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

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 ItemBABALOW
NameAlibaba Group Holding Ltd. ADRLowe's Companies, Inc.
Country/RegionChinaUnited States
GICS SectorConsumer DiscretionaryConsumer Discretionary
GICS Industry GroupConsumer Discretionary Distribution & RetailConsumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail
GICS IndustryBroadline RetailSpecialty Retail
GICS Sub-IndustryBroadline RetailHome Improvement Retail
Market Capitalization281.47 billion USD114.71 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateSeptember 19, 2014March 17, 1980
Security TypeADRCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BABA
LOW
GSPC
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Alibaba (BABA) vs. Lowe's Companies (LOW), 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 Lowe's Companies (LOW). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Alibaba (BABA) and Lowe's Companies (LOW)
MetricBABALOW
Total Return (1Y)-12.71%-21.14%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)8.19%-2.26%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-6.71%1.80%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BABA
LOW
GSPC
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Alibaba (BABA) vs. Lowe's Companies (LOW), 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 Lowe's Companies (LOW). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Alibaba (BABA) and Lowe's Companies (LOW)
MetricBABALOW
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)43.82%27.12%
Beta (5Y)0.470.87
Max Drawdown (5Y)-64.46%-33.86%
Avg. Volume (3M)12.48M3.04M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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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.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Alibaba (BABA) and Lowe's Companies (LOW)
MetricBABALOW
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.38-0.93
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.60-1.33

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Capital efficiency shows on one side only: Alibaba (BABA) earns 6.36% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; Lowe's Companies (LOW) has no ROE this period.

BABA

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

6.36%

Max
62.17%
Q3
32.45%
Median
15.79%
BABA
6.36%
Q1
6.36%
Min
-27.22%

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

--

Max
62.17%
Q3
32.45%
Median
15.79%
Q1
6.36%
Min
-27.22%
LOW
--
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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)

Both Alibaba (BABA) at 7.04% and Lowe's Companies (LOW) at 7.35% 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
20.43%
Q3
8.79%
BABA
7.04%
Median
3.37%
Q1
0.88%
Min
-10.82%

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

7.35%

Max
20.43%
Q3
8.79%
LOW
7.35%
Median
3.37%
Q1
0.88%
Min
-10.82%
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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 13.37% 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
11.54%
BABA
7.30%
Median
6.09%
Q1
2.46%
Min
-6.74%

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

13.37%

Max
24.71%
LOW
13.37%
Q3
11.54%
Median
6.09%
Q1
2.46%
Min
-6.74%
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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)
MetricBABALOW
ROE (TTM)6.36%--
ROA (TTM)1.56%12.52%
Net Margin (TTM)7.04%7.35%
Operating Margin (TTM)7.30%13.37%
Gross Margin (TTM)38.20%32.99%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Alibaba (BABA) at 2.74% and Lowe's Companies (LOW) at 3.12% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

EPS Growth

Lowe's Companies (LOW) at -3.11% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Alibaba (BABA) at -17.91% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Alibaba (BABA) and Lowe's Companies (LOW)
MetricBABALOW
Revenue Growth (YoY)2.74%3.12%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)5.62%-3.85%
EPS Growth (YoY)-17.91%-3.11%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)17.05%5.23%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Alibaba (BABA) at 1.36 and Lowe's Companies (LOW) at 1.11 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
2.71
Q3
1.75
BABA
1.36
Median
1.36
Q1
1.03
Min
0.49

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.11

Max
2.71
Q3
1.75
Median
1.36
LOW
1.11
Q1
1.03
Min
0.49
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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 0.24 against its industry range, while Lowe's Companies (LOW) reports no figure this period.

BABA

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.24

Max
3.53
Q3
1.87
Median
1.09
Q1
0.70
BABA
0.24
Min
0.01

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

--

Max
3.53
Q3
1.87
Median
1.09
Q1
0.70
Min
0.01
LOW
--
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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)
MetricBABALOW
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.361.11
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.24--
Net Debt / EBITDA-1.203.05

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Alibaba (BABA) at 6.48% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Lowe's Companies (LOW) at 2.40% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, BABA the richer one.

BABA

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

6.48%

Max
6.67%
BABA
6.48%
Q3
2.68%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

2.40%

Max
6.67%
Q3
2.68%
LOW
2.40%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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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 24.04% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Lowe's Companies (LOW) at 41.00% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

BABA

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

24.04%

Max
72.73%
Q3
29.95%
BABA
24.04%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

41.00%

Max
72.73%
LOW
41.00%
Q3
29.95%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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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)
MetricBABALOW
Dividend Yield (TTM)6.48%2.40%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)24.04%41.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Lowe's Companies (LOW) at 17.27 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Alibaba (BABA) at 25.62 sits in the richer quartile — BABA needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

BABA

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

25.62

Max
42.25
BABA
25.62
Q3
24.30
Median
16.76
Q1
12.13
Min
0.90

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

17.27

Max
42.25
Q3
24.30
LOW
17.27
Median
16.76
Q1
12.13
Min
0.90
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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)

On P/S ratio, both Alibaba (BABA) at 0.27 and Lowe's Companies (LOW) at 1.27 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

BABA

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.27

Max
3.35
Q3
1.55
Median
0.64
BABA
0.27
Q1
0.26
Min
0.03

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.27

Max
3.35
Q3
1.55
LOW
1.27
Median
0.64
Q1
0.26
Min
0.03
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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 -15.42, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile Alibaba (BABA) reports 1.69, ranking against industry peers normally.

BABA

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.69

Max
10.28
Q3
4.79
Median
1.95
BABA
1.69
Q1
1.11
Min
-3.55

LOW

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

-15.42

Max
10.28
Q3
4.79
Median
1.95
Q1
1.11
Min
-3.55
LOW
-15.42
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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)
MetricBABALOW
P/E Ratio (TTM)25.6217.27
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.271.27
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.69-15.42
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-29.36%4.02%