Topic: How To Invest

Q: Hi Pat: What are your thoughts on Alibaba? Thanks.

Article Excerpt

A: Alibaba Group Holding (ADR), $188.28, symbol BABA on New York (ADRs outstanding: 2.6 billion; Market cap: $480.1 billion, www.alibaba.com), raised a total of $25 billion in late 2014 with its IPO, or Initial Public Offering. That figure was a world record for a new issue. Alibaba’s new issue price was $68 a share, but it opened for public trading at $92. The shares are now trading well above the IPO price. Through its subsidiaries, Alibaba operates as an online and mobile commerce company in China and internationally. It is the largest such company in the world in terms of gross merchandise volume. Its major businesses include Taobao Marketplace (China’s largest online shopping destination); Tmall.com (third-party platform for brands and retailers); Juhuasuan (online group buying marketplace); and Alitrip (online travel booking platform). The company’s mobile operations should position it to stay competitive and keep growing regardless of fluctuations in the Chinese economy. However, Alibaba’s Chinese location adds to its risk. Foreign stock market…