Here’s why buying Alibaba is a ‘great way to avoid the tariff tantrum,’ says one investor
Investors seeking a portfolio hedge against ongoing tariff volatility should look no further than Alibaba, according to Joule Financial’s Quint Tatro. The firm’s founder and president joined CNBC’s ” Power Lunch ” on Tuesday to share his thoughts on the Chinese e-commerce giant, alongside a pair of other market movers. Here’s what he had to say. Alibaba Shares of Alibaba have surged more than 56% this year. Still, this recent rally doesn’t deter Tatro, who highlighted the name as a buy for its tariff-proof attributes. “Despite the runup that we’ve seen in Alibaba of late, we’re still a buyer here, and it’s a great way to avoid the tariff tantrum that we’re seeing in other sectors,” Tatro said. “If you want to avoid the tariffs, you can avoid them very easily by just going abroad. And this is a great example of that. This is a company where 80% to 90% of the revenue comes from within China — it’s estimated that less than 5% comes from the United States. So they’ll really be isolated from any tariff talk.” What’s more, Alibaba still looks “unbelievable” from a fundamental perspective, the investor added. As proof, Tatro pointed to Alibaba’s cash holdings of $67 billion and its plans to invest more than $50 billion in artificial intelligence over the next three years. Exxon Mobil Shares of Exxon Mobil have popped 10% year to date, but Tatro sees more room to rally. “Even though the administration is going for lower energy prices, we think that deregulation will offset that,” he said. And like Alibaba, Exxon Mobil is also a “fundamental champ,” Tatro added. “The earnings estimates are for 18% growth next year, very little debt, $20 billion in cash, and you get a 3.4% dividend [yield] while you wait,” he said. “The stock hasn’t really done anything in the last two years, and it’s just starting to get traction. We think it goes higher here.” Snowflake Finally, Tatro highlighted cloud data storage stock Snowflake as another hedge against tariff headwinds as its business strategy is strong enough to compete in an environment that might squeeze others. “There’s no issues with tariffs here,” he said. “They deal with data in the cloud — maybe some opportunity for tariffs if their customers get hit and see rising prices.” Shares of Snowflake are down 3% so far this year, but the stock looks pricey, Tatro warned. “From a fundamental perspective, it does not look cheap. It’s trading at a rich valuation, but we feel the estimates are very low,” he said. “This stock we believe is a great buying opportunity on this pullback.” Get Your Ticket to Pro LIVE Join us at the New York Stock Exchange! Uncertain markets? Gain an edge with CNBC Pro LIVE , an exclusive, inaugural event at the historic New York Stock Exchange. In today’s dynamic financial landscape, access to expert insights is paramount. As a CNBC Pro subscriber, we invite you to join us for our first exclusive, in-person CNBC Pro LIVE event at the iconic NYSE on Thursday, June 12. Join interactive Pro clinics led by our Pros Carter Worth, Dan Niles, and Dan Ives, with a special edition of Pro Talks with Tom Lee. You’ll also get the opportunity to network with CNBC experts, talent and other Pro subscribers during an exciting cocktail hour on the legendary trading floor. Tickets are limited!
