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Relative Intelligence · E-Commerce

How Alibaba Group Holding (BABA) compares with the whole market and its popular alternatives

Built by QuantCommons' quantitative engine, this page is about relative opportunity, not data on BABA alone. It places BABA (Alibaba Group Holding Limited) against 19 popular alternatives, its neighboring categories and the entire market of over 10,000 U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs, and surfaces what has done better on consistent outperformance, return for the risk taken, behavior in real market crashes and diversification. The result is a clearer view of where BABA stands in the market, and of the alternatives worth a closer look.

Period covered: BABA's full trading record, from September 2014 through September 2026. The crash tests reach back to 2000 using older funds and the S&P 500. All returns include reinvested dividends. Data as of October 20, 2026.

Data as of October 20, 2026. Full tables and charts read best on a larger screen.

Rank the market against BABA →Chart BABA vs. 19 alternatives →
On this page12 sections

Key findings

How much would $10,000 in BABA have grown?

This chart tracks a hypothetical $10,000 investment in BABA over the past 12 years, with dividends reinvested, alongside the same amount in the S&P 500, investments that ended ahead of BABA over the same span and BABA's popular alternatives, among those that traded for the entire period. A second view covers the past 5 years, the period the better options further down the page are judged on. It shows not only where each investment ended up but also how smooth or uneven the path was.

Note: BABA began trading on September 19, 2014, so the chart cannot reach back to the dot-com bust, the 2008 financial crisis or two other sell-offs. It covers the most recent 12 years of BABA's record, starting at the end of September 2014.

Choose a period

From the end of September 2014 to the end of September 2026. The scale is logarithmic, so equal steps up the chart are equal percentage gains. Hover over a fund in the key to pick out its line. 1,985 of the 2,461 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that traded the whole period ended ahead of BABA; the chart shows 5, closest alternatives first. The other 3 lines are popular alternatives, shown for context.

$5,000$10,000$20,000$50,000$100,000$200,0002014201620182020202220242026$10,000$100,00020142017202020232026
  • MELI$160,911+1,509% total · +26.1% a year
  • AMZN$154,555+1,446% total · +25.6% a year
  • WMT$50,917+409% total · +14.5% a year
  • EBAY$50,477+405% total · +14.4% a year
  • SPY (S&P 500)$47,240+372% total · +13.8% a year
  • TCOM$13,840+38.4% total · +2.7% a year
  • MCHI$13,777+37.8% total · +2.7% a year
  • BABA$12,859+28.6% total · +2.1% a year
  • JD$11,739+17.4% total · +1.3% a year
  • VIPS$7,324−26.8% total · −2.6% a year
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From the end of September 2021 to the end of September 2026. The scale is logarithmic, so equal steps up the chart are equal percentage gains. Hover over a fund in the key to pick out its line. 2,946 of the 3,628 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that traded the whole period ended ahead of BABA; the chart shows 5, closest alternatives first. The other 3 lines are popular alternatives, shown for context.

$2,000$5,000$10,000$20,000202120222023202420252026$2,000$5,000$10,000$20,000202120222023202420252026
  • WMT$23,813+138% total · +18.9% a year
  • SPY (S&P 500)$19,000+90.0% total · +13.7% a year
  • EBAY$16,622+66.2% total · +10.7% a year
  • AMZN$15,169+51.7% total · +8.7% a year
  • SHOP$10,938+9.4% total · +1.8% a year
  • MELI$10,293+2.9% total · +0.6% a year
  • MCHI$8,654−13.5% total · −2.8% a year
  • BABA$7,717−22.8% total · −5.1% a year
  • ZTO$7,142−28.6% total · −6.5% a year
  • W$4,014−59.9% total · −16.7% a year
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BABA at a glance

This section summarizes the key facts about the stock, its returns over periods from one to ten years and the risk it has carried, with dividends reinvested throughout. These figures serve as the baseline for every comparison that follows.

Note: BABA began trading on September 19, 2014, so every figure here, including its worst decline, covers only the time since then. None of them reflect the dot-com bust, the 2008 financial crisis or two other sell-offs.

The company

Market value
$270B
Industry
Specialty Retail
Price history from
September 2014

Returns

Past 1 year
−36.8%total return
Past 3 years
+44.5%+13.0% a year
Past 5 years
−34.8%−8.2% a year
Past 10 years
+11.2%+1.1% a year
Best calendar year
+96.4%2017
Worst calendar year
−49.0%2021
Losing years
5 of 11full calendar years

Risk

Volatility
51.3%typical yearly swing, 5 years
Sharpe ratio
0.08return per unit of risk, 5 years
Worst decline ever
−80.1%Oct 2020 to Oct 2022
From its all-time high
−63.6%below the peak

BABA against the whole market

Where BABA ranks among every stock and fund, and what across the market has done better.

How does BABA rank among all stocks?

This section ranks BABA on return, volatility, risk-adjusted return and worst decline against every stock worth at least $300 million with enough history. Where the comparisons with its popular alternatives show how BABA stacks up against its peers, these rankings show where it stands in the market as a whole.

Ranked against U.S.-listed stocks worth at least $300M that have enough history for each measure, so the count changes from row to row; smaller stocks are left out. Lower volatility and smaller declines rank higher.

MeasureBABARankStanding
1-year return−36.8%2,951 of 3,287bottom 11%
3-year return+44.5%1,635 of 3,017bottom 47%
5-year return−34.8%2,229 of 2,893bottom 24%
10-year return+11.2%1,763 of 2,202bottom 21%
Volatility, 5 years51.3%1,974 of 2,893bottom 33%
Sharpe ratio, 5 years0.082,160 of 2,893bottom 26%
Worst decline, past 10 years−80.1%1,644 of 2,187bottom 26%

What has beaten BABA on both return and risk?

Each dot is an investment, placed by how much it earned a year over the past 5 years (higher is better) and how much its price swung, its volatility (further left is calmer). BABA sits where the dashed lines cross. Anything in the green box above and to the left earned more than BABA with smaller swings, a better trade-off over this period on both counts. Past results are no promise, but a name in the box is worth a closer look.

Annual return is the annualized total return with dividends reinvested, and volatility the annualized swing in daily prices, both over 5 years. Labeled dots are the strongest picks from the table below and the names called out above, colored by how close they sit to BABA; faint dots are 92 more of the 2,550 in the green region (the strongest, one per fund family). 3,633 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million were screened. Hover over a dot for its figures.

−10.0%0.0%10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%60.0%−20.0%0.0%20.0%40.0%60.0%80.0%100%Volatility over 5 years (annualized)Annual return over 5 yearsMore return, less volatility than BABAFLOT: +4.5% a year, volatility 1.8%VTIP: +2.7% a year, volatility 2.9%VZ: +2.7% a year, volatility 22.9%RY: +17.3% a year, volatility 18.2%PBR-A: +51.8% a year, volatility 37.5%BSV: +1.7% a year, volatility 2.8%VCSH: +2.3% a year, volatility 2.9%HWM: +47.3% a year, volatility 32.5%CAH: +42.1% a year, volatility 24.7%AAPL: +18.5% a year, volatility 28.0%SHY: +1.8% a year, volatility 2.0%FLTR: +4.8% a year, volatility 2.1%CHT: +7.7% a year, volatility 13.3%FLRN: +4.5% a year, volatility 1.7%KR: +12.3% a year, volatility 27.3%AVGO: +48.3% a year, volatility 44.5%TSM: +31.5% a year, volatility 38.5%VTI: +11.5% a year, volatility 17.5%SUB: +1.4% a year, volatility 1.7%RAVI: +3.8% a year, volatility 1.4%MEAR: +2.4% a year, volatility 1.0%VOO: +12.8% a year, volatility 16.9%LMBS: +3.0% a year, volatility 2.6%BRK-B: +13.4% a year, volatility 17.1%CRS: +63.9% a year, volatility 46.5%XOM: +27.1% a year, volatility 26.5%SHYG: +4.5% a year, volatility 5.8%SJM: +4.8% a year, volatility 25.1%JPM: +17.3% a year, volatility 24.3%ABBV: +26.1% a year, volatility 23.4%CCZ: +2.6% a year, volatility 23.0%ERIE: +6.3% a year, volatility 31.4%HSBC: +33.1% a year, volatility 25.9%JNJ: +12.7% a year, volatility 17.9%V: +12.8% a year, volatility 22.9%DXJ: +26.6% a year, volatility 19.1%LVHI: +17.0% a year, volatility 11.1%KO: +14.7% a year, volatility 16.8%CVX: +19.5% a year, volatility 25.2%CAT: +31.1% a year, volatility 31.9%COST: +17.4% a year, volatility 22.9%VXUS: +8.2% a year, volatility 16.4%ASML: +17.4% a year, volatility 43.4%VRIG: +4.7% a year, volatility 1.3%QQQ: +14.5% a year, volatility 23.0%MUFG: +33.2% a year, volatility 29.4%MA: +12.4% a year, volatility 23.8%PM: +21.0% a year, volatility 23.4%CSCO: +16.8% a year, volatility 26.1%SHEL: +21.0% a year, volatility 24.8%MCK: +38.7% a year, volatility 25.0%NVS: +17.1% a year, volatility 20.7%INSW: +56.5% a year, volatility 40.5%CALM: +17.6% a year, volatility 33.3%LDUR: +2.4% a year, volatility 2.1%APH: +33.8% a year, volatility 32.2%VTV: +12.1% a year, volatility 13.7%STX: +57.4% a year, volatility 48.7%AMAT: +25.8% a year, volatility 47.4%WELL: +26.0% a year, volatility 23.8%RTX: +18.6% a year, volatility 24.3%KLAC: +38.7% a year, volatility 46.7%SAN: +31.7% a year, volatility 33.9%BBVA: +38.7% a year, volatility 33.3%GILD: +22.8% a year, volatility 24.9%GS: +19.6% a year, volatility 28.6%VLO: +44.2% a year, volatility 36.9%VEA: +9.3% a year, volatility 16.9%MS: +16.0% a year, volatility 28.8%TD: +15.8% a year, volatility 20.0%IBKR: +35.4% a year, volatility 35.4%TR: +7.8% a year, volatility 25.2%MFG: +33.6% a year, volatility 30.6%SCCO: +32.0% a year, volatility 40.7%TTE: +18.0% a year, volatility 25.8%DBA: +10.7% a year, volatility 13.8%AOM: +4.4% a year, volatility 8.3%IBM: +16.6% a year, volatility 30.5%PG: +5.1% a year, volatility 18.3%LIN: +11.5% a year, volatility 20.9%PSX: +33.2% a year, volatility 32.9%VGT: +18.4% a year, volatility 26.0%UBS: +25.4% a year, volatility 30.4%WFC: +13.1% a year, volatility 29.5%SMFG: +33.7% a year, volatility 29.4%PH: +27.4% a year, volatility 28.8%BHP: +16.6% a year, volatility 31.4%ADI: +19.5% a year, volatility 34.1%ASX: +48.8% a year, volatility 43.0%C: +15.1% a year, volatility 29.4%BAC: +4.0% a year, volatility 26.6%BTI: +18.7% a year, volatility 22.0%BABA: −8.2% a year, volatility 51.3%SPY (S&P 500): +12.7% a year, volatility 17.1%WMT: +20.8% a year, volatility 22.6%AMZN: +9.0% a year, volatility 36.6%EBAY: +11.7% a year, volatility 32.9%MELI: +3.2% a year, volatility 49.5%ZTO: −6.3% a year, volatility 38.2%MCHI: −4.7% a year, volatility 30.0%GOOG: +19.0% a year, volatility 32.0%MSFT: +12.5% a year, volatility 28.2%PANW: +31.9% a year, volatility 43.4%CRWD: +26.3% a year, volatility 52.7%CHRW: +9.9% a year, volatility 34.4%UPS: −8.6% a year, volatility 28.9%BIL: +3.7% a year, volatility 0.3%LLY: +40.7% a year, volatility 32.8%MRK: +16.3% a year, volatility 24.8%AMGN: +19.6% a year, volatility 24.9%FLRT: +6.0% a year, volatility 2.3%GLD: +17.7% a year, volatility 18.9%NVDA: +58.0% a year, volatility 51.9%DG: −7.4% a year, volatility 37.0%FIX: +77.0% a year, volatility 46.7%BABASPY (S&P 500)WMTAMZNEBAYMELIZTOMCHIGOOGMSFTPANWCRWDUPSBILLLYGLDNVDADGFIX−20.0%0.0%20.0%40.0%60.0%−20.0%0.0%20.0%40.0%60.0%80.0%100%Volatility over 5 years (annualized)Annual return over 5 yearsMore return, less volatility than BABAFLOT: +4.5% a year, volatility 1.8%VTIP: +2.7% a year, volatility 2.9%VZ: +2.7% a year, volatility 22.9%RY: +17.3% a year, volatility 18.2%PBR-A: +51.8% a year, volatility 37.5%BSV: +1.7% a year, volatility 2.8%VCSH: +2.3% a year, volatility 2.9%HWM: +47.3% a year, volatility 32.5%CAH: +42.1% a year, volatility 24.7%AAPL: +18.5% a year, volatility 28.0%SHY: +1.8% a year, volatility 2.0%FLTR: +4.8% a year, volatility 2.1%CHT: +7.7% a year, volatility 13.3%FLRN: +4.5% a year, volatility 1.7%KR: +12.3% a year, volatility 27.3%AVGO: +48.3% a year, volatility 44.5%TSM: +31.5% a year, volatility 38.5%VTI: +11.5% a year, volatility 17.5%SUB: +1.4% a year, volatility 1.7%RAVI: +3.8% a year, volatility 1.4%MEAR: +2.4% a year, volatility 1.0%VOO: +12.8% a year, volatility 16.9%LMBS: +3.0% a year, volatility 2.6%BRK-B: +13.4% a year, volatility 17.1%CRS: +63.9% a year, volatility 46.5%XOM: +27.1% a year, volatility 26.5%SHYG: +4.5% a year, volatility 5.8%SJM: +4.8% a year, volatility 25.1%JPM: +17.3% a year, volatility 24.3%ABBV: +26.1% a year, volatility 23.4%CCZ: +2.6% a year, volatility 23.0%ERIE: +6.3% a year, volatility 31.4%HSBC: +33.1% a year, volatility 25.9%JNJ: +12.7% a year, volatility 17.9%V: +12.8% a year, volatility 22.9%DXJ: +26.6% a year, volatility 19.1%LVHI: +17.0% a year, volatility 11.1%KO: +14.7% a year, volatility 16.8%CVX: +19.5% a year, volatility 25.2%CAT: +31.1% a year, volatility 31.9%COST: +17.4% a year, volatility 22.9%VXUS: +8.2% a year, volatility 16.4%ASML: +17.4% a year, volatility 43.4%VRIG: +4.7% a year, volatility 1.3%QQQ: +14.5% a year, volatility 23.0%MUFG: +33.2% a year, volatility 29.4%MA: +12.4% a year, volatility 23.8%PM: +21.0% a year, volatility 23.4%CSCO: +16.8% a year, volatility 26.1%SHEL: +21.0% a year, volatility 24.8%MCK: +38.7% a year, volatility 25.0%NVS: +17.1% a year, volatility 20.7%INSW: +56.5% a year, volatility 40.5%CALM: +17.6% a year, volatility 33.3%LDUR: +2.4% a year, volatility 2.1%APH: +33.8% a year, volatility 32.2%VTV: +12.1% a year, volatility 13.7%STX: +57.4% a year, volatility 48.7%AMAT: +25.8% a year, volatility 47.4%WELL: +26.0% a year, volatility 23.8%RTX: +18.6% a year, volatility 24.3%KLAC: +38.7% a year, volatility 46.7%SAN: +31.7% a year, volatility 33.9%BBVA: +38.7% a year, volatility 33.3%GILD: +22.8% a year, volatility 24.9%GS: +19.6% a year, volatility 28.6%VLO: +44.2% a year, volatility 36.9%VEA: +9.3% a year, volatility 16.9%MS: +16.0% a year, volatility 28.8%TD: +15.8% a year, volatility 20.0%IBKR: +35.4% a year, volatility 35.4%TR: +7.8% a year, volatility 25.2%MFG: +33.6% a year, volatility 30.6%SCCO: +32.0% a year, volatility 40.7%TTE: +18.0% a year, volatility 25.8%DBA: +10.7% a year, volatility 13.8%AOM: +4.4% a year, volatility 8.3%IBM: +16.6% a year, volatility 30.5%PG: +5.1% a year, volatility 18.3%LIN: +11.5% a year, volatility 20.9%PSX: +33.2% a year, volatility 32.9%VGT: +18.4% a year, volatility 26.0%UBS: +25.4% a year, volatility 30.4%WFC: +13.1% a year, volatility 29.5%SMFG: +33.7% a year, volatility 29.4%PH: +27.4% a year, volatility 28.8%BHP: +16.6% a year, volatility 31.4%ADI: +19.5% a year, volatility 34.1%ASX: +48.8% a year, volatility 43.0%C: +15.1% a year, volatility 29.4%BAC: +4.0% a year, volatility 26.6%BTI: +18.7% a year, volatility 22.0%BABA: −8.2% a year, volatility 51.3%SPY (S&P 500): +12.7% a year, volatility 17.1%WMT: +20.8% a year, volatility 22.6%AMZN: +9.0% a year, volatility 36.6%EBAY: +11.7% a year, volatility 32.9%MELI: +3.2% a year, volatility 49.5%ZTO: −6.3% a year, volatility 38.2%MCHI: −4.7% a year, volatility 30.0%GOOG: +19.0% a year, volatility 32.0%MSFT: +12.5% a year, volatility 28.2%PANW: +31.9% a year, volatility 43.4%CRWD: +26.3% a year, volatility 52.7%CHRW: +9.9% a year, volatility 34.4%UPS: −8.6% a year, volatility 28.9%BIL: +3.7% a year, volatility 0.3%LLY: +40.7% a year, volatility 32.8%MRK: +16.3% a year, volatility 24.8%AMGN: +19.6% a year, volatility 24.9%FLRT: +6.0% a year, volatility 2.3%GLD: +17.7% a year, volatility 18.9%NVDA: +58.0% a year, volatility 51.9%DG: −7.4% a year, volatility 37.0%FIX: +77.0% a year, volatility 46.7%BABASPY (S&P 500)WMTMELIZTOMCHIGOOGPANWCRWDBILLLYAMGNFLRTNVDAFIX
  • Popular alternatives
  • Same and neighboring categories, and shared themes
  • The whole market
  • Others in the green region

Is there a better investment than BABA?

Investments that beat BABA over the past 5 years on return, volatility, drawdowns, consistency, crash losses or fees, from its popular alternatives out to the whole market.

How this works

The table below lists investments that beat BABA over the past 5 years on at least one of these measures: a higher annual return with lower volatility, a higher annual return at similar volatility, a similar return with lower volatility, a higher Sharpe ratio with a smaller worst decline, a higher total return in most periods from 3 months to 10 years, or smaller losses in recent market crashes. It checks BABA's popular alternatives first, then the rest of its own and neighboring categories, then every stock and fund worth at least $500 million, and shows the strongest few in each group. The full list of those with a higher return and lower volatility than BABA follows the table.

Annual return is the annualized total return with dividends reinvested. Annual return, volatility and the Sharpe ratio cover 5 years; the worst decline covers the past 10 years. Green marks a better figure than BABA's. "On the frontier" means no other option shown or tested earned more with less volatility. Funds that hold the same thing are shown once. Beyond the popular alternatives, nothing with more than 1.5× BABA's volatility counts as better.

These figures cover the past 5 years. Green marks a better figure than BABA's.

Screen the whole market against BABA for any period in BetterThanSPYOpen these 21 in EasyCompare
InvestmentWhy it is betterPast 5 yearsDownsideLong runFit
Annual return?higher is betterVolatility?lower is calmerSharpe?return per unit of riskWorst decline?past 10 years10Y returntotalCorr. with BABA?lower diversifies moreExpenseper year
BABAAlibaba Group Holding Limited · this page
−8.2%51.3%0.08−80.1%+11.2%1.00—
SPYState Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF · S&P 500
+12.7%17.1%0.79−33.7%+321%0.150.09%
Popular alternativesbest 6 shownThe investments people most often weigh against BABA. 10 of 19 passed at least one test.
WMTWalmart Inc. · Discount Retail
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes+20.8%22.6%0.96−25.7%+508%0.13—
AMZNAmazon.com, Inc. · E-Commerce
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+9.0%36.6%0.42−56.1%+548%0.10—
EBAYeBay Inc. · E-Commerce
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+11.7%32.9%0.50−53.6%+374%0.24—
MELIMercadoLibre, Inc. · E-Commerce
Higher return, similar volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+3.2%49.5%0.31−69.1%+1,002%0.15—
ZTOZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. · Freight & Logistics
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher return in most periods−6.3%38.2%0.02−57.1%+43.8%0.52—
MCHIiShares MSCI China ETF · International Equity
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher return in most periods−4.7%30.0%-0.01−62.8%+26.8%0.850.59%
Same and neighboring categories, and shared themesbest 6 shownEverything else in E-Commerce and the categories next to it (Specialty Retail, Software, Internet Services, Freight & Logistics), plus BABA's specific themes. 97 of 137 passed at least one test.
GOOGAlphabet Inc. · Internet Services
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+19.0%32.0%0.71−44.6%+752%0.25—
MSFTMicrosoft Corporation · Software
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+12.5%28.2%0.56−37.1%+946%0.19—
PANWPalo Alto Networks, Inc. · Cybersecurity
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+31.9%43.4%0.86−48.0%+1,274%-0.12—
CRWDCrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. · Cybersecurity
Higher return, similar volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+26.3%52.7%0.71−67.7%—-0.09—
CHRWC.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. · Freight & Logistics
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineSmaller losses in recent crashes+9.9%34.4%0.45−40.6%+157%0.18—
UPSUnited Parcel Service, Inc. · Freight & Logistics
Similar return, lower volatility−8.6%28.9%-0.17−57.9%+35.4%0.27—
The whole marketbest 8 shownEvery other stock and fund worth at least $500 million. 2,830 of 3,477 passed at least one test.
BILState Street SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF · Treasury Bonds
On the frontierHigher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes+3.7%0.3%14.05−0.2%+25.8%0.190.14%
LLYEli Lilly and Company · Pharmaceuticals
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes+40.7%32.8%1.21−34.5%+1,807%-0.11—
MRKMerck & Co., Inc. · Pharmaceuticals
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes+16.3%24.8%0.74−43.4%+241%-0.09—
AMGNAmgen Inc. · Biotechnology
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes+19.6%24.9%0.85−24.9%+266%0.04—
FLRTPacer Aristotle Pacific Floating Rate High Income ETF · Financials
On the frontierHigher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes+6.0%2.3%2.55−21.0%+58.0%0.210.60%
GLDSPDR Gold Shares · Gold
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes+17.7%18.9%0.96−26.4%+213%0.430.40%
NVDANVIDIA Corporation · Semiconductors
Higher return, similar volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+58.0%51.9%1.14−66.3%+13,019%0.08—
DGDollar General Corporation · Discount Retail
Similar return, lower volatilityHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes−7.4%37.0%-0.01−72.6%+127%0.01—
What these numbers mean for BABA
Annual return
BABA lost 8.2% a year over the past 5 years with dividends reinvested, against 12.7% a year for the S&P 500. At that pace, $10,000 became about $6,520. Annual return is the steady yearly rate that would produce the same total result, so investments held over the same span compare fairly. Guide: What is performance and return? →
Volatility
BABA's volatility over the past 5 years was 51.3%, 3.0 times the S&P 500's 17.1%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, BABA's return lands within 51.3% of its average, either way. The higher it is, the rougher the ride and the harder it is to hold through a slump. Guide: Understanding and measuring risk (volatility) →
Sharpe ratio
BABA's Sharpe ratio over the past 5 years was 0.08, against 0.79 for the S&P 500, so BABA earned less for each unit of risk than an index fund did. The Sharpe ratio is the return earned above cash for each unit of volatility: two investments with the same return are not equal if one got there with far bigger swings. Guide: Balancing reward with risk (Sharpe ratio) →
Worst decline
BABA's worst fall from a peak to a low over the past 10 years was 80.1%, against 33.7% for the S&P 500. Losses and gains are not symmetric: climbing back from a 80.1% fall takes a 402% gain. Guide: Market crash risk and tail risk →
Correlation
Over the past 5 years, BABA's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.15 with the S&P 500. Correlation runs from 1 (moving in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to −1 (moving in opposite directions). They are only loosely linked, which makes it a real diversifier next to an index fund. In the table, the correlation column measures each option against BABA instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a BABA holding. Guide: Correlation and diversification →
Show all 2,550 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that earned more than BABA with less volatility

Out of 3,633 tested over 5 years. The strongest 100 are listed, best first, with funds that hold the same thing listed once.

#InvestmentFound inAnnual returnVolatilitySharpeWorst decline10Y returnCorr. with BABAExpense
1
BILState Street SPDR Bloomberg 1-3 Month T-Bill ETF · Treasury Bonds
Whole market+3.7%0.3%14.05−0.2%+25.8%0.190.14%
2
LLYEli Lilly and Company · Pharmaceuticals
Whole market+40.7%32.8%1.21−34.5%+1,807%-0.11—
3
MRKMerck & Co., Inc. · Pharmaceuticals
Whole market+16.3%24.8%0.74−43.4%+241%-0.09—
4
AMGNAmgen Inc. · Biotechnology
Whole market+19.6%24.9%0.85−24.9%+266%0.04—
5
FLRTPacer Aristotle Pacific Floating Rate High Income ETF · Financials
Whole market+6.0%2.3%2.55−21.0%+58.0%0.210.60%
6
GLDSPDR Gold Shares · Gold
Whole market+17.7%18.9%0.96−26.4%+213%0.430.40%
7
FLOTiShares Floating Rate Bond ETF · Floating Rate Bonds
Whole market+4.5%1.8%2.48−13.5%+35.9%0.000.15%
8
VTIPVanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities ETF · Treasury Bonds
Whole market+2.7%2.9%0.94−6.3%+32.7%0.120.03%
9
VZVerizon Communications Inc. · Integrated Telecommunications
Whole market+2.7%22.9%0.23−41.2%+55.8%0.30—
10
RYRoyal Bank of Canada · Banks
Whole market+17.3%18.2%0.97−40.0%+352%0.15—
11
PBR-APetróleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras · Integrated Oil & Gas
Whole market+51.8%37.5%1.31−71.7%+768%0.03—
12
BSVVanguard Short-Term Bond ETF · Short-Term Bonds
Whole market+1.7%2.8%0.63−8.5%+20.5%0.280.03%
13
VCSHVanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF · Investment Grade Bonds
Whole market+2.3%2.9%0.80−12.9%+28.6%0.310.03%
14
HWMHowmet Aerospace Inc. · Aerospace & Defense
Whole market+47.3%32.5%1.36−68.9%+1,028%0.02—
15
CAHCardinal Health, Inc. · Health Care Distribution
Whole market+42.1%24.7%1.55−46.1%+349%-0.20—
16
AAPLApple Inc. · Computer Hardware
Whole market+18.5%28.0%0.75−38.5%+1,168%0.07—
17
SHYiShares 1-3 Year Treasury Bond ETF · Treasury Bonds
Whole market+1.8%2.0%0.89−5.7%+17.7%0.300.15%
18
FLTRVanEck IG Floating Rate ETF · Multi-Asset
Whole market+4.8%2.1%2.20−17.8%+41.8%0.060.14%
19
FIXComfort Systems USA, Inc. · Engineering & Construction
Whole market+77.0%46.7%1.46−49.7%+5,305%-0.13—
20
CHTChunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd. · Integrated Telecommunications
Whole market+7.7%13.3%0.63−23.8%+101%0.15—
21
FLRNState Street SPDR Bloomberg Investment Grade Floating Rate ETF · Bonds
Whole market+4.5%1.7%2.58−14.7%+35.9%0.010.15%
22
KRThe Kroger Co. · Grocery Stores
Whole market+12.3%27.3%0.56−43.8%+151%0.14—
23
AVGOBroadcom Inc. · Semiconductors
Whole market+48.3%44.5%1.11−48.3%+2,380%0.05—
24
TSMTaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited · Semiconductors
Whole market+31.5%38.5%0.91−56.6%+1,505%0.19—
25
WMTWalmart Inc. · Discount Retail
Popular alternative+20.8%22.6%0.96−25.7%+508%0.13—
26
VTIVanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF · US Total Market
Whole market+11.5%17.5%0.71−35.0%+302%0.140.03%
27
SUBiShares Short-Term National Muni Bond ETF · Municipal Bonds
Whole market+1.4%1.7%0.85−9.4%+15.6%0.300.07%
28
RAVINorthern Trust Ultra-Short Fixed Income ETF · Bonds
Whole market+3.8%1.4%2.61−3.7%+30.8%0.270.26%
29
MEARiShares Short Maturity Municipal Bond Active ETF · Bonds
Whole market+2.4%1.0%2.37−2.7%+19.3%0.260.26%
30
VOOVanguard S&P 500 ETF · US Large-Cap Equity
Whole market+12.8%16.9%0.80−34.0%+324%0.150.03%
31
LMBSFirst Trust Low Duration Opportunities ETF · Mortgage-Backed Securities
Whole market+3.0%2.6%1.14−6.5%+25.6%0.350.66%
32
BRK-BBerkshire Hathaway Inc. · Insurance
Whole market+13.4%17.1%0.82−29.6%+274%0.03—
33
CRSCarpenter Technology Corporation · Metals & Mining
Whole market+63.9%46.5%1.30−74.7%+1,021%-0.09—
34
XOMExxonmobil Holdings Corporation · Integrated Oil & Gas
Whole market+27.1%26.5%1.04−61.0%+214%0.03—
35
SHYGiShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF · High Yield Bonds
Whole market+4.5%5.8%0.79−19.3%+56.4%0.120.30%
36
SJMThe J. M. Smucker Company · Packaged Foods
Whole market+4.8%25.1%0.32−38.1%+37.2%0.14—
37
JPMJPMorgan Chase & Co. · Banks
Whole market+17.3%24.3%0.78−43.6%+537%0.04—
38
ABBVAbbVie Inc. · Pharmaceuticals
Whole market+26.1%23.4%1.11−45.1%+603%0.23—
39
CCZComcast Holdings Corp. · Corporate Bonds
Whole market+2.6%23.0%0.23−24.7%+65.0%-0.03—
40
ERIEErie Indemnity Company · Property & Casualty Insurance
Whole market+6.3%31.4%0.35−60.9%+200%0.16—
41
HSBCHSBC Holdings plc · Banks
Whole market+33.1%25.9%1.24−62.3%+319%0.54—
42
JNJJohnson & Johnson · Pharmaceuticals
Whole market+12.7%17.9%0.76−27.4%+196%0.10—
43
VVisa Inc. · Payment Processing
Whole market+12.8%22.9%0.64−36.4%+429%0.07—
44
DXJWisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund · International Equity
Whole market+26.6%19.1%1.34−39.1%+428%0.020.48%
45
LVHIFranklin International Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF · International Equity
Whole market+17.0%11.1%1.48−32.4%+194%0.270.40%
46
KOThe Coca-Cola Company · Food & Beverages
Whole market+14.7%16.8%0.91−37.0%+204%0.26—
47
CVXChevron Corporation · Integrated Oil & Gas
Whole market+19.5%25.2%0.84−55.8%+238%0.07—
48
CATCaterpillar Inc. · Industrial Machinery
Whole market+31.1%31.9%1.01−43.4%+936%-0.03—
49
COSTCostco Wholesale Corporation · Discount Retail
Whole market+17.4%22.9%0.82−31.4%+685%0.13—
50
VXUSVanguard Total International Stock ETF · International Equity
Whole market+8.2%16.4%0.57−36.0%+140%0.390.05%
51
ASMLASML Holding N.V. · Semiconductor Equipment
Whole market+17.4%43.4%0.59−56.9%+1,628%0.12—
52
VRIGInvesco Variable Rate Investment Grade ETF · Bonds
Whole market+4.7%1.3%3.51−13.1%+40.5%0.150.30%
53
QQQInvesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 · US Large-Cap Growth
Whole market+14.5%23.0%0.71−35.1%+553%0.090.18%
54
MUFGMitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. · Banks
Whole market+33.2%29.4%1.13−54.9%+483%0.25—
55
MAMastercard Incorporated · Payment Processing
Whole market+12.4%23.8%0.61−41.0%+541%0.07—
56
PMPhilip Morris International Inc. · Tobacco
Whole market+21.0%23.4%0.94−42.9%+242%0.28—
57
CSCOCisco Systems, Inc. · Communications Equipment
Whole market+16.8%26.1%0.73−42.0%+374%0.10—
58
SHELShell plc · Integrated Oil & Gas
Whole market+21.0%24.8%0.90−67.2%+233%0.09—
59
MCKMcKesson Corporation · Health Care Distribution
Whole market+38.7%25.0%1.44−38.1%+586%-0.08—
60
NVSNovartis AG · Pharmaceuticals
Whole market+17.1%20.7%0.87−26.8%+226%0.16—
61
INSWInternational Seaways, Inc. · Oil & Gas
Whole market+56.5%40.5%1.31−57.4%—-0.11—
62
CALMCal-Maine Foods, Inc. · Agricultural Farm Products
Whole market+17.6%33.3%0.66−45.6%+121%0.01—
63
LDURPIMCO Enhanced Low Duration Active Exchange-Traded Fund · Bonds
Whole market+2.4%2.1%1.13−8.7%+26.7%0.260.54%
64
APHAmphenol Corporation · Electronic Components
Whole market+33.8%32.2%1.07−37.5%+965%-0.08—
65
VTVVanguard Morningstar Value ETF · US Large-Cap Value
Whole market+12.1%13.7%0.90−36.8%+235%0.150.03%
66
STXSeagate Technology Holdings plc · Computer Hardware
Whole market+57.4%48.7%1.18−57.0%+2,698%0.21—
67
AMATApplied Materials, Inc. · Semiconductor Equipment
Whole market+25.8%47.4%0.72−55.1%+1,488%-0.08—
68
WELLWelltower Inc. · Healthcare REITs
Whole market+26.0%23.8%1.09−63.3%+379%0.31—
69
RTXRTX Corporation · Aerospace & Defense
Whole market+18.6%24.3%0.83−52.0%+317%0.17—
70
KLACKLA Corporation · Semiconductor Equipment
Whole market+38.7%46.7%0.94−46.3%+2,534%-0.06—
71
SANBanco Santander, S.A. · Banks
Whole market+31.7%33.9%0.99−73.8%+332%0.40—
72
BBVABanco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. · Banks
Whole market+38.7%33.3%1.16−69.6%+542%0.27—
73
GILDGilead Sciences, Inc. · Biotechnology
Whole market+22.8%24.9%0.95−30.5%+200%0.17—
74
GSThe Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. · Capital Markets
Whole market+19.6%28.6%0.77−48.8%+521%0.15—
75
VLOValero Energy Corporation · Oil & Gas
Whole market+44.2%36.9%1.18−71.9%+1,061%0.15—
76
VEAVanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF · Developed International Equity
Whole market+9.3%16.9%0.61−35.8%+153%0.300.03%
77
MSMorgan Stanley · Capital Markets
Whole market+16.0%28.8%0.66−51.3%+627%0.22—
78
TDThe Toronto-Dominion Bank · Banks
Whole market+15.8%20.0%0.84−42.0%+310%0.18—
79
IBKRInteractive Brokers Group, Inc. · Investment Banking & Brokerage
Whole market+35.4%35.4%1.04−55.1%+935%0.05—
80
TRTootsie Roll Industries, Inc. · Food Confectioners
Whole market+7.8%25.2%0.42−36.4%+65.5%0.07—
81
MFGMizuho Financial Group, Inc. · Banks
Whole market+33.6%30.6%1.10−45.7%+345%0.27—
82
SCCOSouthern Copper Corporation · Metals & Mining
Whole market+32.0%40.7%0.89−55.3%+1,017%0.41—
83
TTETotalEnergies SE · Integrated Oil & Gas
Whole market+18.0%25.8%0.78−59.6%+234%0.18—
84
DBAInvesco DB Agriculture Fund · Alternatives
Whole market+10.7%13.8%0.81−35.3%+62.2%0.020.90%
85
AOMiShares Core 40/60 Moderate Allocation ETF · Multi-Asset
Whole market+4.4%8.3%0.56−20.0%+77.8%0.290.20%
86
IBMInternational Business Machines Corporation · IT Services
Whole market+16.6%30.5%0.66−41.1%+151%0.11—
87
PGThe Procter & Gamble Company · Household & Personal Products
Whole market+5.1%18.3%0.37−23.8%+145%0.13—
88
LINLinde plc · Chemicals
Whole market+11.5%20.9%0.63−32.6%+394%0.05—
89
PSXPhillips 66 · Oil & Gas
Whole market+33.2%32.9%1.04−64.2%+430%0.06—
90
VGTVanguard Information Technology ETF · Technology Equity
Whole market+18.4%26.0%0.78−35.1%+779%0.040.09%
91
UBSUBS Group AG · Banks
Whole market+25.4%30.4%0.90−59.8%+374%0.23—
92
WFCWells Fargo & Company · Banks
Whole market+13.1%29.5%0.57−64.5%+141%0.01—
93
SMFGSumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. · Banks
Whole market+33.7%29.4%1.14−47.6%+474%0.18—
94
PHParker-Hannifin Corporation · Industrial Machinery
Whole market+27.4%28.8%0.99−54.7%+789%-0.07—
95
BHPBHP Group Limited · Metals & Mining
Whole market+16.6%31.4%0.65−44.3%+398%0.41—
96
ADIAnalog Devices, Inc. · Semiconductors
Whole market+19.5%34.1%0.69−33.6%+652%0.13—
97
ASXASE Technology Holding Co., Ltd. · Semiconductors
Whole market+48.8%43.0%1.15−52.5%+967%0.01—
98
CCitigroup Inc. · Banks
Whole market+15.1%29.4%0.63−56.5%+234%0.05—
99
BACBank of America Corporation · Banks
Whole market+4.0%26.6%0.28−49.0%+282%0.06—
100
BTIBritish American Tobacco p.l.c. · Tobacco
Whole market+18.7%22.0%0.90−56.1%+98.2%0.03—

BABA against its popular alternatives

The investments people most often weigh against BABA, compared period by period and year by year.

How do BABA's risk and return compare with its alternatives?

This map plots each investment's annual return over the past 5 years against its volatility, the size of its typical price swings. Investments toward the upper left earned more for a smoother ride, and those toward the lower right earned less for a rougher one. The dashed lines cross at BABA, which divides the map into what did better or worse on each measure.

Green points earned more than BABA with less volatility; red points earned less with more. Hover over a point for its figures. Total returns with dividends reinvested, annualized.

10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%60.0%70.0%80.0%90.0%100.0%−30.0%−20.0%−10.0%0.0%10.0%20.0%30.0%Volatility over 5 years (annualized)Annual return over 5 yearsHigher return, lower volatilityLower return, higher volatilityBABA: −8.2% a year, volatility 51.3%SPY (S&P 500): 12.7% a year, volatility 17.1%MELI: 3.2% a year, volatility 49.5%AMZN: 9.0% a year, volatility 36.6%WMT: 20.8% a year, volatility 22.6%EBAY: 11.7% a year, volatility 32.9%W: −14.5% a year, volatility 81.8%ZTO: −6.3% a year, volatility 38.2%MCHI: −4.7% a year, volatility 30.0%ETSY: −17.8% a year, volatility 55.4%JD: −18.6% a year, volatility 52.6%VIPS: 2.8% a year, volatility 50.9%TCOM: 5.3% a year, volatility 48.7%GDS: −18.2% a year, volatility 85.3%SE: −25.9% a year, volatility 64.6%VNET: −26.6% a year, volatility 96.2%YMM: −10.9% a year, volatility 65.7%BIDU: −15.0% a year, volatility 51.9%CPNG: −13.1% a year, volatility 52.0%SHOP: 3.1% a year, volatility 66.9%PDD: −3.9% a year, volatility 66.0%BABASPY (S&P 500)MELIAMZNWMTEBAYWZTOMCHIETSYJDVIPSTCOMGDSSEVNETYMMBIDUCPNGSHOPPDD0.0%20.0%40.0%60.0%80.0%100%−30.0%−20.0%−10.0%0.0%10.0%20.0%30.0%Volatility over 5 years (annualized)Annual return over 5 yearsHigher return, lower volatilityLower return, higher volatilityBABA: −8.2% a year, volatility 51.3%SPY (S&P 500): 12.7% a year, volatility 17.1%MELI: 3.2% a year, volatility 49.5%AMZN: 9.0% a year, volatility 36.6%WMT: 20.8% a year, volatility 22.6%EBAY: 11.7% a year, volatility 32.9%W: −14.5% a year, volatility 81.8%ZTO: −6.3% a year, volatility 38.2%MCHI: −4.7% a year, volatility 30.0%ETSY: −17.8% a year, volatility 55.4%JD: −18.6% a year, volatility 52.6%VIPS: 2.8% a year, volatility 50.9%TCOM: 5.3% a year, volatility 48.7%GDS: −18.2% a year, volatility 85.3%SE: −25.9% a year, volatility 64.6%VNET: −26.6% a year, volatility 96.2%YMM: −10.9% a year, volatility 65.7%BIDU: −15.0% a year, volatility 51.9%CPNG: −13.1% a year, volatility 52.0%SHOP: 3.1% a year, volatility 66.9%PDD: −3.9% a year, volatility 66.0%BABASPY (S&P 500)MELIAMZNWMTWZTOMCHIETSYJDVIPSGDSSEVNETYMMBIDUCPNGSHOPPDD
All figures
InvestmentAnnual returnVolatility
WMT Walmart Inc.+20.8%22.6%
SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF+12.7%17.1%
EBAY eBay Inc.+11.7%32.9%
AMZN Amazon.com, Inc.+9.0%36.6%
TCOM Trip.com Group Limited+5.3%48.7%
MELI MercadoLibre, Inc.+3.2%49.5%
SHOP Shopify Inc.+3.1%66.9%
VIPS Vipshop Holdings Limited+2.8%50.9%
PDD PDD Holdings Inc.−3.9%66.0%
MCHI iShares MSCI China ETF−4.7%30.0%
ZTO ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc.−6.3%38.2%
BABA This pageAlibaba Group Holding Limited−8.2%51.3%
YMM Full Truck Alliance Co. Ltd.−10.9%65.7%
CPNG Coupang, Inc.−13.1%52.0%
W Wayfair Inc.−14.5%81.8%
BIDU Baidu, Inc.−15.0%51.9%
ETSY Etsy, Inc.−17.8%55.4%
GDS GDS Holdings Limited−18.2%85.3%
JD JD.com, Inc.−18.6%52.6%
SE Sea Limited−25.9%64.6%
VNET VNET Group, Inc.−26.6%96.2%
Open these 21 in EasyCompare

Has BABA consistently beaten its popular alternatives?

This section compares BABA with the investments people most often weigh against it, checking each one over eight periods from one month to ten years. Counting how often an alternative earned more than BABA helps separate lasting outperformance from a single strong stretch.

A green cell means the alternative earned more than BABA over that period. "Qualified" marks those that did so in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods.

InvestmentPeriods outperformed Short termLong termRisk · 5 yearsFund
1M3M6MYTD1Y3Y5Y10YVolatilitylower is calmerSharpehigher is betterWorst declinepast 10 yearsExpenseAssetsOverlapsame sectors
BABA Alibaba Group Holding Limited (this page)—−6.1%−9.7%−21.7%−29.6%−36.8%+44.5%−34.8%+11.2%51.3%0.08−80.1%—$270B—
SHOP QualifiedShopify Inc.5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather+25.8%+39.4%+28.4%+10.4%+5.3%+239%+16.6%+3,916%66.9%0.38−84.8%—$225B—
MELI QualifiedMercadoLibre, Inc.5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather+3.2%+2.6%+0.5%−4.8%−10.6%+60.7%+17.2%+1,002%49.5%0.31−69.1%—$95B—
AMZN QualifiedAmazon.com, Inc.5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather+1.6%+5.1%+5.8%+16.0%+21.3%+110%+53.8%+548%36.6%0.42−56.1%—$2.8T—
WMT QualifiedWalmart Inc.5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather+9.7%+5.3%−7.5%+5.2%+11.0%+130%+158%+508%22.6%0.96−25.7%—$938B—
EBAY QualifiedeBay Inc.5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather+11.9%+6.5%+13.8%+40.5%+28.3%+213%+74.2%+374%32.9%0.50−53.6%—$54B—
W QualifiedWayfair Inc.5/5 short2/3 long+8.2%+29.4%+40.0%+6.6%+36.6%+159%−54.2%+213%81.8%0.21−93.0%—$16B—
ZTO QualifiedZTO Express (Cayman) Inc.4/5 short2/3 long+4.0%−16.3%−20.0%−4.3%+7.5%−5.6%−27.7%+43.8%38.2%0.02−57.1%—$15B—
MCHI QualifiediShares MSCI China ETF4/5 short2/3 long−5.6%−5.8%−13.5%−17.6%−19.0%+34.4%−21.4%+26.8%30.0%-0.01−62.8%0.59%$5.8B—
ETSY Specialty RetailEtsy, Inc.5/5 short1/3 long+19.0%+4.0%+36.2%+52.6%+22.5%+34.7%−62.5%+511%55.4%-0.08−86.3%—$8.0B—
JD Specialty RetailJD.com, Inc.4/5 short1/3 long−1.9%−12.5%−14.7%−6.2%−18.0%+20.2%−64.3%+14.4%52.6%-0.14−79.1%—$36B—
VIPS Specialty RetailVipshop Holdings Limited4/5 short1/3 long+3.7%−11.2%−15.4%−23.9%−29.1%−2.1%+14.8%+3.7%50.9%0.31−86.7%—$6.2B—
TCOM Travel ServicesTrip.com Group Limited2/5 short1/3 long−0.9%−8.8%−26.7%−45.9%−43.5%+26.1%+29.8%−14.3%48.7%0.35−72.0%—$26B—
PDD Specialty RetailPDD Holdings Inc.2/5 short1/3 long+2.9%−5.1%−21.7%−29.5%−38.0%−20.6%−17.9%—66.0%0.26−87.4%—$116B—
GDS Information Technology ServicesGDS Holdings Limited1/5 short1/3 long−31.9%−27.6%−48.1%−39.1%−32.2%+136%−63.5%—85.3%0.18−95.6%—$4.5B—
SE Specialty RetailSea Limited1/5 short1/3 long−21.6%−23.9%−10.0%−38.8%−51.5%+80.3%−77.7%—64.6%-0.14−90.5%—$49B—
VNET Information Technology ServicesVNET Group, Inc.0/5 short1/3 long−43.4%−46.6%−55.4%−55.0%−56.2%+47.5%−78.7%−43.4%96.2%0.13−96.7%—$1.1B—
YMM Software - ApplicationFull Truck Alliance Co. Ltd.5/5 short0/3 long+8.9%−3.5%+1.4%−19.0%−28.1%+38.1%−44.0%—65.7%0.14−78.3%—$9.2B—
BIDU Internet Content & InformationBaidu, Inc.1/5 short0/3 long−12.7%−26.7%−37.0%−46.4%−34.1%−24.4%−55.5%−54.0%51.9%-0.06−77.5%—$27B—
CPNG Specialty RetailCoupang, Inc.1/5 short0/3 long−2.1%−12.9%−33.4%−38.7%−54.8%−18.9%−50.3%—52.0%-0.01−81.5%—$26B—
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How did BABA do year by year?

This table shows each investment's total return in every full calendar year since 2015, along with where BABA ranked among its popular alternatives each year. Annual results reveal how consistently each one kept pace with BABA and how far its good and bad years diverged, detail that multiyear averages tend to smooth over.

Note: BABA began trading on September 19, 2014, so the table starts with 2015, its first full calendar year, and cannot show how it fared during the dot-com bust, the 2008 financial crisis or two other sell-offs.

Newest year first. Green marks a year in which the fund came out ahead of BABA; gray means the two finished within a fraction of a point. The rank row places BABA among the alternatives that traded the full year; dark green is the top quarter and red the bottom quarter.

InvestmentYears ahead of BABA20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
BABA This pageAlibaba Group Holding Limited—+75.8%+11.8%−10.8%−25.9%−49.0%+9.7%+54.7%−20.5%+96.4%+8.1%−21.8%
Rank among alternativesTop quarter in 1 of 113 of 2013 of 2012 of 2010 of 2014 of 1817 of 188 of 1812 of 175 of 166 of 1410 of 12
SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF8 of 11+17.7%+24.9%+26.2%−18.2%+28.7%+18.3%+31.2%−4.6%+21.7%+12.0%+1.2%
SHOP Shopify Inc.8 of 10+51.4%+36.5%+124%−74.8%+21.7%+185%+187%+37.1%+135%+66.3%—
MELI MercadoLibre, Inc.8 of 11+18.4%+8.2%+85.7%−37.2%−19.5%+193%+95.3%−6.9%+102%+37.1%−10.1%
AMZN Amazon.com, Inc.7 of 11+5.2%+44.4%+80.9%−49.6%+2.4%+76.3%+23.0%+28.4%+56.0%+10.9%+118%
WMT Walmart Inc.7 of 11+24.5%+74.0%+12.9%−0.5%+1.9%+23.4%+30.1%−3.4%+46.6%+16.1%−26.6%
EBAY eBay Inc.5 of 11+42.7%+44.8%+7.7%−36.5%+33.8%+41.2%+30.6%−25.6%+27.1%+8.1%+16.3%
W Wayfair Inc.7 of 11+127%−28.2%+87.6%−82.7%−15.9%+150%+0.3%+12.2%+129%−26.4%+140%
ZTO ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc.4 of 9+10.7%−3.7%−19.8%−3.8%−2.4%+26.2%+49.5%+1.1%+31.3%——
MCHI iShares MSCI China ETF6 of 11+31.1%+17.7%−11.3%−22.8%−21.8%+27.8%+23.7%−19.8%+54.7%−0.3%−9.0%
ETSY Etsy, Inc.4 of 10+4.8%−34.7%−32.3%−45.3%+23.1%+302%−6.9%+133%+73.6%+42.6%—
JD JD.com, Inc.6 of 11−14.9%+23.5%−47.8%−17.9%−20.3%+149%+68.3%−49.5%+62.9%−21.2%+39.4%
VIPS Vipshop Holdings Limited4 of 11+36.3%−22.2%+30.3%+62.3%−70.1%+98.4%+160%−53.4%+6.4%−27.9%−21.9%
TCOM Trip.com Group Limited5 of 11+5.2%+90.6%+4.7%+39.7%−27.0%+0.6%+23.9%−38.6%+10.2%−13.7%+104%
PDD PDD Holdings Inc.4 of 7+16.9%−33.7%+79.4%+39.9%−67.2%+370%+68.5%————
GDS GDS Holdings Limited5 of 9+46.9%+161%−55.8%−56.3%−49.6%+81.5%+123%+2.5%+162%——
SE Sea Limited5 of 8+20.2%+162%−22.2%−76.7%+12.4%+395%+255%−15.1%———
VNET VNET Group, Inc.5 of 11+78.5%+65.1%−49.4%−37.2%−74.0%+378%−16.1%+8.3%+13.8%−66.8%+36.6%
YMM Full Truck Alliance Co. Ltd.2 of 4+0.8%+57.4%−12.3%−4.5%———————
BIDU Baidu, Inc.5 of 11+55.0%−29.2%+4.1%−23.1%−31.2%+71.1%−20.3%−32.3%+42.4%−13.0%−17.1%
CPNG Coupang, Inc.2 of 4+7.3%+35.8%+10.1%−49.9%———————
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Risk and diversification

How BABA has fallen, how it held up in crashes beside the S&P 500 and its popular alternatives, and what moves independently of it.

What were BABA's worst declines?

A drawdown is the decline from a peak to the lowest point before a new high. This section presents BABA's five deepest drawdowns since it began trading in 2014, alongside the S&P 500's return over the same dates, and how long each took to recover. Together, these figures show how much an investor could have lost and how long it took to get back to even.

Note: BABA began trading on September 19, 2014, so this list cannot include the dot-com bust, the 2008 financial crisis or two other sell-offs. The crash tests on this page show how older funds and the S&P 500 fared through those years.

Green means BABA fell less than the S&P 500 over the same dates. Based on daily closing prices with dividends reinvested.

DuringBABA fellS&P 500, same datesPeakLowTime to the lowBack at the peakTime to recover
2022 bear market−80.1%+15.3%Oct 2020Oct 20222 yearsNot yet—
2015 China and oil sell-off−51.8%−6.0%Nov 2014Sep 201510 monthsMay 201720 months
Late-2018 sell-off−38.1%−11.1%Jun 2018Jan 20197 monthsDec 201911 months
Covid crash−23.5%−31.6%Jan 2020Mar 20202 monthsJul 20204 months
February 2018 volatility shock−18.4%−9.0%Jan 2018Apr 20183 monthsJun 20182 months

How did BABA do in stock market crashes?

This section measures how far BABA, the S&P 500 and each alternative fell from peak to trough during every major market crash since 2000. A smaller decline means an investment held up better, and comparing results across crashes shows whether that resilience was consistent or a one-off.

Note: BABA began trading on September 19, 2014, so its row reads "Not yet trading" for the dot-com bust, the 2008 financial crisis or two other sell-offs. The older alternatives and the S&P 500 show how those crashes played out.

Newest crash first. Each figure is the fund's deepest fall within the crash window; green means a smaller fall than BABA.

InvestmentHeld up better2023 regional bank crisisMar 20232022 bear marketJan 2022Covid crashFeb 2020Late-2018 sell-offSep 2018February 2018 volatility shockFeb 20182015 China and oil sell-offAug 20152011 euro debt crisisJul 20112010 flash crashMay 20102008 financial crisisOct 2007Dot-com bustMar 2000
BABA This pageAlibaba Group Holding Limited—−4.7%−45.1%−20.6%−20.7%−7.3%−29.1%Not yet tradingNot yet tradingNot yet tradingNot yet trading
SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF5 of 6−3.4%−24.5%−33.7%−19.3%−6.5%−12.8%−17.9%−1.5%−55.2%−47.5%
SHOP Shopify Inc.1 of 6−5.1%−79.0%−40.7%−27.6%−5.4%−49.2%————
MELI MercadoLibre, Inc.0 of 6−7.2%−51.6%−39.1%−30.3%−8.8%−31.9%−39.5%0.0%−89.5%—
AMZN Amazon.com, Inc.2 of 6−3.4%−39.6%−22.7%−33.2%−7.1%−30.6%−20.7%−2.9%−65.3%−91.8%
WMT Walmart Inc.6 of 6−0.8%−25.7%−13.1%−18.3%−4.9%−22.3%−10.5%−1.5%−26.2%−31.8%
EBAY eBay Inc.2 of 6−6.6%−44.2%−31.6%−23.2%−7.4%−25.6%−21.8%−3.5%−74.7%−77.1%
W Wayfair Inc.1 of 6−15.8%−83.8%−71.4%−45.5%−3.3%−40.5%————
ZTO ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc.5 of 5−2.4%−33.6%−14.7%−16.8%−4.5%—————
MCHI iShares MSCI China ETF4 of 6−3.5%−37.3%−19.8%−15.8%−8.8%−28.9%−30.2%———
ETSY Etsy, Inc.1 of 6−8.4%−65.7%−49.3%−25.1%−5.6%−63.3%————
JD JD.com, Inc.0 of 6−14.6%−45.1%−21.0%−27.3%−8.2%−29.9%————
VIPS Vipshop Holdings Limited3 of 6−2.7%−42.0%−22.7%−31.3%−4.2%−51.2%————
TCOM Trip.com Group Limited0 of 6−5.2%−45.0%−37.8%−35.9%−8.3%−34.9%−34.3%−3.1%−76.3%—
PDD PDD Holdings Inc.1 of 4−7.9%−61.4%−15.7%−38.1%——————
GDS GDS Holdings Limited0 of 5−8.2%−69.3%−23.7%−37.9%−19.9%—————
SE Sea Limited0 of 5−8.0%−73.3%−27.7%−26.4%−8.8%—————
VNET VNET Group, Inc.1 of 6−21.6%−63.5%−38.6%−26.1%−11.2%−26.9%−27.5%———
YMM Full Truck Alliance Co. Ltd.0 of 2−7.1%−52.8%————————
BIDU Baidu, Inc.1 of 6−7.5%−36.6%−38.4%−31.8%−9.0%−35.5%−36.0%−4.3%−74.9%—
CPNG Coupang, Inc.0 of 2−7.3%−64.7%————————
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How closely does BABA move with the S&P 500?

Upside capture measures how much of the S&P 500's gains an investment kept in the months the market rose, and downside capture how much of its losses it took in the months the market fell. An investment that captures more of the gains than the losses has compounded ahead of the market over time. This section compares BABA with its popular alternatives on both measures, and on beta (how strongly each has moved with the market), over the past 10 years.

Monthly total returns over the past 10 years, measured against SPY. 100% capture or a beta of 1.00 means moving in line with the S&P 500. Green marks a better figure than BABA's: more upside, less downside or a higher capture ratio. Sorted by capture ratio.

InvestmentUpside captureDownside captureCapture ratioBeta
BABA This pageAlibaba Group Holding Limited74%140%0.530.65
WMT Walmart Inc.74%36%2.080.53
MELI MercadoLibre, Inc.135%111%1.211.44
SHOP Shopify Inc.233%203%1.152.09
AMZN Amazon.com, Inc.134%139%0.961.31
ETSY Etsy, Inc.133%148%0.901.76
EBAY eBay Inc.113%133%0.851.23
W Wayfair Inc.230%356%0.653.06
MCHI iShares MSCI China ETF49%81%0.610.51
JD JD.com, Inc.51%92%0.560.57
VIPS Vipshop Holdings Limited39%81%0.480.63
TCOM Trip.com Group Limited42%96%0.440.58
BIDU Baidu, Inc.56%159%0.350.79
VNET VNET Group, Inc.23%71%0.330.25
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What diversifies BABA?

Correlation measures how closely two investments move together, on a scale from 1 (in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to -1 (in opposite directions). This section lists large ETFs and stocks whose returns have had a low correlation with BABA's. Because such investments tend not to fall at the same time, pairing BABA with them can reduce a portfolio's overall swings.

Only ETFs with at least $1.0B in assets and stocks worth at least $10B, with a correlation below 0.5 over the past 5 years and a positive return, are included, ranked by Sharpe ratio; funds that hold the same thing are shown once. The year columns are the years in which BABA lost money. The last two columns show a portfolio that is 80% BABA and 20% the other investment, rebalanced monthly.

ETFs

InvestmentCorrelation5Y returnSharpe2023202220212018201580/20 mix volatility80/20 mix annual return
BABA Alibaba Group Holding Limited (this page)1.00−34.8%0.08−10.8%−25.9%−49.0%−20.5%−21.8%50.6%−5.1%
LVHI InternationalFranklin International Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF0.27+119%1.48+17.4%+3.8%+17.8%−5.2%—41.0%+0.8%
DXJ InternationalWisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund0.02+225%1.34+42.0%+6.0%+18.0%−19.8%+7.7%40.6%+2.7%
EMLP Broad MarketFirst Trust North American Energy Infrastructure Fund0.12+101%1.04+8.0%+10.4%+23.1%−8.7%−25.3%40.9%+0.7%
HDV Dividend & IncomeiShares Core High Dividend ETF0.23+83.3%1.00+1.8%+7.1%+19.6%−3.0%−0.3%41.2%0.0%
SMH TechnologyVanEck Semiconductor ETF0.05+323%0.97+73.4%−33.5%+42.1%−9.1%−0.3%41.4%+5.1%
DBEF InternationalXtrackers MSCI EAFE Hedged Equity ETF0.20+85.0%0.96+20.1%−5.1%+19.6%−9.5%+4.1%41.0%+0.3%
GLD CommoditiesSPDR Gold Shares0.43+126%0.96+12.7%−0.8%−4.2%−1.9%−10.7%42.1%+0.8%
SPMO Broad MarketInvesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF-0.07+136%0.93+17.6%−10.4%+22.7%−0.9%—40.4%+2.1%

Stocks

InvestmentCorrelation5Y returnSharpe2023202220212018201580/20 mix volatility80/20 mix annual return
BABA Alibaba Group Holding Limited (this page)1.00−34.8%0.08−10.8%−25.9%−49.0%−20.5%−21.8%50.6%−5.1%
CAH Medical - DistributionCardinal Health, Inc.-0.20+479%1.55+34.1%+54.1%−0.4%−24.5%+12.6%39.7%+5.3%
CLS Hardware, Equipment & PartsCelestica Inc.0.08+3,143%1.47+160%+1.3%+37.9%−16.3%−6.0%43.1%+16.1%
FIX Engineering & ConstructionComfort Systems USA, Inc.-0.13+1,636%1.46+79.6%+17.0%+89.0%+0.8%+67.7%40.3%+13.4%
MCK Medical - DistributionMcKesson Corporation-0.08+413%1.44+24.1%+51.8%+44.2%−28.4%−4.5%40.4%+4.5%
MPC Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingMarathon Petroleum Corporation0.10+690%1.41+30.4%+86.6%+61.0%−8.2%+17.4%41.6%+6.6%
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Common questions

What was BABA's worst drawdown?

BABA's deepest decline since it began trading in 2014 was 80.1%, from October 2020 to October 2022. It has not yet climbed back to that peak. Because BABA launched in September 2014, that record does not include the dot-com bust, the 2008 financial crisis or two other sell-offs.

What were BABA's best and worst years?

Over 11 full calendar years, BABA's best year was 2017, when it returned 96.4%. Its worst was 2021, with a return of -49.0%.

Is there a better investment than BABA?

Among BABA's popular alternatives, WMT, AMZN and EBAY earned more than BABA with less volatility over the past 5 years. WMT returned 20.8% a year at 22.6% volatility, against a loss of 8.2% a year at 51.3%. Looking beyond its popular alternatives, GOOG (internet services) and MSFT (software) earned more than BABA with less volatility over the past 5 years. GOOG returned 19.0% a year at 32.0% volatility, against a loss of 8.2% a year at 51.3%.

Is BABA more volatile than the S&P 500?

Yes. BABA's volatility over the past 5 years was 51.3%, 3.0 times the S&P 500's 17.1%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, BABA's return lands within 51.3% of its average, either way. The higher it is, the rougher the ride and the harder it is to hold through a slump.

What is BABA's Sharpe ratio?

BABA's Sharpe ratio over the past 5 years was 0.08, against 0.79 for the S&P 500, so BABA earned less for each unit of risk than an index fund did. The Sharpe ratio is the return earned above cash for each unit of volatility: two investments with the same return are not equal if one got there with far bigger swings.

How correlated is BABA with the S&P 500?

Over the past 5 years, BABA's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.15 with the S&P 500. Correlation runs from 1 (moving in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to −1 (moving in opposite directions). They are only loosely linked, which makes it a real diversifier next to an index fund. In the table, the correlation column measures each option against BABA instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a BABA holding.

What are the best alternatives to BABA?

Of the 19 popular alternatives we compared, eight outperformed BABA in at least 3 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term timeframes, with dividends reinvested: SHOP, MELI and AMZN.

Did BABA outperform the S&P 500?

BABA finished ahead of the S&P 500 (SPY) in three of 11 full calendar years. In 2025, it returned +75.8%, against +17.7% for the index.

How did BABA do in stock market crashes?

BABA fell less than the S&P 500 (SPY) in one of the six major crashes it has traded through, and further in five. The clearest case was the 2022 bear market, when BABA fell 45.1% and the S&P 500 fell 24.5%.

What diversifies BABA?

These had a low correlation with BABA over the past 5 years and still earned a positive 5-year return: among large ETFs, LVHI (correlation 0.27), DXJ (correlation 0.02) and EMLP (correlation 0.12); among large stocks, CAH (correlation -0.20), CLS (correlation 0.08) and FIX (correlation -0.13). A correlation near zero means the two have moved largely independently.

How we measure

More research

Popular alternatives to BABA

Other stocks and ETFs