Jefferies, a global investment banking firm, adjusted its price target for Baidu (NASDAQ:BIDU), a leading Chinese internet services company.
The price target was lowered to $134 from $139, although the firm maintained a Buy rating on the stock.
The adjustment comes as the analyst reviewed Baidu's core revenue for the third quarter, taking into account the latest trends across different segments.
In the online marketing segment, the firm factored in macroeconomic uncertainties that could impact advertising revenue. However, it was noted that Baidu remains committed to enhancing user experience in search functionality through the use of generative AI.
For the AI Cloud segment, Jefferies revised its revenue expectations due to a softer performance in the personal cloud services, attributed to organizational adjustments. Despite this, the enterprise cloud services are reportedly on track with expectations.
In other recent news, Baidu's Q2 2024 earnings report revealed an 8% year-over-year growth in non-GAAP operating profit and a total revenue from Baidu Core of RMB 26.7 billion. Furthermore, Baidu's AI Cloud business is projected to continue its double-digit growth trajectory, with a 16% increase expected in the third quarter.
The company also underwent unexpected but potentially beneficial management changes, with new CFO and Mobile Ecosystem Group (MEG) leadership. Citi maintained its Buy rating for Baidu, expressing confidence in the new executives' ability to execute strategies effectively and foster management collaboration.
However, several financial firms revised their outlooks on Baidu. HSBC (LON:HSBA) downgraded Baidu's stock from Buy to Hold due to updated beta and currency estimates, increased competition, and a weaker advertising outlook. Loop Capital reduced its price target for Baidu, influenced by an anticipated shift to genAI search, impacting the company's revenue from online marketing services.
Jefferies also revised its price target for Baidu while maintaining a Buy rating, highlighting Baidu's potential for monetization through its Cost Per Sale model and AI agents. Bernstein SocGen Group downgraded Baidu's shares to Market Perform and reduced the price target due to concerns over disruptions in the search segment.
InvestingPro Insights
Recent InvestingPro data provides additional context to Jefferies' analysis of Baidu (NASDAQ:BIDU). Despite the lowered price target, Baidu's current market valuation appears attractive. The company's P/E ratio stands at 11.02, significantly below the industry average, suggesting potential undervaluation. This is further supported by a price-to-book ratio of 0.93, indicating that the stock is trading below its book value.
Baidu's financial performance remains solid, with a gross profit margin of 51.5% for the last twelve months as of Q2 2024, demonstrating strong profitability. The company's revenue growth of 3.08% over the same period, although modest, aligns with Jefferies' observations on macroeconomic uncertainties affecting the online marketing segment.
InvestingPro Tips highlight Baidu's strong return on invested capital and consistent earnings per share growth over the past years. These factors support Jefferies' maintained Buy rating, despite the lowered price target. Investors seeking a deeper understanding of Baidu's potential can access 18 additional tips on InvestingPro, offering a comprehensive view of the company's financial health and market position.
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