BABA vs. LOW: Alibaba vs. Lowe's Companies Stock Comparison

July 2, 2026

How do Alibaba (BABA) and Lowe's Companies (LOW) 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 Lowe's Companies (LOW) both fall under the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group, but BABA is classified in Broadline Retail while LOW is classified in Specialty Retail.

Lowe's Companies (LOW) 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 Lowe's Companies (LOW)
Profile Item	BABA	LOW
Name	Alibaba Group Holding Limited SP ADR	Lowe's Companies 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	230.38 billion USD	123.63 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	September 19, 2014	March 17, 1980
Security Type	ADR	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BABA

LOW

Alibaba (BABA) vs. Lowe's Companies (LOW): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

Loading price history…

Trailing total returns for Alibaba (BABA) and Lowe's Companies (LOW). Returns over one year are annualized.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Alibaba (BABA) and Lowe's Companies (LOW)
Metric	BABA	LOW
Total Return (1Y)	-14.59%	1.33%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BABA

LOW

Alibaba (BABA) vs. Lowe's Companies (LOW): Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Alibaba (BABA) and Lowe's Companies (LOW)
Metric	BABA	LOW
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	44.06%	26.63%
Beta (5Y)	0.51	0.86
Avg. Volume (3M)	11.65M	2.88M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

BABA and LOW 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.

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Alibaba (BABA) earns 9.22% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Lowe's Companies (LOW) has no ROE this period.

BABA

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

9.22%

Max: 63.82%
Q3: 31.92%
Median: 13.94%
BABA: 9.22%
Q1: 5.27%
Min: -29.94%

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

Max: 63.82%
Q3: 31.92%
Median: 13.94%
Q1: 5.27%
Min: -29.94%
LOW: --

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

Net Margin (TTM)

Alibaba (BABA) at 10.12% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Lowe's Companies (LOW) at 7.51%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

BABA

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

10.12%

Max: 20.45%
BABA: 10.12%
Q3: 9.02%
Median: 4.01%
Q1: 0.70%
Min: -11.15%

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

7.51%

Max: 20.45%
Q3: 9.02%
LOW: 7.51%
Median: 4.01%
Q1: 0.70%
Min: -11.15%

Alibaba (BABA) vs. Lowe's Companies (LOW): A comparison of their net margin against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Lowe's Companies (LOW) at 11.07% runs core operations around its industry’s norm, while Alibaba (BABA) at 1.02% operates in the bottom quartile.

BABA

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.02%

Max: 23.15%
Q3: 11.20%
Median: 4.77%
Q1: 1.65%
BABA: 1.02%
Min: -8.71%

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

11.07%

Max: 23.15%
Q3: 11.20%
LOW: 11.07%
Median: 4.77%
Q1: 1.65%
Min: -8.71%

Alibaba (BABA) vs. Lowe's Companies (LOW): A comparison of their operating margin against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Alibaba (BABA) and Lowe's Companies (LOW)
Metric	BABA	LOW
ROE (TTM)	9.22%	--
ROA (TTM)	2.12%	12.79%
Net Margin (TTM)	10.12%	7.51%
Operating Margin (TTM)	1.02%	11.07%
Gross Margin (TTM)	39.81%	33.29%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Alibaba (BABA) vs. Lowe's Companies (LOW): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

Revenue Growth Metrics

Revenue growth metrics for Alibaba (BABA) and Lowe's Companies (LOW)
Metric	BABA	LOW
Revenue Growth (YoY)	2.74%	3.12%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	5.62%	-3.85%

EPS Growth

Alibaba (BABA) vs. Lowe's Companies (LOW): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth Metrics

EPS growth metrics for Alibaba (BABA) and Lowe's Companies (LOW)
Metric	BABA	LOW
EPS Growth (YoY)	-17.91%	-3.11%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	17.05%	5.23%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Alibaba (BABA) at 1.28 and Lowe's Companies (LOW) at 1.09 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

BABA

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.28

Max: 2.97
Q3: 1.85
Median: 1.38
BABA: 1.28
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.46

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.09

Max: 2.97
Q3: 1.85
Median: 1.38
LOW: 1.09
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.46

Alibaba (BABA) vs. Lowe's Companies (LOW): 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 0.25 against its industry range, while Lowe's Companies (LOW) reports no figure this period.

BABA

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.25

Max: 3.27
Q3: 1.82
Median: 1.09
Q1: 0.72
BABA: 0.25
Min: 0.01

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

Max: 3.27
Q3: 1.82
Median: 1.09
Q1: 0.72
Min: 0.01
LOW: --

Alibaba (BABA) vs. Lowe's Companies (LOW): LOW 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 Alibaba (BABA) and Lowe's Companies (LOW)
Metric	BABA	LOW
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.28	1.09
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.25	--
Net Debt / EBITDA	-0.32	3.32

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Lowe's Companies (LOW) at 2.19% pays an industry-typical yield; Alibaba (BABA) at 7.58% 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

7.58%

BABA: 7.58%
Max: 5.10%
Q3: 2.22%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

2.19%

Max: 5.10%
Q3: 2.22%
LOW: 2.19%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Alibaba (BABA) vs. Lowe's Companies (LOW): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Alibaba (BABA) at 17.12% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Lowe's Companies (LOW) at 40.57% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

BABA

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

17.12%

Max: 78.51%
Q3: 32.35%
BABA: 17.12%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

40.57%

Max: 78.51%
LOW: 40.57%
Q3: 32.35%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Alibaba (BABA) vs. Lowe's Companies (LOW): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Alibaba (BABA) and Lowe's Companies (LOW)
Metric	BABA	LOW
Dividend Yield (TTM)	7.58%	2.19%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	17.12%	40.57%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Alibaba (BABA) at 14.81 and Lowe's Companies (LOW) at 18.62 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

14.81

Max: 55.55
Q3: 32.06
Median: 19.03
BABA: 14.81
Q1: 12.24
Min: 0.95

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

18.62

Max: 55.55
Q3: 32.06
Median: 19.03
LOW: 18.62
Q1: 12.24
Min: 0.95

Alibaba (BABA) vs. Lowe's Companies (LOW): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Alibaba (BABA) at 0.23 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Lowe's Companies (LOW) at 1.40 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

0.23

Max: 3.48
Q3: 1.83
Median: 0.75
Q1: 0.27
BABA: 0.23
Min: 0.03

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.40

Max: 3.48
Q3: 1.83
LOW: 1.40
Median: 0.75
Q1: 0.27
Min: 0.03

Alibaba (BABA) vs. Lowe's Companies (LOW): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Lowe's Companies (LOW) reports a negative P/B ratio of -13.34, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile Alibaba (BABA) reports 1.42, ranking against industry peers normally.

BABA

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.42

Max: 12.65
Q3: 5.95
Median: 2.27
BABA: 1.42
Q1: 1.10
Min: -4.28

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

-13.34

Max: 12.65
Q3: 5.95
Median: 2.27
Q1: 1.10
Min: -4.28
LOW: -13.34

Alibaba (BABA) vs. Lowe's Companies (LOW): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Alibaba (BABA) and Lowe's Companies (LOW)
Metric	BABA	LOW
P/E Ratio (TTM)	14.81	18.62
P/S Ratio (TTM)	0.23	1.40
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	1.42	-13.34
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	-19.13%	3.90%