Core Insights - Alibaba has launched its first smart glasses, the Quark AI Glasses, which integrate its AI models and feature a camera and display [1][2][3] Product Details - The Quark AI Glasses come in two variants: the S1 priced at 3,799 Chinese yuan ($536) and the G1 at 1,899 yuan [2] - Key features include on-the-go translation, AI-generated meeting notes, and the ability to identify product prices on Taobao using the camera [3] Market Context - The smart glasses market is expected to grow rapidly, with shipments projected to exceed 10 million units by 2026, doubling from 2025 [5] - Alibaba's entry into the smart glasses market positions it against domestic competitors like Xiaomi and Xreal [5] Competitive Landscape - Other tech companies, such as Meta, are also investing in smart glasses, indicating a trend towards consumer AI devices [4] - Alibaba's Qwen app, similar to ChatGPT, achieved 10 million downloads in its first week, showcasing strong consumer interest in AI products [6] Strategic Positioning - Alibaba is focusing on consumer AI as part of its growth strategy, alongside its cloud computing business, which has seen accelerated growth [6][7] - The company is recognized as a leader in China's AI sector, competing with major players like Baidu and Tencent [7]

BUY Ronald Keung, CFA +852-2978-0856 | ronald.keung@gs.com Goldman Sachs (Asia) L.L.C. Steve Qiu 26 November 2025 | 4:25AM HKT Equity Research Alibaba Group (BABA) 2QFY26 review: Cloud/CapEx beat reinforces the AI-driven narrative despite slower eCommerce; Buy | BABA | 12m Price Target: $197.00 | Price: $160.73 | Upside: 22.6% | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 9988.HK | 12m Price Target: HK$192.00 | Price: HK$157.80 | Upside: 21.7% | Alibaba reported a solid beat in cloud growth (+34% yoy) and AI capex intensit ...

Alibaba’s latest earnings report shows the Chinese tech megacap leaning hard into the two engines that management believes will define its future — namely, "instant commerce" and AI. And those bets are starting to pay off. For the quarter ended September 30, Alibaba reported 15% revenue growth over last year, excluding its divested retail operations — making for one of its strongest showings in recent memory. The company credited growth in consumer activity and its expansion into one-hour delivery, a much ...

Core Insights - Alibaba Group has entered an investment phase focusing on AI technologies and infrastructure, leading to strong growth in its AI + Cloud and consumption businesses, with Cloud Intelligence Group revenue up 34% and AI-related product revenue achieving triple-digit growth for the ninth consecutive quarter [2][3] Financial Performance - For the quarter ended September 30, 2025, Alibaba reported revenue of RMB247,795 million (US$34,808 million), a 5% year-over-year increase, with a like-for-like growth of 15% excluding disposed businesses [4][23] - Income from operations decreased by 85% year-over-year to RMB5,365 million (US$754 million), primarily due to a significant drop in adjusted EBITA, which fell 78% to RMB9,073 million (US$1,274 million) [4][51] - Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders was RMB20,990 million (US$2,948 million), a 52% decrease year-over-year, while non-GAAP net income dropped 72% to RMB10,352 million (US$1,454 million) [4][59] - Diluted earnings per ADS were RMB8.75 (US$1.23), down 52% year-over-year, with non-GAAP diluted earnings per ADS at RMB4.36 (US$0.61), a 71% decrease [4][61] Segment Performance - Alibaba China E-commerce Group revenue increased by 16% year-over-year to RMB132,578 million (US$18,623 million), with customer management revenue up 10% [27][31] - Quick commerce revenue surged 60% year-over-year to RMB22,906 million (US$3,217 million), driven by order growth from "Taobao Instant Commerce" [31][34] - Cloud Intelligence Group revenue grew 34% year-over-year to RMB39,824 million (US$5,594 million), with public cloud revenue growth attributed to the adoption of AI-related products [36][17] - The All Others segment saw a 25% revenue decline to RMB62,969 million (US$8,846 million), primarily due to the disposal of Sun Art and Intime businesses [38] Strategic Initiatives - The company is focusing on enhancing user experience and operational efficiency in its quick commerce business, onboarding approximately 3,500 Tmall brands to improve product offerings [9] - Alibaba Cloud continues to lead the AI cloud market in China with a 35.8% market share, driven by comprehensive AI capabilities and strong customer adoption [19][17] Cash Flow and Investments - Net cash provided by operating activities was RMB10,099 million (US$1,419 million), a 68% decrease year-over-year, while free cash flow was an outflow of RMB21,840 million (US$3,068 million) [64] - As of September 30, 2025, cash and other liquid investments totaled RMB573,889 million (US$80,614 million) [5]

Group 1 - The expansion of the AI market has led to significant increases in American tech stocks, pushing the S&P 500's valuations higher [1][2] - The S&P 500 is currently trading at 30 times earnings, well above its historical average of 20 times over the past two decades, indicating potential for a market correction [2] - Investors are advised to consider undervalued Chinese tech stocks instead of chasing high-flying U.S. tech stocks, as many Chinese companies continue to grow despite current market pressures [3] Group 2 - Alibaba, a leading Chinese e-commerce and cloud infrastructure company, has seen its stock rise approximately 80% this year but remains 50% below its all-time high, trading at 18 times next year's earnings [4][9] - The company faced significant challenges due to a crackdown by Chinese regulators in 2021, which included a record fine of $2.8 billion and restrictions on its business practices [6] - Despite a revenue growth of 19% in fiscal 2022, Alibaba's revenue growth slowed to just 2% in fiscal 2023, leading to concerns about its growth potential [8]

Coatue Management's billionaire boss is making eyebrow-raising moves in the AI arena.In case you missed it, one of the most important data releases of the entire fourth quarter occurred on Friday, Nov. 14.While you might have been eager to clock out or start your weekend early, institutional investors with at least $100 million in assets under management (AUM) were filing Form 13F with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This required filing, due no later than Nov. 14, concisely lays out which stocks, e ...

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]

Summary of the Conference Call on China's E-commerce Industry Industry Overview - The conference call discusses the e-commerce sector in China, particularly focusing on the Singles' Day shopping festival and its implications for online retail growth and consumer behavior. Key Highlights from Singles' Day Festival 1. **GMV Growth and Parcel Volume**: - Estimated gross merchandise value (GMV) growth of approximately 10% during the Singles' Day festival period from November 1 to November 11, with parcel volume growth of about 9% year-over-year (yoy) [2][8][36]. - The growth rate for parcel volume has moderated compared to the previous year, which saw a 21% increase [2]. 2. **Impact of National Subsidies**: - The fourth batch of national subsidies, totaling RMB 69 billion, was rolled out on October 1, contributing to the overall GMV growth [8][13]. - The subsidies are expected to have a diminishing impact in 4Q25 due to a high base effect from the previous year [13]. 3. **Performance of Major E-commerce Players**: - Alibaba (BABA) reported an 8% growth in GMV, while JD.com (JD) saw a 7% increase in GMV and a 40% increase in active buyers [16]. - Pinduoduo (PDD) emphasized its everyday low price strategy, achieving a 12% GMV growth during the festival [16]. 4. **Shift to Online Services**: - Online services GMV grew by 27% in October, indicating a shift in consumer spending towards services rather than goods [1]. 5. **AI Integration in E-commerce**: - Significant adoption of AI tools by major platforms, with Alibaba rolling out six AI tools that improved click-through rates (CTR) by 10% and merchant return on investment (ROI) by 12% [10]. Additional Insights - **Consumer Behavior Trends**: - There is a noted decline in home appliance sales, down 15% yoy, while communication devices saw a robust growth of 23% yoy [1][54]. - The overall retail sales growth was 2.9% yoy in October, aligning with expectations [1]. - **Quick Commerce Growth**: - Quick commerce GMV increased by 138.4% yoy, with platforms like Meituan and JD seeing substantial growth in their respective categories [12]. - **Market Competition**: - The competition in the quick commerce sector is intensifying, with expectations of a fragmented long-term landscape as companies focus on improving unit economics [12]. - **Sustainability of Growth**: - Concerns regarding the sustainability of national trade-in subsidies and their impact on appliance sales moving forward [13]. Conclusion - The e-commerce sector in China is experiencing a normalization in growth rates post-Singles' Day, with significant shifts towards online services and AI integration. The competitive landscape remains dynamic, with major players adapting their strategies to maintain market share amidst changing consumer preferences and regulatory pressures.

Core Insights - Alibaba Group Holding is redesigning its flagship mobile AI app to resemble OpenAI's ChatGPT, aiming to enhance its competitive position against major Asian rivals [2][4] - The app will be renamed Qwen and will integrate more agent-style capabilities to facilitate shopping across Alibaba's services [3][6] - The long-term goal is to develop Qwen into a fully capable AI agent, with plans for an international version and significant internal resources allocated for the redesign [5][9] E-commerce Integration - Alibaba is leveraging its traditional strength in e-commerce to attract users to the revamped Qwen app, especially as the e-commerce landscape shifts towards AI-driven models [6][7] - The app will initially remain free, with potential for future monetization as the user base grows [7] Payment Infrastructure - Alibaba is overhauling cross-border payment systems within its $35 billion e-commerce ecosystem, focusing on tokenization to enhance global settlement processes [8][9] - A new payment network utilizing a tokenized, stablecoin-like system for international B2B transactions is expected to launch by the end of the year [9] AI Growth and Performance - Alibaba has reported significant growth in AI-related offerings, with its cloud business becoming the fastest-growing division [10]

Core Insights - Alibaba and Baidu are leading players in China's tech sector, with Alibaba focusing on e-commerce and cloud services, while Baidu specializes in online search and video streaming [1][2] Company Overview - Alibaba's revenue primarily comes from its online marketplaces, Taobao and Tmall, with a smaller portion from its cloud business, which has lower margins [3] - Baidu generates most of its revenue from online advertising, including search and video ads, with a growing but still minor contribution from its AI Cloud platform [7] Market Challenges - Alibaba faces regulatory challenges and competition from smaller e-commerce rivals due to antitrust regulations that limit its business practices [4] - Baidu is under pressure from competitors like Tencent's WeChat and ByteDance's Douyin, which are attracting younger users and diversifying their services [8] Growth Prospects - Analysts project Alibaba's revenue and earnings per share (EPS) to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8% and 12%, respectively, from fiscal 2025 to fiscal 2028, driven by AI enhancements and logistics improvements [11] - In contrast, Baidu's revenue is expected to grow at a CAGR of only 3% from 2024 to 2027, with EPS projected to decline at a negative CAGR of 5% due to unprofitable service expansions [13] Investment Outlook - Alibaba is viewed as a better investment opportunity compared to Baidu, as its strategy appears more sustainable despite both companies sacrificing near-term margins for long-term growth [14][15] - Alibaba's valuation is considered reasonable at 20 times next year's earnings, while Baidu's stock does not seem like a bargain at 19 times next year's earnings [12][13]