Independent research on the U.S. markets, Baptista Research

Baptista Research

Independent research on the U.S. markets

Baptista Research is an independent financial research house focused on the U.S. markets. We provide equity research as well as credit research reports on the top-listed U.S. companies with most of our focus on technology, consumer goods and services, automobiles, industrials, oil and gas, pharma, and healthcare. Our research has served more than 3000 institutional investors including mutual funds, hedge funds, banks, family offices, and various buy-side firms. We operate a research subscription service where institutions, as well as retail investors, can have priority access to all our research. We also have a wide distribution of our research reports across some of the top global financial platforms. Apart from equity research and credit research, we also provide advisory services with respect to mergers & acquisitions (M&A), private equity/ venture capital fundraising, valuation reports, and investment management services for corporates.
Baptista Research is owned and managed by Ishan Majumdar, an ex-Venture Capitalist/ Investment Banker, a Chartered Accountant, and a Masters’ degree holder in Management from HEC Paris. Ishan has nearly a decade of experience in Mergers and Acquisitions, Leveraged Buyouts (LBOs), Venture Capital Investing, Corporate Strategy, and Valuation in front-office roles at the likes of BNP Paribas CIB, Credit Agricole CIB, Groupe Danone, and TIW Private Equity. He has worked on and closed multiple acquisition deals, leveraged buyouts, and start-up investment transactions.

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul><li>Alibaba Group Holding has made a significant move in the AI space with the release of its latest artificial intelligence model, QwQ-32B, as it seeks to establish itself as China’s leading AI developer, challenging DeepSeek.</li><li>The model, which excels in mathematical reasoning, coding, and problem-solving, demonstrates capabilities comparable to both DeepSeek’s R1 and OpenAI’s latest technology.</li><li>However, a key differentiator is its size, as QwQ-32B operates with only 32 billion parameters compared to DeepSeek R1’s 671 billion.</li></ul>

Alibaba Group Holding has made a significant move in the AI space with the release of its latest artificial intelligence model, QwQ-32B, as it seeks to establish itself as China’s leading AI developer, challenging DeepSeek.The model, which excels in mathematical reasoning, coding, and problem-solving, demonstrates capabilities comparable to both DeepSeek’s R1 and OpenAI’s latest technology.However, a key differentiator is its size, as QwQ-32B operates with only 32 billion parameters compared to DeepSeek R1’s 671 billion.

Alibaba Group’s AI Power Move—Can It Outpace DeepSeek and OpenAI?

Derivatives and Quantitative Strategist

Gaudenz Schneider

Equity Derivatives

<ul>
<li>While <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group-holding-ltd-d7b798e2-202d-4e01-9a1e-799e2ae8f0c7" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28434:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group Holding (9988 HK)</a> rallied, lower in-the-money calls were closed, realizing gains, while higher out-of-the-money strikes gained popularity.</li>
<li>The median strike price lagged the sharp increase in stock price. The median strike currently stands at 107.50.</li>
<li>With 81% of March calls currently in-the-money and higher strikes trading at premium implied volatility, active trading is expected in the 150-170 strike range.</li>
</ul>


While Alibaba Group Holding (9988 HK) rallied, lower in-the-money calls were closed, realizing gains, while higher out-of-the-money strikes gained popularity.
The median strike price lagged the sharp increase in stock price. The median strike currently stands at 107.50.
With 81% of March calls currently in-the-money and higher strikes trading at premium implied volatility, active trading is expected in the 150-170 strike range.


Alibaba (9988 HK): Trends in CALL Strikes and Open Interest Visualized in Animation and Charts

<ul>
<li>As <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group-holding-ltd-d7b798e2-202d-4e01-9a1e-799e2ae8f0c7" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28434:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group Holding (9988 HK)</a> rallied, put strike distribution remained largely unchanged with median strikes only rising from 80 to 85, pushing protection increasingly deep out-of-the-money.</li>
<li>With most puts now deep out-of-the-money, active trading is expected in the 120-140 strike range.</li>
<li>The deep out-of-the-money put strikes trade at a significant premium to at the money implied volatility. The 130 strikes trade below, offering an opportunity for an effective hedge.</li>
</ul>


As Alibaba Group Holding (9988 HK) rallied, put strike distribution remained largely unchanged with median strikes only rising from 80 to 85, pushing protection increasingly deep out-of-the-money.
With most puts now deep out-of-the-money, active trading is expected in the 120-140 strike range.
The deep out-of-the-money put strikes trade at a significant premium to at the money implied volatility. The 130 strikes trade below, offering an opportunity for an effective hedge.


Alibaba (9988 HK): Trends in PUT Strikes and Open Interest Visualized in Animation and Charts

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Periscope Analytics

Periscope Analytics focuses on event-driven trades across Asia Pacific and provides comprehensive, timely and systematic coverage of index changes to major Asia Pacific indices in a structured manner.

The analysis includes forecasted inclusions and exclusions to all major Asian indices that have significant amount of tracking assets, including estimates of passive buy/sell flow on the stocks. The service also provides commentary and impact of market consultations, ground rule changes, and other events (IPOs, spin-offs, M&A) that could lead to index changes and passive flow.

Periscope Analytics works with multi-strategy hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, stat arb trading groups and long-only investors that invest and trade in the Asia Pacific region with the data being used to trade index rebalances, avoid pre-positioning and passive flow, and to time entry into and exit from stocks.

Event-Driven Trades Across Asia Pacific

Index Rebalance

<ul>
<li>The March rebalance of the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hong-kong-hang-seng-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22899:1" rel="noopener">HSI</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hang-seng-china-enterprises-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22900:1" rel="noopener">HSCEI INDEX</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hang-seng-tech-index" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31367:1" rel="noopener">HSTECH</a> and HSIII indices will use today's closing prices to cap the index constituent weights at 8%/12%. This leads to large flows.</li>
<li>The gross round-trip trade across all stocks across the four indices is estimated at HK$41.1bn (US$5.3bn). The net round-trip trade is HK$37.3bn (US$4.8bn).</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/meituan" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26970:1" rel="noopener">Meituan</a> ,  <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jd-com-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29043:1" rel="noopener">JD.com</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/baidu-inc-a55ca720-5968-48f0-8194-ac94390d065c" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:32212:1" rel="noopener">Baidu</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/horizon-robotics-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:35637:1" rel="noopener">Horizon Robotics</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/industrial-and-commercial-bank-of-china-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1119:1" rel="noopener">ICBC</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/beigene-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27352:1" rel="noopener">BeiGene</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kuaishou-technology" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29725:1" rel="noopener">Kuaishou Technology</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-construction-bank-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:45:1" rel="noopener">China Construction Bank</a> are the largest buys. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group-holding-ltd-d7b798e2-202d-4e01-9a1e-799e2ae8f0c7" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28434:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/xiaomi-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:24409:1" rel="noopener">Xiaomi</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hsbc-holdings-plc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:516:1" rel="noopener">HSBC</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/zhongan-online-p-c-insurance-c" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23681:1" rel="noopener">ZhongAn Online</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tencent-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26:1" rel="noopener">Tencent </a>are the largest sells.</li>
</ul>


The March rebalance of the HSI, HSCEI INDEX, HSTECH and HSIII indices will use today's closing prices to cap the index constituent weights at 8%/12%. This leads to large flows.
The gross round-trip trade across all stocks across the four indices is estimated at HK$41.1bn (US$5.3bn). The net round-trip trade is HK$37.3bn (US$4.8bn).

Meituan ,  JD.com, Baidu, Horizon Robotics, ICBC, BeiGene, Kuaishou Technology and China Construction Bank are the largest buys. Alibaba, Xiaomi, HSBC, ZhongAn Online and Tencent are the largest sells.


HSI, HSCEI, HSTECH, HSIII Index Rebalance: US$5.3bn of Flows Post Capping (Mar 2025)

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Gross SOUTHBOUND volumes cleared HK$800bn for the second week in a row. NET buying by SOUTHBOUND was HK$75bn which was perhaps a new record.</li>
<li>Notable again is the HUGE back-and-forth. If HK$865bn traded and SOUTHBOUND "only" bought HK$75bn, HK$395bn was round-tripped for short-term purposes.</li>
<li>Last week I flipped to short <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alibaba-group-holding-ltd-d7b798e2-202d-4e01-9a1e-799e2ae8f0c7" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:28434:1" rel="noopener">Alibaba Group Holding (9988 HK)</a>. Sentiment may worsen and there's lots to sell later this week. Staying short Alibaba for now. </li>
</ul>


Gross SOUTHBOUND volumes cleared HK$800bn for the second week in a row. NET buying by SOUTHBOUND was HK$75bn which was perhaps a new record.
Notable again is the HUGE back-and-forth. If HK$865bn traded and SOUTHBOUND "only" bought HK$75bn, HK$395bn was round-tripped for short-term purposes.
Last week I flipped to short Alibaba Group Holding (9988 HK). Sentiment may worsen and there's lots to sell later this week. Staying short Alibaba for now. 


HK Connect SOUTHBOUND Flows (To 28 Feb 2025); Big Volumes, HUGE Net Buys on Blue Chips, Tech-Y Names

China

Alibaba Group Holding Limited provides online sales services. The Company provides internet infrastructure, electronic commerce, online financial, and internet content services through its subsidiaries. Alibaba Group Holding offers its products and services worldwide.

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Alibaba (9988 HK)

Alibaba Group’s AI Power Move—Can It Outpace DeepSeek and OpenAI?

Alibaba Group Holding has made a significant move in the AI space with the release of its latest artificial intelligence model, QwQ-32B, as it...

Baptista Research

Alibaba (9988 HK): Trends in CALL Strikes and Open Interest Visualized in Animation and Charts

Alibaba stock rally prompts closure of lower in-the-money calls, while higher out-of-the-money strikes gain popularity. Active trading expected in...

Gaudenz Schneider

Alibaba (9988 HK): Trends in PUT Strikes and Open Interest Visualized in Animation and Charts

Alibaba's rally pushes put strikes deep out-of-the-money, creating opportunities in the 120-140 range for effective hedging.

Gaudenz Schneider

HSI, HSCEI, HSTECH, HSIII Index Rebalance: US$5.3bn of Flows Post Capping (Mar 2025)

The March rebalance of the HSI, HSCEI, HSTECH and HSIII indices will use today's closing prices for capping. The round-trip trade across the four...

Brian Freitas

HK Connect SOUTHBOUND Flows (To 28 Feb 2025); Big Volumes, HUGE Net Buys on Blue Chips, Tech-Y Names

HK SOUTHBOUND Connect flows were again huge, both short-term trading and actual net buying. Last week flipped to short Alibaba. This week stays...

Travis Lundy

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

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Alibaba Group’s AI Power Move—Can It Outpace DeepSeek and OpenAI?

Alibaba Group Holding has made a significant move in the AI space with the release of its latest artificial intelligence model, QwQ-32B, as it...

Baptista Research

Alibaba (9988 HK): Trends in CALL Strikes and Open Interest Visualized in Animation and Charts

​Alibaba stock rally prompts closure of lower in-the-money calls, while higher out-of-the-money strikes gain popularity. Active trading expected in...

Gaudenz Schneider

Alibaba (9988 HK): Trends in PUT Strikes and Open Interest Visualized in Animation and Charts

​Alibaba's rally pushes put strikes deep out-of-the-money, creating opportunities in the 120-140 range for effective hedging.

Gaudenz Schneider

HSI, HSCEI, HSTECH, HSIII Index Rebalance: US$5.3bn of Flows Post Capping (Mar 2025)

The March rebalance of the HSI, HSCEI, HSTECH and HSIII indices will use today's closing prices for capping. The round-trip trade across the four...

Brian Freitas

HK Connect SOUTHBOUND Flows (To 28 Feb 2025); Big Volumes, HUGE Net Buys on Blue Chips, Tech-Y Names

HK SOUTHBOUND Connect flows were again huge, both short-term trading and actual net buying. Last week flipped to short Alibaba. This week stays...

Travis Lundy

Alibaba stock rally prompts closure of lower in-the-money calls, while higher out-of-the-money strikes gain popularity. Active trading expected in...

Alibaba's rally pushes put strikes deep out-of-the-money, creating opportunities in the 120-140 range for effective hedging.