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Is Alibaba's "All Others" Revenues Becoming a Drag on Growth?
ZACKS· 2026-01-27 18:25
Core Insights - Alibaba is experiencing revenue growth challenges primarily due to a decline in its "All Others" segment, which saw a 25% year-over-year drop in Q2 FY26, making it the only segment to contract while core businesses continued to grow [2][11] Revenue Performance - The decline in the "All Others" segment is attributed to the disposal of Sun Art and Intime, alongside weaker performance from Cainiao, Alibaba's logistics arm [3][11] - Despite growth in Freshippo, Alibaba Health, and Amap, these gains were insufficient to offset the overall slowdown in the segment, which has become a drag on consolidated growth [3][5] Profitability Impact - Losses in the "All Others" segment have widened as Alibaba increased investments in technology and AI initiatives, putting additional pressure on overall group profitability [4][11] - The segment's revenues are primarily derived from direct sales and logistics services, which tend to have thinner margins and greater volatility, amplifying their impact on financial results [4] Competitive Landscape - Alibaba's logistics business is facing heightened competition from JD Logistics and Amazon Logistics, which are expanding their fulfillment and delivery capabilities [6][8] - JD Logistics reported over 24% revenue growth year-over-year in Q3 FY25, leveraging its self-owned infrastructure for better control over delivery times and costs compared to Alibaba's partner-driven model [7] - Amazon Logistics is enhancing its operational edge through significant investments in automation and infrastructure, offering faster delivery options that challenge Alibaba's logistics services [8] Stock Performance and Valuation - Alibaba's shares have increased by 40.3% over the past six months, outperforming the Zacks Internet – Commerce industry and the Zacks Retail-Wholesale sector, which grew by 2.2% and 5% respectively [9] - The stock is currently trading at a forward Price/Earnings ratio of 20.66X, lower than the industry's 25.02X, indicating a relatively undervalued position [13] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 earnings is projected at $6.05 per share, reflecting a 32.85% year-over-year decline [16]
3 Reasons to Hold FVRR Stock Despite a 34% Decline in 6 Months
ZACKS· 2026-01-27 18:10
Key Takeaways FVRR expects 2025 revenues of $428-$436M, implying 9-11% growth with about a 21% adjusted EBITDA margin.FVRR's Dynamic Matching and Managed Services use AI to support complex, higher-value projects.The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FVRR's 2025 earnings is pegged at $2.9 per share, implying 21.85% growth.Fiverr International (FVRR) shares have declined 34.1% over the trailing 6 months, underperforming the Zacks Retail-Wholesale sector’s 5.3% return and the Zacks Internet – Commerce industry’s 2. ...
Emerging Markets Show Strong Growth: Will AMZN Stock Benefit?
ZACKS· 2026-01-21 15:50
Core Insights - Amazon.com (AMZN) is increasingly focusing on emerging markets as a key growth driver, with international operations still underpenetrated compared to North America, but showing strong demand for e-commerce, digital payments, and cloud services [1][2] Group 1: Growth Potential in Emerging Markets - Emerging market fundamentals favor Amazon's growth, with rising smartphone penetration, expanding middle-class populations, and improving digital payment infrastructure supporting e-commerce adoption [2] - In Q3 2025, Amazon's international segment generated $40.9 billion in revenues, reflecting a 10% year-over-year growth, excluding foreign exchange [2] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Amazon's international revenues in fiscal 2026 is $160.51 billion, representing a 12.31% year-over-year increase, indicating strong growth potential from emerging markets [4][9] Group 2: Competitive Advantages - Amazon's operational improvements, such as reduced inbound lead times and enhanced fulfillment efficiency, provide scalable solutions for emerging market logistics challenges [3] - Amazon's diversified business model across e-commerce, cloud infrastructure, and advertising offers revenue streams that competitors like Sea Limited and MercadoLibre cannot replicate [6] - Amazon's established logistics network and operational discipline support sustained profitability, contrasting with the challenges faced by regional competitors [6] Group 3: Market Position and Valuation - Amazon's shares have returned 1.5% over the past six months, underperforming compared to the Zacks Internet – Commerce industry and the Zacks Retail-Wholesale sector [7] - The stock appears overvalued, trading at a forward 12-month price/earnings ratio of 29.01X, higher than the industry's 24.95X, with a Value Score of D [10] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Amazon's 2025 earnings is $7.17 per share, indicating a 29.66% increase from the previous year [12]
Alibaba Pushes Quick Commerce Hard: Is Margin Pressure Mounting?
ZACKS· 2026-01-19 19:00
Core Insights - Alibaba (BABA) is focusing on quick commerce as a significant growth driver, with revenues increasing by 60% year-over-year in Q2 of fiscal 2026, attributed to strong order momentum and the expansion of Taobao Instant Commerce [1][9] - The company is facing challenges in profitability due to heavy spending on subsidies, logistics, and user experience, particularly in the China e-commerce segment, which saw EBITA decline by 76% year-over-year in Q2 of fiscal 2026 [2][9] - Sales and marketing expenses have surged to nearly 27% of revenues, reflecting intense competition in the instant delivery and local commerce markets, while cash flow has deteriorated due to ongoing investments in quick commerce [3][9] Financial Performance - The adjusted EBITA is expected to fluctuate in the coming quarters due to high competition and investment levels, indicating that margin pressure may persist longer than anticipated [4] - BABA shares have increased by 37.5% over the past six months, outperforming the Zacks Internet – Commerce industry growth of 3.1% and the Zacks Retail-Wholesale sector growth of 6.4% [7] - The current forward 12-month Price/Earnings ratio for BABA is 20.04X, compared to the industry's 24.97X, with a Value Score of F [11] Competitive Landscape - JD.com poses significant competition to Alibaba with a self-operated, price-competitive model, achieving a revenue growth of 14.9% to RMB299.1 billion in Q3 of 2025, despite higher logistics costs [5] - PDD Holdings intensifies competition through a low-cost, social commerce model, demonstrating strong revenue growth and net income gains, which pressures Alibaba's core platforms [6] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 earnings is $6.10 per share, reflecting a 32.3% year-over-year decline and a 5% decrease over the past 30 days [14]
Is Alibaba's Cash Flow Pressure Making Its Growth Strategy Riskier?
ZACKS· 2026-01-13 17:15
Core Insights - Alibaba's cash flow strain highlights risks in its expansion-led strategy, with a widening gap between revenue growth and cash generation [2][10] - Heavy investments in AI and cloud infrastructure are a major contributor to cash flow pressure, with approximately RMB120 billion spent on capital expenditures over the past four quarters [3][10] - The company's rapid push into quick commerce boosts revenues but negatively impacts margins due to logistics costs and high customer acquisition spending [3][4] Financial Performance - Alibaba's September quarter results showed a significant drop in operating cash flow and a large free cash flow outflow, indicating the capital-intensive nature of its current expansion phase [2][10] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate suggests limited mid-single-digit revenue growth of 5.75% in fiscal 2026, raising concerns about the long-term viability of its strategy [5] Competitive Landscape - JD.com demonstrates stronger cash flow management through a supply-chain-focused model, achieving solid revenue growth and improved retail margins despite heavy logistics investments [6] - PDD Holdings utilizes an asset-light marketplace model, generating strong operating cash flow and maintaining a large cash balance, which provides financial flexibility [7] Valuation Metrics - Alibaba's stock is currently trading at a forward Price/Earnings ratio of 19.13X, lower than the industry's 25.48X, indicating a potential undervaluation [12] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 earnings is $6.42 per share, reflecting a 28.8% year-over-year decline [15]
Will Alibaba Stock Recover Amid Slowing E-Commerce Market Momentum?
ZACKS· 2025-12-30 17:05
Core Insights - Alibaba (BABA) is facing ongoing challenges in its core e-commerce operations despite a strategic shift towards artificial intelligence investments [2] - The company reported a 5% year-over-year revenue growth to RMB247.8 billion in Q2 FY26, but profitability metrics have significantly deteriorated [2][9] Financial Performance - Non-GAAP earnings fell 71% year-over-year to RMB4.36 per American Depositary Share, underperforming analyst expectations by approximately 20% [3] - Operating income dropped 85% from RMB35.2 billion to RMB5.4 billion, indicating severe margin compression due to strategic investments [3] Competitive Landscape - The China commerce segment is experiencing heightened competition from PDD Holdings, ByteDance's Douyin, and JD.com, leading to costly defensive strategies for Alibaba [4] - Local e-commerce revenues grew 16% in Q2 FY26, supported by government consumption stimulus, but this growth necessitated increased marketing expenditures and aggressive subsidies [4] Strategic Investments - Alibaba announced plans to expand its instant commerce infrastructure through its Cainiao logistics arm, with new or expanded warehouses in 31 cities by January 2026 [5] - The company reported negative free cash flow of RMB21.8 billion last quarter, driven by an 80% year-over-year increase in capital spending, raising concerns about sustaining investments in AI and logistics [5] Rival Developments - Amazon has rapidly expanded its quick commerce operations, establishing over 300 micro-fulfillment centers in India, with a 25% month-over-month growth in daily orders since September 2025 [6] - JD.com surpassed 700 million annual active customers, achieving significant growth in its JD NOW instant retail platform, contrasting with Alibaba's mounting losses [7] Market Positioning - Both Amazon and JD.com face similar infrastructure cost pressures as Alibaba but are better positioned to absorb these expenses due to stronger profitability and disciplined capital allocation [8] - Alibaba's stock has surged 30.3% over the past six months, outperforming the Zacks Internet – Commerce industry and the Zacks Retail-Wholesale sector [10] Valuation Metrics - Alibaba's stock is currently trading at a forward 12-month price/sales ratio of 2.23X, compared to the industry's 2.14X, with a Value Score of D [13] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 earnings is projected at $6.42 per share, indicating a 28.7% year-over-year decline [16]
Is Amazon Stock Poised to Rally With AI Expansion in Cloud & Retail?
ZACKS· 2025-12-23 16:26
Core Insights - Amazon's stock is poised for upward momentum due to accelerated artificial intelligence deployment across its cloud and retail operations, enhancing both revenue streams simultaneously [2] Financial Performance - Amazon reported third-quarter revenues of $180.2 billion, reflecting a 12% year-over-year growth, with Amazon Web Services (AWS) achieving a 20.2% growth, marking its strongest expansion in 11 quarters [3][10] - Fourth-quarter guidance projects revenues between $206 billion and $213 billion, indicating a growth rate of 10-13% [6] Investment and AI Initiatives - The company plans capital expenditures of approximately $125 billion for 2025, with further increases anticipated for 2026, highlighting aggressive investment in AI infrastructure [3] - The AWS re:Invent conference showcased innovations such as Trainium3 chips and Project Rainier, reinforcing Amazon's leadership in enterprise AI [4] Retail Operations and AI Integration - AI integration in retail operations has led to the Rufus shopping assistant reaching 250 million active users, who exhibit 60% higher purchase completion rates [5] - The Buy for Me service has expanded to over 500,000 products, while AI tools for sellers automate complex operations [5] Competitive Landscape - Alibaba and Google are also experiencing significant AI-driven cloud expansion, with both achieving 34% year-over-year growth in their respective third-quarter periods [7] - Alibaba plans to invest 380 billion yuan in AI infrastructure over three years, while Google anticipates $91 billion-$93 billion in capital expenditures for 2025 [7] Share Price and Valuation - Amazon shares have returned 7.4% over the past six months, outperforming the Zacks Internet – Commerce industry and the Zacks Retail-Wholesale sector [8] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Amazon's 2025 earnings is $7.17 per share, reflecting a 29.66% increase from the previous year [13] - Amazon's stock is currently trading at a forward price/earnings ratio of 29.16X, which is higher than the industry's 23.99X, indicating it may be overvalued [14]
Alibaba's AI Push Drives E-Commerce Growth: More Upside Ahead?
ZACKS· 2025-11-17 16:41
Core Insights - Alibaba Group's aggressive shift towards artificial intelligence is facing skepticism from investors regarding the sustainability of profitability from its technology investments [1][9] - The company is experiencing growth in its e-commerce ecosystem, but rising costs and execution risks are clouding the outlook for meaningful returns [1] AI Strategy and Developments - Alibaba.com is set to launch AI Mode in November 2025, aiming to leverage generative AI in B2B commerce, with European order volume increasing by 57% year-over-year and active suppliers growing by 50% [2] - The planned AI subscription service, priced at $20 monthly or $99 annually, is an attempt to generate revenue in a competitive landscape where rivals are offering similar services for free [3] - Recent rebranding of the Tongyi app to Qwen and the integration of AI features into Taobao highlight Alibaba's efforts to stand out in a crowded AI market [4] Competitive Landscape - JD.com has made significant investments in AI, with over $280 million directed towards AI robotics startups and a user base exceeding 700 million [6] - Amazon is expanding its AI capabilities with features like the Rufus shopping assistant and Project Amelia, positioning itself as a strong competitor in both e-commerce and enterprise AI [6] Financial Performance and Valuation - Alibaba's shares have increased by 81.4% year-to-date, outperforming the Zacks Internet – Commerce industry and the Zacks Retail-Wholesale sector [7] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 earnings is projected at $6.57 per share, indicating a year-over-year decline of 27.08% [12] - Alibaba's stock is trading at a forward price/sales ratio of 2.37X, slightly above the industry average of 2.36X, with a Value Score of D [15]
Are Amazon's Subscription Services Becoming a Long-Term Growth Engine?
ZACKS· 2025-10-16 17:15
Core Insights - Amazon's subscription services, particularly Prime, are emerging as a key growth driver, with a focus on long-term profitability through enhanced content and bundled offerings [1][4][9] Subscription Services Growth - The subscription segment includes Prime memberships, digital video, audiobooks, digital music, and e-books, contributing to stable revenue growth [1] - Prime Day 2025 set new records for sales and member sign-ups, indicating the strength of Amazon's subscription model [1] New Initiatives and Customization - Amazon has introduced new initiatives to enhance Prime's value, including global rollout of Prime Video advertising and ad-free upgrade tiers, which are increasing average revenue per user [2] - Customization options for the Subscribe & Save program allow sellers to tailor discounts and delivery schedules, fostering customer loyalty and steady revenues [2] Live Sports Engagement - Live sports, such as NASCAR broadcasts attracting around 2 million viewers per race, are expanding Prime's reach and engagement [3] AI and Automation Enhancements - The introduction of Alexa+, a generative AI-powered service for Prime members, is enhancing the personalized experience [4] - Prime Lite has been launched in markets like India to make membership more accessible [4] Competitive Landscape - Walmart's Walmart+ is emerging as a strong competitor to Amazon Prime, offering lower prices and leveraging its store network for faster fulfillment [5] - Netflix remains a dominant player in subscription streaming, with 300 million global subscribers and a focus on original content and advertising [6] Financial Performance and Valuation - Amazon's stock has underperformed, falling 1.7% year-to-date compared to industry growth of 6% and 5.6% in the retail-wholesale sector [7] - The stock is trading at a premium with a forward price/sales ratio of 3.01X, above the industry's 2.23X [10] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Amazon's 2025 earnings is $6.81 per share, reflecting a 22.15% increase from the previous year [13]
Can BABA's Heavy Spending on Quick Commerce Yield Long-Term Return?
ZACKS· 2025-10-14 16:11
Core Insights - Alibaba's aggressive investment in quick commerce is showing promising results, with a 12% year-over-year revenue growth in the first quarter of fiscal 2026, driven by Taobao Instant Commerce [1][9] - The platform has significantly increased user engagement, achieving over 80 million average daily orders and nearly 300 million monthly active consumers, contributing to a 25% rise in Taobao's MAUs [1][9] - However, this expansion has negatively impacted profitability, with adjusted EBITDA declining by 14% year-over-year and free cash flow turning negative due to high capital demands [2][9] Financial Performance - The quick commerce segment's revenue growth is supported by a large addressable market of 30 trillion RMB, with consensus estimates predicting 5% revenue growth in fiscal 2026 and 12% in fiscal 2027 [4] - BABA shares have increased by 96.7% year-to-date, outperforming the Zacks Internet – Commerce industry and the Zacks Retail-Wholesale sector, which grew by 5.1% and 3.3%, respectively [7] Competitive Landscape - JD.com is a key competitor, rapidly expanding its JD NOW service and ensuring faster fulfillment through its advanced logistics network, although this could pressure its margins due to heavy investments [5] - PDD Holdings is emerging as a strong challenger with its asset-light model, focusing on affordability and social commerce, which poses a strategic threat to Alibaba's capital-intensive approach [6] Valuation Metrics - Alibaba's stock is currently trading at a forward 12-month Price/Earnings ratio of 18.11X, compared to the industry's 23.14X, indicating a relative undervaluation [10] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 earnings is $6.97 per share, reflecting a 22.64% year-over-year decline [13]