BABA vs. HD: Alibaba vs. Home Depot Stock Comparison

August 31, 2026

How do Alibaba (BABA) and Home Depot (HD) 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 Home Depot (HD) both fall under the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group, but BABA is classified in Broadline Retail while HD is classified in Specialty Retail.

Home Depot (HD) 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 Home Depot (HD)
Profile Item	BABA	HD
Name	Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. ADR	The Home Depot, 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	Home Improvement Retail
Market Capitalization	295.54 billion USD	329.43 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	September 19, 2014	September 22, 1981
Security Type	ADR	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BABA

GSPC

Alibaba (BABA) vs. Home Depot (HD), 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 Home Depot (HD). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Alibaba (BABA) and Home Depot (HD)
Metric	BABA	HD
Total Return (1Y)	-3.97%	-17.37%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	11.23%	3.17%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-4.97%	2.85%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BABA

GSPC

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Alibaba (BABA) and Home Depot (HD)
Metric	BABA	HD
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	45.84%	25.18%
Beta (5Y)	0.51	0.95
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-64.46%	-34.73%
Avg. Volume (3M)	12.70M	4.41M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

BABA and HD 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 Home Depot (HD)
Metric	BABA	HD
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.17	-0.85
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.28	-1.22

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Home Depot (HD) at 104.30% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than Alibaba (BABA) at 6.36%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

BABA

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

6.36%

Max: 63.82%
Q3: 32.26%
Median: 13.95%
BABA: 6.36%
Q1: 5.65%
Min: -27.22%

HD

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

104.30%

HD: 104.30%
Max: 63.82%
Q3: 32.26%
Median: 13.95%
Q1: 5.65%
Min: -27.22%

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

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Alibaba (BABA) at 7.04% and Home Depot (HD) at 8.41% 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: 20.45%
Q3: 8.73%
BABA: 7.04%
Median: 3.31%
Q1: 0.85%
Min: -10.82%

HD

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

8.41%

Max: 20.45%
Q3: 8.73%
HD: 8.41%
Median: 3.31%
Q1: 0.85%
Min: -10.82%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

Home Depot (HD) at 12.86% 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: 24.71%
Q3: 12.04%
BABA: 7.30%
Median: 5.55%
Q1: 1.86%
Min: -9.01%

HD

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

12.86%

Max: 24.71%
HD: 12.86%
Q3: 12.04%
Median: 5.55%
Q1: 1.86%
Min: -9.01%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Alibaba (BABA) and Home Depot (HD)
Metric	BABA	HD
ROE (TTM)	6.36%	104.30%
ROA (TTM)	1.56%	12.14%
Net Margin (TTM)	7.04%	8.41%
Operating Margin (TTM)	7.30%	12.86%
Gross Margin (TTM)	38.20%	32.80%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Alibaba (BABA) at 2.74% and Home Depot (HD) at 3.24% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Alibaba (BABA) vs. Home Depot (HD): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Alibaba (BABA) at -17.91% and Home Depot (HD) at -4.56% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Alibaba (BABA) vs. Home Depot (HD): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Alibaba (BABA) and Home Depot (HD)
Metric	BABA	HD
Revenue Growth (YoY)	2.74%	3.24%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	5.62%	1.52%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-17.91%	-4.56%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	17.05%	-5.18%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Alibaba (BABA) at 1.36 and Home Depot (HD) at 1.08 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: 3.13
Q3: 1.89
Median: 1.41
BABA: 1.36
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.49

HD

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.08

Max: 3.13
Q3: 1.89
Median: 1.41
HD: 1.08
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.49

Alibaba (BABA) vs. Home Depot (HD): 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 quartile, while Home Depot (HD) at 3.80 is above its industry debt-to-equity ratio range.

BABA

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.24

Max: 3.53
Q3: 1.81
Median: 1.10
Q1: 0.66
BABA: 0.24
Min: 0.01

HD

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

3.80

HD: 3.80
Max: 3.53
Q3: 1.81
Median: 1.10
Q1: 0.66
Min: 0.01

Alibaba (BABA) vs. Home Depot (HD): 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 Home Depot (HD)
Metric	BABA	HD
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.36	1.08
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.24	3.80
Net Debt / EBITDA	-1.20	2.48

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Home Depot (HD) at 1.41% pays an industry-typical yield; Alibaba (BABA) at 6.23% 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

6.23%

BABA: 6.23%
Max: 4.78%
Q3: 2.33%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

HD

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.41%

Max: 4.78%
Q3: 2.33%
HD: 1.41%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Alibaba (BABA) at 24.04% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Home Depot (HD) at 64.80% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

BABA

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

24.04%

Max: 67.85%
Q3: 31.80%
BABA: 24.04%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

HD

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

64.80%

Max: 67.85%
HD: 64.80%
Q3: 31.80%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Alibaba (BABA) and Home Depot (HD)
Metric	BABA	HD
Dividend Yield (TTM)	6.23%	1.41%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	24.04%	64.80%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Alibaba (BABA) at 26.31 and Home Depot (HD) at 23.09 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

BABA

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

26.31

Max: 45.40
Q3: 27.80
BABA: 26.31
Median: 18.08
Q1: 12.31
Min: 1.09

HD

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

23.09

Max: 45.40
Q3: 27.80
HD: 23.09
Median: 18.08
Q1: 12.31
Min: 1.09

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

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Alibaba (BABA) at 0.28 looks cheap on sales in the lower P/S ratio quartile, while Home Depot (HD) at 1.95 looks rich in the upper quartile — a clear gap in price per dollar of revenue.

BABA

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.28

Max: 3.46
Q3: 1.60
Median: 0.73
Q1: 0.29
BABA: 0.28
Min: 0.03

HD

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.95

Max: 3.46
HD: 1.95
Q3: 1.60
Median: 0.73
Q1: 0.29
Min: 0.03

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Alibaba (BABA) at 1.78 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Home Depot (HD) at 19.83 prices above its benchmark range — HD looks rich relative to book.

BABA

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.78

Max: 10.08
Q3: 5.00
Median: 2.08
BABA: 1.78
Q1: 1.10
Min: -3.68

HD

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

19.83

HD: 19.83
Max: 10.08
Q3: 5.00
Median: 2.08
Q1: 1.10
Min: -3.68

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Alibaba (BABA) and Home Depot (HD)
Metric	BABA	HD
P/E Ratio (TTM)	26.31	23.09
P/S Ratio (TTM)	0.28	1.95
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	1.78	19.83
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	-27.96%	3.27%