BABA vs. PAG: Alibaba vs. Penske Automotive Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

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

Penske Automotive (PAG) 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 Penske Automotive (PAG)
Profile Item	BABA	PAG
Name	Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. ADR	Penske Automotive Group 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	Automotive Retail
Market Capitalization	272.28 billion USD	13.94 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	September 19, 2014	October 23, 1996
Security Type	ADR	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BABA

PAG

GSPC

Alibaba (BABA) vs. Penske Automotive (PAG), 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 Penske Automotive (PAG). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Alibaba (BABA) and Penske Automotive (PAG)
Metric	BABA	PAG
Total Return (1Y)	-35.96%	39.10%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	10.68%	16.11%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-6.88%	16.74%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BABA

PAG

GSPC

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

Risk Metrics

Alibaba (BABA) is heavily traded at around 10.02M shares per day, whereas Penske Automotive (PAG) sees a more moderate 450.08K — larger orders in the latter may require more patience and tighter control over order sizing.

Risk profile metrics for Alibaba (BABA) and Penske Automotive (PAG)
Metric	BABA	PAG
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	40.95%	27.55%
Beta (5Y)	0.39	0.90
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-62.51%	-24.03%
Avg. Volume (3M)	10.02M	450.08K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

BABA and PAG 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 Penske Automotive (PAG)
Metric	BABA	PAG
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.98	1.26
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-1.48	2.27

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Penske Automotive (PAG) at 15.47% is around its peer norm for ROE, while Alibaba (BABA) at 6.36% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker returns on shareholders’ 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%

PAG

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

15.47%

Max: 62.17%
Q3: 29.44%
Median: 15.69%
PAG: 15.47%
Q1: 6.73%
Min: -12.16%

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

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Alibaba (BABA) at 7.04% and Penske Automotive (PAG) at 2.77% 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: 16.94%
Q3: 8.69%
BABA: 7.04%
Median: 3.55%
Q1: 1.14%
Min: -9.41%

PAG

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

2.77%

Max: 16.94%
Q3: 8.69%
Median: 3.55%
PAG: 2.77%
Q1: 1.14%
Min: -9.41%

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

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Alibaba (BABA) at 7.30% and Penske Automotive (PAG) at 3.60% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

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%

PAG

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

3.60%

Max: 21.45%
Q3: 10.89%
Median: 5.57%
PAG: 3.60%
Q1: 2.28%
Min: -7.12%

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

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Alibaba (BABA) and Penske Automotive (PAG)
Metric	BABA	PAG
ROE (TTM)	6.36%	15.47%
ROA (TTM)	1.56%	4.25%
Net Margin (TTM)	7.04%	2.77%
Operating Margin (TTM)	7.30%	3.60%
Gross Margin (TTM)	38.20%	16.05%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Alibaba (BABA) at 2.74% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Penske Automotive (PAG) at -0.18% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

Alibaba (BABA) vs. Penske Automotive (PAG): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Alibaba (BABA) at -17.91% and Penske Automotive (PAG) at 2.84% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Alibaba (BABA) vs. Penske Automotive (PAG): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Alibaba (BABA) and Penske Automotive (PAG)
Metric	BABA	PAG
Revenue Growth (YoY)	2.74%	-0.18%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	5.62%	4.57%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-17.91%	2.84%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	17.05%	-8.67%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Alibaba (BABA) at 1.36 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Penske Automotive (PAG) at 0.98 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for PAG.

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

PAG

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.98

Max: 2.62
Q3: 1.75
Median: 1.35
Q1: 1.00
PAG: 0.98
Min: 0.48

Alibaba (BABA) vs. Penske Automotive (PAG): 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 Penske Automotive (PAG) at 1.53 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

PAG

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.53

Max: 3.93
Q3: 2.14
PAG: 1.53
Median: 1.25
Q1: 0.73
Min: 0.01

Alibaba (BABA) vs. Penske Automotive (PAG): 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 Penske Automotive (PAG)
Metric	BABA	PAG
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.36	0.98
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.24	1.53
Net Debt / EBITDA	-1.20	6.53

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Penske Automotive (PAG) at 2.70% earns its spot in the top quartile of its industry’s yields; Alibaba (BABA) at 6.70% is past the top of its own peer range — territory where a dividend-safety check matters more than the headline number.

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%

PAG

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

2.70%

Max: 5.84%
PAG: 2.70%
Q3: 2.50%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Alibaba (BABA) at 25.44% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while Penske Automotive (PAG) at 41.11% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

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%

PAG

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

41.11%

Max: 72.73%
PAG: 41.11%
Q3: 32.44%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

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

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Alibaba (BABA) and Penske Automotive (PAG)
Metric	BABA	PAG
Dividend Yield (TTM)	6.70%	2.70%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	25.44%	41.11%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Penske Automotive (PAG) at 14.80 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Alibaba (BABA) at 26.50 sits in the richer quartile — BABA needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

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

PAG

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

14.80

Max: 40.50
Q3: 24.26
Median: 19.23
PAG: 14.80
Q1: 12.64
Min: 4.67

Alibaba (BABA) vs. Penske Automotive (PAG): 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 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Penske Automotive (PAG) at 0.43 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

0.26

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

PAG

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.43

Max: 4.32
Q3: 1.99
Median: 0.70
PAG: 0.43
Q1: 0.26
Min: 0.03

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

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both Alibaba (BABA) at 1.63 and Penske Automotive (PAG) at 2.35 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

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

PAG

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

2.35

Max: 10.96
Q3: 5.26
PAG: 2.35
Median: 2.16
Q1: 1.08
Min: -4.45

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

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Alibaba (BABA) and Penske Automotive (PAG)
Metric	BABA	PAG
P/E Ratio (TTM)	26.50	14.80
P/S Ratio (TTM)	0.26	0.43
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	1.63	2.35
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	-30.35%	0.69%