Alibaba: growth far beyond its economy.

1. It outgrew its own economy many times over. Revenue rose from CN¥101 billion in fiscal 2016 to CN¥1.02 trillion in fiscal 2026: 10.1 times as much. China's economy, counted the same way in money terms, grew about 100%. Whatever drove it, the economy around it does not account for growth of that size.
2. Ahead of almost everyone like it. From 2016 to 2025, its revenue grew 545% in US dollars; the median among 58 large service companies grew 90%. It outgrew 83% of them.
3. Four decisions on record. Stratrix has verified four of Alibaba's big decisions, each with what happened next. The hardest year after: "Alibaba Promised to Break Itself Into Six. A Year Later It Was Quietly Gluing the Pieces Back On", with its shares 20 points behind the S&P 500 over the next three years.
4. Profitable every year. Alibaba made money in each of its last eleven fiscal years, from CN¥43.7 billion (fiscal 2017) to CN¥151 billion (fiscal 2021).

Financial results

As reported in its annual filings, in CNY. Losses in red.

Stratrix Decision Cases

• 2023Alibaba Promised to Break Itself Into Six. A Year Later It Was Quietly Gluing the Pieces Back On.Reversed · shares −20 pts vs the S&P 500 over 3 years
• 2022Alibaba Built the World's Biggest Sale. Now It Won't Tell You What It Sold.Stood
• 2011Alibaba Built the Perfect Flywheel. Then It Tore Out the Best Part.Stood
• 2003eBay Had 85% of China's C2C Market — a Free Alibaba Marketplace Erased It in Three YearsStood