Baidu, Inc. (NASDAQ:BIDU) Receives Average Rating of “Moderate Buy” from Analysts

Shares of Baidu, Inc. (NASDAQ:BIDU) have earned a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the sixteen research firms that are covering the company, MarketBeat reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and fourteen have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 12-month price objective among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $156.64.

A number of analysts have weighed in on BIDU shares. Macquarie lowered Baidu from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, May 17th. StockNews.com cut Baidu from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, June 14th. Loop Capital cut their target price on Baidu from $155.00 to $130.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday. Susquehanna reduced their target price on shares of Baidu from $150.00 to $135.00 and set a “positive” rating for the company in a report on Friday, May 24th. Finally, Barclays lowered their price target on shares of Baidu from $138.00 to $133.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, February 29th.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Baidu

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of BIDU. Trexquant Investment LP purchased a new stake in shares of Baidu during the fourth quarter worth about $1,476,000. Nordea Investment Management AB raised its holdings in shares of Baidu by 7.0% during the fourth quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 347,788 shares of the information services provider’s stock valued at $41,429,000 after acquiring an additional 22,797 shares during the last quarter. Jennison Associates LLC lifted its position in shares of Baidu by 54.5% in the fourth quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 85,306 shares of the information services provider’s stock valued at $10,159,000 after acquiring an additional 30,103 shares in the last quarter. ANTIPODES PARTNERS Ltd boosted its stake in shares of Baidu by 8.8% in the fourth quarter. ANTIPODES PARTNERS Ltd now owns 1,438,716 shares of the information services provider’s stock worth $171,336,000 after acquiring an additional 116,047 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Northern Trust Corp increased its position in shares of Baidu by 1.2% during the third quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 179,688 shares of the information services provider’s stock worth $24,141,000 after purchasing an additional 2,202 shares in the last quarter.

Baidu Price Performance

Shares of BIDU opened at $88.59 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a quick ratio of 2.79 and a current ratio of 2.79. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $100.69 and a 200-day moving average price of $105.44. Baidu has a fifty-two week low of $88.26 and a fifty-two week high of $156.98. The stock has a market capitalization of $31.06 billion, a PE ratio of 11.86 and a beta of 0.52.

About Baidu

Baidu, Inc engages in the provision of internet search services in China. It operates through two segments: Baidu Core and iQIYI. The company offers Baidu App to access search, feed, and other services using mobile devices; Baidu Search to access its search and other services; Baidu Feed that provides users with personalized timeline based on their demographics and interests; Baidu Health that helps users to find the doctor and hospital for healthcare needs; and Haokan, a short video app.