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AN vs BABA

AN
AutoNation, Inc.
NEUTRAL
Price
$214.26
Market Cap
$7.81B
Sector
Consumer Cyclical
AI Confidence
65%
BABA
Alibaba Group Holding Limited
NEUTRAL
Price
$173.23
Market Cap
$413.56B
Sector
Consumer Cyclical
AI Confidence
65%

Valuation

P/E Ratio
AN
12.9
BABA
23.6
Forward P/E
AN
10.12
BABA
19.5
P/B Ratio
AN
3.15
BABA
2.71
P/S Ratio
AN
0.28
BABA
0.41
EV/EBITDA
AN
10.51
BABA
20.1

Profitability

Gross Margin
AN
17.82%
BABA
41.17%
Operating Margin
AN
4.7%
BABA
2.17%
Profit Margin
AN
2.38%
BABA
12.19%
ROE
AN
27.16%
BABA
11.19%
ROA
AN
6.53%
BABA
4.03%

Growth

Revenue Growth
AN
6.9%
BABA
4.8%
Earnings Growth
AN
22.6%
BABA
-51.8%

Financial Health

Debt/Equity
AN
3.9
BABA
0.27
Current Ratio
AN
0.79
BABA
1.46
Quick Ratio
AN
0.17
BABA
0.84

Dividends

Dividend Yield
AN
--
BABA
0.59%
Payout Ratio
AN
0.0%
BABA
14.4%

AI Verdict

AN NEUTRAL

AutoNation's deterministic health scores raise significant concerns, with a weak Piotroski F-Score of 3/9 indicating poor financial health, and no available Altman Z-Score limits distress risk assessment. Despite this, the company shows strong recent earnings growth (22.6% YoY) and beats on earnings surprises, supported by a bullish analyst recommendation and a forward P/E of 10.12 that appears cheap relative to sector peers. However, high leverage (Debt/Equity of 3.90), weak liquidity (Current Ratio 0.79), and declining Q/Q EPS (-8.2%) offset these positives. The stock trades below the growth-based intrinsic value of $490 but above the conservative Graham Number of $159.54, suggesting mixed valuation signals.

Strengths
Strong year-over-year earnings growth of 22.6% and consistent earnings beat history (3 out of last 4 quarters)
Attractive forward P/E of 10.12, significantly below sector average of 52.74, indicating potential undervaluation
High return on equity (ROE) of 27.16%, well above sector average of 6.55%, reflecting efficient use of equity capital
Risks
Very weak Piotroski F-Score of 3/9, signaling poor financial health and potential instability
High debt burden with Debt/Equity ratio of 3.90, well above sector average of 1.59, increasing financial risk
Poor liquidity position: Current Ratio of 0.79 and Quick Ratio of 0.17 indicate potential difficulty meeting short-term obligations
BABA NEUTRAL

The Advanced Deterministic Scorecard reveals a mixed financial profile for Alibaba (BABA), with a weak Piotroski F-Score of 4/9 indicating suboptimal financial health, and no available Altman Z-Score limiting distress risk assessment. While valuation metrics appear favorable relative to peers—especially a Price/Sales of 0.41 and Forward P/E of 19.50—earnings growth is sharply negative (YoY EPS down 71%), and recent quarterly beats have reversed into consistent misses over the last four quarters. Strong insider sentiment and a bullish analyst consensus (strong_buy) contrast with deteriorating profitability and weak technical trends (10/100). The stock trades significantly above the Graham Number ($102.68) and intrinsic value estimate ($51.38), suggesting overvaluation unless growth rebounds materially.

Strengths
Attractive valuation multiples relative to sector: P/E (23.60) and Price/Sales (0.41) well below sector averages (Avg P/E: 49.05, Avg P/S: N/A but implied high)
Low debt burden with Debt/Equity of 0.27, well below sector average of 1.63, providing financial flexibility
Strong gross margin of 41.17%, reflecting pricing power and operational efficiency in core e-commerce
Risks
Weak Piotroski F-Score of 4/9 signals deteriorating financial health—penalizes health score per instructions
Earnings in freefall: YoY EPS growth down 71.0%, Q/Q down 70.4%, with last four quarters missing estimates by an average of -10.5%
Operating margin collapsed to 2.17%, indicating severe pressure in profitability despite stable gross margins

Compare Another Pair

AN vs BABA: Head-to-Head Comparison

This page compares AutoNation, Inc. (AN) and Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) across key fundamental metrics including valuation ratios, profitability margins, growth rates, financial health indicators, and dividend metrics. Each metric highlights the better-performing stock so you can quickly identify relative strengths and weaknesses.

Our AI engine independently analyzes each company's financials, competitive position, and market conditions to produce a verdict (Bullish, Neutral, or Bearish) along with key strengths and risks. Use this comparison alongside your own research to make informed investment decisions.

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