Benchmark Reiterates Buy Rating for Baidu (NASDAQ:BIDU)

Analysts from Benchmark recently reaffirmed their "buy" rating on Baidu (NASDAQ:BIDU) during a research note distributed to investors on Wednesday. They set a target price of $130.00 for the shares of this information services provider. This price target suggests that there is a potential upside of approximately 44.19% from its current trading value.

Other Analysts' Ratings

In addition to Benchmark, several other investment research firms have provided their assessments of Baidu's stock. For instance, Barclays adjusted their price target from $83.00 to $95.00 and assigned an "equal weight" rating as of February 11. Similarly, Mizuho raised their forecast from $95.00 to $105.00 and recommended an "outperform" rating. However, not all opinions have been favorable; JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded Baidu from an "overweight" to a "neutral" rating on November 27. Citigroup also lowered their price target slightly from $142.00 to $141.00 while maintaining a "buy" rating. Lastly, Nomura downgraded Baidu's rating from "buy" to "neutral". According to MarketBeat.com, the overall evaluation by analysts currently stands at a consensus rating of "Hold" with an average price objective of $111.25.

Baidu's Stock Performance Overview

On Wednesday, Baidu's stock opened at $90.16. The company's 50-day and 200-day simple moving averages are $87.12 and $88.83, respectively. Baidu has a market capitalization of $31.61 billion and operates with a P/E ratio of 11.04 and a P/E/G ratio of 2.23. It has a relatively low beta of 0.46. Over the past year, Baidu has witnessed a low point of $77.19 and a high of $116.25. The company also maintains a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18, demonstrating strong financial health, along with a current ratio and quick ratio both at 2.19, indicating good liquidity.

Investor Activity in Baidu

In recent months, institutional investors have been active in buying and selling Baidu shares. Primecap Management Co. CA increased its holdings by 1.5% in the third quarter, owning 12,123,856 shares valued at approximately $1.28 billion after purchasing an additional 176,150 shares. Likewise, Dodge & Cox raised their stake by 0.4% in the fourth quarter, holding 5,916,215 shares worth $498.8 million. Other firms like Sanders Capital LLC and Pictet Asset Management also reported increases in their respective stakes during the same time frames.

Baidu Company Insights

Baidu, Inc. specializes in providing internet search services primarily in China. The company operates through two segments: Baidu Core and iQIYI. Its services include the Baidu app, Baidu Search, and Baidu Health, which helps users find healthcare professionals. The company also manages Haokan, a short video platform.

Baidu, Stocks, Investment