We recently compiled a list of the 7 Best E-commerce Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA) stands against the other e-commerce stocks to buy according to hedge funds.

The Retail Debreif: Growing Consumer Confidence in the US

E-commerce is growing faster than expected and as new avenues of selling online open up, companies are bound to keep up with trends and innovative strategies. According to a report by Forbes, the e-commerce industry is expected to grow to a valuation of $7.9 trillion by 2027 from $6.3 trillion in 2024. In 2027, 23% of retail purchases are expected to be made online, up from 20.1% in 2024.

In the United States, low-income households, with a yearly income of $50,000 or less, happened to spend the most on online spending compared to other groups. On October 17, Reuters reported that retail sales in September increased, as gas prices fell, allowing consumers to spend elsewhere. Overall, the average consumer in the United States spent mostly on clothing, health and personal care stores, and miscellaneous items. Amid rising consumer confidence and spending, the Atlanta Fed raised its GDP estimates for Q3 to 3.4%, up from a previous guidance of 3.2%. Overall, retail sales grew by 0.4% last month.

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Chinese E-commerce Platforms: A Threat or Opportunity?

Chinese e-commerce stocks have been on the rise, despite uncertain macro-economic conditions in the country. As the Chinese government attempts to stimulate the economy, these companies may perform better than expected, meaning other global e-commerce stocks will have to ramp up their investments in sustainable growth strategies. On October 21, Reuters reported that the world’s largest luxury brands in France and Italy reported a decline in quarterly sales as the growing second-hand and grey market for luxury goods in China continues to expand, and demand for luxury brands falls. The second-hand luxury goods market is estimated to be valued at $57 billion, fueled by platforms such as DeWu, where used luxury products are sold at discounted prices. Reuters estimates that DeWu reported a 19% increase across its 48 brands during Q2 2024. Since China makes up 25% of the revenues in the retail sector, consumers shifting to local platforms may cause a hit to global commerce and retail companies.

On October 9, Reuters reported that amid fierce market competition online shopping has been increasing in Europe and other parts of the world. The online shopping market in Europe is expected to reach EUR 958 billion in 2024, up from EUR 887 billion in 2023, representing an increase of 8%, or 5% in inflation-adjusted terms. However, e-commerce experts in Europe share concerns over the growing popularity of cheap e-commerce platforms, especially Temu, increasing competition for local brands. On the flip side, Temu states that it believes in supporting local brands and has invited local merchants in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain to join the platform.

The e-commerce industry is rapidly changing and growing, thanks to technology, macroeconomic conditions, and geopolitics. Despite the turmoil, some stocks continue to outperform others. That said, let’s take a look at the 7 best e-commerce stocks to buy according to hedge funds.

Our Methodology

To compile the list of the 7 best e-commerce stocks to buy according to hedge funds, we looked at holdings of e-commerce ETFs and screened for Internet Retail companies on the Finviz stock screener. We sorted our screen by market cap and looked at the 20 largest e-commerce companies. We picked stocks that were the most widely held by institutional investors, as of Q2 2024. The list is in ascending order of the number of hedge fund holders for each stock.

Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).

Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 91

Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA) is a technology and internet retail company that operates e-commerce sites that serve both consumers and small business owners, making it one of the best e-commerce stocks to buy according to hedge funds. The company also has stakes in cloud computing, logistics, digital media, and entertainment.

AliExpress is a popular retail site for mass consumers who can purchase all sorts of items such as appliances, office equipment, home improvement, and sports equipment, at an affordable price. The platform has over 150 million users and is present in 190 countries. On the supplier front, AliExpress now houses local merchants, allowing the company to meet the local needs of customers and maintain its market share. During the second quarter, the company also formed a partnership with a retailer in Brazil to open and operate a storefront on AliExpress and vice versa.

The company is focused on offering premium customer experiences through quality products at affordable prices. Its Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group segment grew its revenue by 32% year-over-year to reach $4.03 billion in the second quarter of 2024. Growth primarily came from its strategies targeted to achieve faster deliveries and enhanced shopping experiences, allowing users to source products from factories directly.

Alibaba Group’s (NYSE:BABA) platforms are used by more than 800 million people worldwide. It has a 40% share in the Chinese e-commerce market, as per estimates by the DBS Bank in Hong Kong, and is expected to experience growth amid economic turmoil and fierce competition.

Patient Capital Management stated the following regarding Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA) in its Q3 2024 investor letter:

“Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA) experienced a massive rebound gaining +47% in the quarter following the announced stimulus program from the Chinese government. As the unexpectedly strong government support was announced, shorts were reversed and any name exposed to China was off to the races. We have long liked Alibaba as the company has continued to trade at a significant discount to its sum-of-the-parts valuation. With most investors writing off Chinese companies entirely, you had an opportunity to invest in a high-quality business at rock bottom prices. Over that time, the company initiated both a dividend (0.9% Yield) and buyback program, repurchasing 9% of shares outstanding over the last twelve months. Despite the strong move in the quarter, the company trades at just 12.4x next-year’s earnings. We see potential for continued multiple expansion as the Chinese economy rebounds and the country becomes investable again.”

Overall BABA ranks 3rd among the 7 best e-commerce stocks to buy according to hedge funds. While we acknowledge the potential of BABA as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than BABA but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.