WallStSmart

Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc (ARCO)vsAlibaba Group Holding Ltd (BABA)

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Smart Verdict

WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd generates 21148% more annual revenue ($1.02T vs $4.82B). BABA leads profitability with a 10.1% profit margin vs 4.9%. BABA appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 0.39. ARCO earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 70/100 (B-).

ARCO

Strong Buy

70

out of 100

Grade: B-

Growth: 7.3Profit: 6.5Value: 8.7Quality: 4.0
Piotroski: 4/9Altman Z: 1.98

BABA

Buy

64

out of 100

Grade: C+

Growth: 6.7Profit: 5.0Value: 9.3Quality: 6.5
Piotroski: 2/9Altman Z: 2.02
IV

Intrinsic Value Comparison

Multi-model valuation · Graham Formula

ARCOUndervalued (+25.8%)

Margin of Safety

+25.8%

Fair Value

$11.33

Current Price

$8.20

$3.13 discount

UndervaluedFair: $11.33Overvalued
BABAUndervalued (+60.2%)

Margin of Safety

+60.2%

Fair Value

$382.49

Current Price

$121.06

$261.43 discount

UndervaluedFair: $382.49Overvalued

Key Strengths & Concerns

Side-by-side fundamental analysis

Key Strengths

ARCO5 strengths · Avg: 9.2/10
P/E RatioValuation
7.8x10/10

Attractively priced relative to earnings

Return on EquityProfitability
30.2%10/10

Every $100 of equity generates 30 in profit

EPS GrowthGrowth
159.4%10/10

Earnings expanding 159.4% YoY

PEG RatioValuation
0.548/10

Growing faster than its price suggests

Price/BookValuation
2.2x8/10

Reasonable price relative to book value

BABA6 strengths · Avg: 9.2/10
Market CapQuality
$270.36B10/10

Mega-cap, among the largest globally

PEG RatioValuation
0.3910/10

Growing faster than its price suggests

EPS GrowthGrowth
104.1%10/10

Earnings expanding 104.1% YoY

Debt/EquityHealth
0.259/10

Conservative balance sheet, low leverage

P/E RatioValuation
17.3x8/10

Attractively priced relative to earnings

Price/BookValuation
1.8x8/10

Reasonable price relative to book value

Areas to Watch

ARCO4 concerns · Avg: 3.0/10
Altman Z-ScoreHealth
1.984/10

Grey zone — moderate risk

Market CapQuality
$1.83B3/10

Smaller company, higher risk/reward

Profit MarginProfitability
4.9%3/10

4.9% margin — thin

Free Cash FlowQuality
$-18.70M2/10

Negative free cash flow — burning cash

BABA4 concerns · Avg: 3.0/10
Revenue GrowthGrowth
2.9%4/10

2.9% revenue growth

Operating MarginProfitability
1.0%3/10

Operating margin of 1.0%

Piotroski F-ScoreQuality
2/93/10

Weak financial health signals

Free Cash FlowQuality
$-18.10B2/10

Negative free cash flow — burning cash

Comparative Analysis Report

WallStSmart Research

Bull Case : ARCO

The strongest argument for ARCO centers on P/E Ratio, Return on Equity, EPS Growth. Revenue growth of 12.9% demonstrates continued momentum. PEG of 0.54 suggests the stock is reasonably priced for its growth.

Bull Case : BABA

The strongest argument for BABA centers on Market Cap, PEG Ratio, EPS Growth. PEG of 0.39 suggests the stock is reasonably priced for its growth.

Bear Case : ARCO

The primary concerns for ARCO are Altman Z-Score, Market Cap, Profit Margin. Debt-to-equity of 2.82 is elevated, increasing financial risk. Thin 4.9% margins leave little buffer for downturns.

Bear Case : BABA

The primary concerns for BABA are Revenue Growth, Operating Margin, Piotroski F-Score.

Key Dynamics to Monitor

ARCO carries more volatility with a beta of 0.48 — expect wider price swings.

ARCO is growing revenue faster at 12.9% — sustainability is the question.

ARCO generates stronger free cash flow (-19M), providing more financial flexibility.

Monitor RESTAURANTS industry trends, competitive dynamics, and regulatory changes.

Bottom Line

ARCO scores higher overall (70/100 vs 64/100) and 12.9% revenue growth. BABA offers better value entry with a 60.2% margin of safety. Both earn "Strong Buy" and "Buy" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.

This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.

Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc

CONSUMER CYCLICAL · RESTAURANTS · USA

Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc. is a McDonald's restaurant franchise. The company is headquartered in Montevideo, Uruguay.

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Alibaba Group Holding Ltd

CONSUMER CYCLICAL · INTERNET RETAIL · USA

Alibaba Group Holding Limited, also known as Alibaba Group and Alibaba.com, is a Chinese multinational technology company specializing in e-commerce, retail, Internet, and technology. Founded on 28 June 1999 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, the company provides consumer-to-consumer (C2C), business-to-consumer (B2C), and business-to-business (B2B) sales services via web portals, as well as electronic payment services, shopping search engines and cloud computing services. It owns and operates a diverse portfolio of companies around the world in numerous business sectors.

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