Issue No. 67 • Wednesday August 26, 2026
The Trading Addict Newsletter by Maria Helmick

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Market Commentary · Alibaba (BABA) Burry Wants Alibaba in the Bargain BinMichael Burry has named his price for Alibaba: another 50% off. |
Michael Burry is back with another headline-grabbing prediction. The investor made famous by The Big Short says Alibaba would need to fall another 50% before he would consider buying it. That is not a dip. That is a clearance rack. Alibaba raised $10.2 billion by issuing 710 million new shares in Hong Kong. The shares were priced at an 8.4% discount, and Alibaba's stock promptly dropped more than 8%. Burry's complaint is simple: Alibaba is increasingly willing to issue new shares whenever it needs money. Existing shareholders are diluted while the company finances its enormous AI ambitions. He has already sold Alibaba and moved into Chinese rival JD.com. The Numbers Are Real. So Is the Bill.Alibaba's AI story is real. External cloud revenue grew 45%, cloud EBITA jumped 133%, and AI-related revenue posted triple-digit growth for the 12th consecutive quarter. The AI business is reportedly running at a $7.3 billion annualized pace. Impressive? Yes. Cheap to produce? Not even close. Heavy AI spending is crushing near-term profitability, China's sluggish retail market is pressuring e-commerce, and the stock sale adds dilution. Alibaba may build one of China's strongest AI platforms — but shareholders are paying for it now. Burry wants another 50% off. Other investors think today's markdown is enough. Maria's Bottom Line Alibaba could fall 50%, rise 50%, or come gift-wrapped with a bow — it makes no difference to me. I don't trade these types of stocks, particularly Chinese stocks. There are too many risks that have nothing to do with the company's chart, earnings, or valuation. Burry, you can have at it. |
Sources: Reuters; Alibaba investor materials. Market commentary; not investment advice. |

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