REUTERS/Bobby Yip
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd chairman Jack Ma reacts as he speaks to journalists after holding a talk by Our Hong Kong Foundation in Hong Kong February 2, 2015.
The stock dipped by more than 3% to as low as $77.77 per share in early trading on Tuesday.
This year, the stock is down 25% year-to-date, and about 17% lower from the initial public offering price last September.
The Chinese e-commerce giant will announce quarterly results on Thursday for its third time since going public.
In an earnings preview Tuesday, Morgan Stanley analysts note that in a speech on April 23, Alibaba CEO Jack Ma said he expects a headcount freeze in 2015, although they do not think it was his core message.
"Most interpreted the message as a hint of potential earnings pressure in the near term, with the need to control costs after rapid growth," the analysts noted.
"In the speech, Ma did warn a few times that the restructuring/optimization of various business units in 2015 could impact near-term performance," the analysts further noted.
They have an "Overweight" rating on the stock.
Here's a chart showing the plunge in trading on Tuesday:
Google Finance
(H/T StockTwits)