Alibaba (NYSE:BABA) may see a lift in core marketing revenue after reporting its strongest growth in gross merchandise value (GMV) in three years during the recent 6.18 shopping event, according to a Sunday note from Citigroup (NYSE:C).
Citi analyst Alicia Yap reaffirmed her "Buy" rating on the stock with a price target of $169, projecting nearly 50% upside from current levels. She said the latest festival results, combined with upbeat retail trends in April and May, could push Q1 FY26 revenue growth beyond current estimates.
Tmall President Liu Bo said GMV rose 10% year-over-year, highlighting robust merchant sales. He credited China's trade-in subsidy policy and immediate 10% price discounts as key drivers, which helped improve conversion and reduce returns. The 6.18 event spanned late May to mid-June.
Yap noted early traction from Alibaba's Taobao Quick Commerce and emphasized that AliExpress showed strong global engagement, with livestreams attracting hundreds of thousands of users and some products selling out in markets like the UK and Australia.
The company is now positioning for its next major event, Singles' Day on Nov. 11, by doubling down on high-quality growth strategies.
This report reflects optimism around Alibaba's rebound as it sharpens its domestic and international e-commerce focus.
This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
