Mark Hake

Scottsdale

Financial Writer and Analyst at Investor Place

Financial Writer at Barchart

Articles

Alibaba Shares Jump On Chinese Tariff News

2 days ago | barchart.com | Mark Hake

Alibaba Group Holding (BABA) ADRs (American Depository Receipts) rose 6.6% as of midday Monday, May 12, after the positive Chinese tariff news was released. Selling short put options provides 3.3% yields for one-month strike prices that are 5% out-of-the-money. BABA is at $133.48 for this $323 billion market cap Chinese trading company, up from $125.33 on Friday.
Carnival Corp's Free Cash Flow Could Surprise Analysts

3 days ago | barchart.com | Mark Hake

Carnival Corp (CCL) produced positive free cash flow (FCF) last quarter, albeit at a lower level on a trailing 12-month (TTM) basis than in 2024. However, its upcoming results could surprise analysts. That is based on analysts' revenue projections and company guidance. CCL could be worth $25.52, or +26% higher. Shorting out-of-the-money (OTM) puts is one play here. CCL stock closed at $20.19 on Friday, May 9, up from a recent low of $16.43 on April 7.
Meta Platforms' Capex Will Rise, Lowering FCF Forecasts - Is META Stock Worth Buying?

5 days ago | barchart.com | Mark Hake

Meta Platforms (META) reported higher operating cash flow for Q1 Y/Y last week, but lower free cash flow (FCF) due to higher capex spending. Moreover, on April 30, management raised its capex spending forecast for 2025, lowering future FCF forecasts. META stock has dropped as a result, but is it a buy here? The answer is that META is fairly valued today, but worth +116% more at $693 over the next 12 months.
Unusual Put Activity In Williams Companies

1 week ago | barchart.com | Mark Hake

The Williams Companies, Inc. (WMB), the Tulsa, OK-based natural gas pipeline firm, reported strong Q1 cash flow and earnings on Monday. Investors are bullish, as seen by unusual out-of-the-money put options activity today. WMB stock is at $59.05 in morning trading on Wednesday, May 7. With its $2.00 annual dividend per share (DPS), its dividend yield is 3.38%. This yield is slightly higher than its trailing 12-month (TTM) average yield of 3.28% according to Yahoo! Finance, and Morningstar.
Chevron's Free Cash Flow Doesn't Cover Its Dividends And Buybacks

1 week ago | barchart.com | Mark Hake

Chevron Corp (CVX) reported mediocre Q1 results on Friday, May 2. The company had to increase its debt to cover shareholder payments, as its free cash flow wasn't strong enough. CVX stock has been waffling, staying near its lows. So, should investors buy CVX stock here? One play is to sell short puts for income and to set a potential lower buy-in target price. CVX is up today in midday trading at $136.20 per share.
Chevron's Free Cash Flow Doesn't Cover Its Dividends and Buybacks - Is CVX a Buy Here?

1 week ago | inkl.com | Mark Hake

Chevron Corp (CVX) reported mediocre Q1 results on Friday, May 2. The company had to increase its debt to cover shareholder payments, as its free cash flow wasn't strong enough. CVX stock has been waffling, staying near its lows. So, should investors buy CVX stock here? One play is to sell short puts for income and to set a potential lower buy-in target price. CVX is up today in midday trading at $136.20 per share.
Amazon's Free Cash Flow Tumbles, So Is AMZN Worth Buying Here?

1 week ago | barchart.com | Mark Hake

Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN) reported a huge 48% drop in its Q1 12-month trailing (TTM) free cash flow (FCF) due to high capital expenditure (capex) on AI investments. However, the company is still generating cash with positive FCF. As a result, AMZN stock is not doing well, leaving investors wondering whether to buy it. Some investors may want to play AMZN by shorting out-of-the-money (OTM) puts. This article will discuss the reasons why and how this play works.
This 'Buy On Bad News' Stock Is A Bargain With Its 6.38% Yield

1 week ago | barchart.com | Mark Hake

Franklin Resources (BEN), parent company of the Franklin Templeton asset manager, reported lower Q1 earnings and assets under management (AUM) flows. However, BEN stock has already discounted this. With its 6.38% dividend yield and less than a 10x forward price/earnings (P/E) multiple, it is a buy here. BEN closed at $20.06 on Friday, May 2, up 7% after releasing its Q1 earnings report earlier before the market opened.
ExxonMobil's Free Cash Flow Is Attracting Value Buyers To XOM Stock

1 week ago | barchart.com | Mark Hake

ExxonMobil (XOM) reported strong free cash flow today for Q1 compared to Q4 2024. As a result, value investors are attracted to XOM stock, given its 3.7% yield and low P/E multiple. Moreover, out-of-the-money (OTM) short-put plays in one-month expiry periods have high yields. XOM is at $105.76 in midday trading on Friday, May 2, after its earnings release before the market opened. XOM is well off its recent highs ($119.04 on April 1 and $121.93 on Nov. 21), but up from a low of $99.93 on April 10.
Marvell Technology's Unusual Put Option Activity Shows Investors Like MRVL Stock

2 weeks ago | barchart.com | Mark Hake

Today, large, unusual activity in Marvell Technology Inc (MRVL) put options traded at an out-of-the-money (OTM) strike price. This implies that investors are bullish on MRVL stock. Moreover, its strong free cash flow (FCF) implies that MRVL stock could be worth 32% more at $75 per share. MRVL is at $57.00 in morning trading on Wednesday, April 30. That is well off its 6-month high of $126.06 on Jan. 23, but up from a low of $49.43 on April 4.