It's amazing how the free cash flow line has meant wildly different things for Apple (AAPL) and Oracle (ORCL) investors this year. Quick insight: With tech investors laser-focused on capex, free cash flow has emerged as a major driver of share prices this year. Free cash flow could remain negative for Alphabet in the near-term, based on guidance from its earnings call. This brings the year-to-date slide in Oracle's stock price to 40% versus a 8% gain for the S&P 500 (^GSPC). Click here for in-depth analysis of the latest stock market news and events moving stock pricesRead the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance