Alibaba vs. Coupang: Which E-Commerce Giant Is a Better Buy in 2026?

The article compares Alibaba and Coupang as investment opportunities in 2026. Alibaba, despite facing regulatory uncertainty, AI spending pressures, and geopolitical risks, is recommended as the better buy due to its stronger profitability (10.1% net margin), attractive valuation (16.9x forward P/E), and double-digit AI cloud revenue growth. Coupang, while growing faster (14.1% YoY revenue growth), faces record regulatory fines, perjury investigations, and shareholder lawsuits with a thin 0.6% net margin, making it a riskier choice.