BABA vs. WSM: Alibaba vs. Williams-Sonoma Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Alibaba (BABA) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM) 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 Williams-Sonoma (WSM) both fall under the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group, but BABA is classified in Broadline Retail while WSM is classified in Specialty Retail.

Williams-Sonoma (WSM) 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 Williams-Sonoma (WSM)
Profile Item	BABA	WSM
Name	Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. ADR	Williams-Sonoma, 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	Homefurnishing Retail
Market Capitalization	272.28 billion USD	29.92 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	September 19, 2014	July 7, 1983
Security Type	ADR	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BABA

WSM

GSPC

Alibaba (BABA) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM), 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 Williams-Sonoma (WSM). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Alibaba (BABA) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Alibaba (BABA) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM)
Metric	BABA	WSM
Total Return (1Y)	-35.96%	34.84%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	10.68%	54.88%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	-6.88%	22.98%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BABA

WSM

GSPC

Alibaba (BABA) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM), 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 Williams-Sonoma (WSM). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Williams-Sonoma (WSM) has an aggressive beta of 1.48, indicating higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, while Alibaba (BABA) is defensive at 0.39 and tends to be less market-sensitive — they sit on opposite ends of the beta spectrum.

Risk profile metrics for Alibaba (BABA) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM)
Metric	BABA	WSM
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	40.95%	34.01%
Beta (5Y)	0.39	1.48
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-62.51%	-51.92%
Avg. Volume (3M)	10.02M	1.10M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

BABA and WSM 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 Williams-Sonoma (WSM)
Metric	BABA	WSM
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.98	0.90
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-1.48	1.45

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 54.96% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Alibaba (BABA) at 6.36% is in the bottom quartile, showing a clear gap in returns on 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%

WSM

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

54.96%

Max: 62.17%
WSM: 54.96%
Q3: 29.44%
Median: 15.69%
Q1: 6.73%
Min: -12.16%

Alibaba (BABA) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM): A comparison of their ROE against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 14.73% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Alibaba (BABA) at 7.04%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

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%

WSM

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

14.73%

Max: 16.94%
WSM: 14.73%
Q3: 8.69%
Median: 3.55%
Q1: 1.14%
Min: -9.41%

Alibaba (BABA) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM): A comparison of their net margin against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 17.27% 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: 21.45%
Q3: 10.89%
BABA: 7.30%
Median: 5.57%
Q1: 2.28%
Min: -7.12%

WSM

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

17.27%

Max: 21.45%
WSM: 17.27%
Q3: 10.89%
Median: 5.57%
Q1: 2.28%
Min: -7.12%

Alibaba (BABA) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM): A comparison of their operating margin against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Alibaba (BABA) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM)
Metric	BABA	WSM
ROE (TTM)	6.36%	54.96%
ROA (TTM)	1.56%	16.64%
Net Margin (TTM)	7.04%	14.73%
Operating Margin (TTM)	7.30%	17.27%
Gross Margin (TTM)	38.20%	45.69%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Alibaba (BABA) at 2.74% and Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 1.24% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Alibaba (BABA) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Alibaba (BABA) at -17.91% and Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 0.57% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

Alibaba (BABA) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Alibaba (BABA) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM)
Metric	BABA	WSM
Revenue Growth (YoY)	2.74%	1.24%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	5.62%	-3.45%
EPS Growth (YoY)	-17.91%	0.57%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	17.05%	2.70%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Alibaba (BABA) at 1.36 and Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 1.45 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: 2.62
Q3: 1.75
BABA: 1.36
Median: 1.35
Q1: 1.00
Min: 0.48

WSM

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.45

Max: 2.62
Q3: 1.75
WSM: 1.45
Median: 1.35
Q1: 1.00
Min: 0.48

Alibaba (BABA) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM): A comparison of their current ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Alibaba (BABA) at 0.24 and Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 0.71 keep leverage in the lower quartile of their industries, with less balance-sheet debt relative to equity than most peers.

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

WSM

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.71

Max: 3.93
Q3: 2.14
Median: 1.25
Q1: 0.73
WSM: 0.71
Min: 0.01

Alibaba (BABA) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM): 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 Williams-Sonoma (WSM)
Metric	BABA	WSM
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.36	1.45
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	0.24	0.71
Net Debt / EBITDA	-1.20	0.30

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 1.10% pays an industry-typical yield; Alibaba (BABA) at 6.70% 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

6.70%

BABA: 6.70%
Max: 5.84%
Q3: 2.50%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

WSM

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

1.10%

Max: 5.84%
Q3: 2.50%
WSM: 1.10%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Alibaba (BABA) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Alibaba (BABA) at 25.44% and Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 29.13% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

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%

WSM

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

29.13%

Max: 72.73%
Q3: 32.44%
WSM: 29.13%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Alibaba (BABA) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Alibaba (BABA) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM)
Metric	BABA	WSM
Dividend Yield (TTM)	6.70%	1.10%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	25.44%	29.13%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Alibaba (BABA) at 26.50 and Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 26.06 sit in the richer earnings-multiple quartile for P/E ratio, so investors are paying more for TTM earnings than they pay for typical peers.

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

WSM

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

26.06

Max: 40.50
WSM: 26.06
Q3: 24.26
Median: 19.23
Q1: 12.64
Min: 4.67

Alibaba (BABA) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM): 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 looks cheap on sales in the lower P/S ratio quartile, while Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 3.74 looks rich in the upper quartile — a clear gap in price per dollar of revenue.

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

WSM

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

3.74

Max: 4.32
WSM: 3.74
Q3: 1.99
Median: 0.70
Q1: 0.26
Min: 0.03

Alibaba (BABA) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Alibaba (BABA) at 1.63 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Williams-Sonoma (WSM) at 13.98 prices above its benchmark range — WSM looks rich relative to book.

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

WSM

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

13.98

WSM: 13.98
Max: 10.96
Q3: 5.26
Median: 2.16
Q1: 1.08
Min: -4.45

Alibaba (BABA) vs. Williams-Sonoma (WSM): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Alibaba (BABA) and Williams-Sonoma (WSM)
Metric	BABA	WSM
P/E Ratio (TTM)	26.50	26.06
P/S Ratio (TTM)	0.26	3.74
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	1.63	13.98
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	-30.35%	3.57%