.26% is within the typical range for the Distributors industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.

BABA vs. GPC: A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against their respective Broadline Retail and Distributors industry benchmarks.

Dividend at a Glance

Symbol	BABA	GPC
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.84%	2.99%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	103.01%	69.26%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

BABA

21.23

Broadline Retail Industry

Max: 62.76
Q3: 32.50
Median: 17.65
Q1: 12.08
Min: 6.87

BABA’s P/E Ratio of 21.23 is within the middle range for the Broadline Retail industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.

GPC

23.14

Distributors Industry

Max: 27.78
Q3: 22.45
Median: 18.78
Q1: 12.95
Min: 5.82

A P/E Ratio of 23.14 places GPC in the upper quartile for the Distributors industry. This high valuation relative to peers suggests the market holds elevated expectations for the company’s future growth.

BABA vs. GPC: A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against their respective Broadline Retail and Distributors industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

BABA

3.15

Broadline Retail Industry

Max: 5.19
Q3: 3.25
Median: 2.13
Q1: 1.01
Min: 0.21

BABA’s P/S Ratio of 3.15 aligns with the market consensus for the Broadline Retail industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.

GPC

0.79

Distributors Industry

Max: 1.07
Q3: 1.07
Median: 0.94
Q1: 0.62
Min: 0.28

GPC’s P/S Ratio of 0.79 aligns with the market consensus for the Distributors industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.

BABA vs. GPC: A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against their respective Broadline Retail and Distributors industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

BABA

1.90

Broadline Retail Industry

Max: 8.81
Q3: 5.19
Median: 3.42
Q1: 1.75
Min: 0.73

BABA’s P/B Ratio of 1.90 is within the conventional range for the Broadline Retail industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.

GPC

3.58

Distributors Industry

Max: 3.58
Q3: 3.46
Median: 3.12
Q1: 2.75
Min: 2.63

GPC’s P/B Ratio of 3.58 is in the upper tier for the Distributors industry. This indicates that investors are paying a premium relative to the company’s net assets, a valuation that hinges on its ability to generate superior profits.

BABA vs. GPC: A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Broadline Retail and Distributors industry benchmarks.

Valuation at a Glance

Symbol	BABA	GPC
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)	21.23	23.14
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)	3.15	0.79
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)	1.90	3.58
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)	40.60	42.64