Why Alibaba Stock Is Surging Today - Motley Fool

What happened

Shares of Alibaba Group (NYSE:BABA) jumped 9.3% Monday after the Chinese e-commerce leader announced a regulatory settlement.

So what

Alibaba was hit with a $2.8 billion fine as part of an anti-monopoly investigation. China's State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) found it to have restricted merchants from using competing platforms without justifiable cause. Regulators also instructed Alibaba to improve its internal controls to foster fair competition on its e-commerce sites.

A person is pointing to a digital stock chart that rises, then falls, then rises again.

Alibaba Group's stock rallied Monday. Image source: Getty Images.

Many investors were relieved that the fine wasn't larger or the punishment more severe. The penalty payment equates to 4% of Alibaba Group's domestic revenue in 2019. Chinese law allows for a maximum penalty of 10% of revenue. Moreover, there were no requirements for divestitures or major structural changes to Alibaba's business.

Now what

Wall Street says the fine could allow Alibaba to put its regulatory issues behind it. Several analysts, in turn, issued bullish commentary on Alibaba's stock.

JPMorgan analyst Alex Yao, for one, reiterated his overweight rating on its shares. He sees Alibaba's stock price rising to $320, or roughly 31% higher than its closing price Monday. "The event will serve as a closure of investors' concern on Alibaba's core commerce regulatory risks," Yao said.

This article represents the opinion of the writer, who may disagree with the “official” recommendation position of a Motley Fool premium advisory service. We’re motley! Questioning an investing thesis -- even one of our own -- helps us all think critically about investing and make decisions that help us become smarter, happier, and richer.

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