Baidu (NASDAQ:BIDU) Hits New 1-Year High – Still a Buy?

Baidu, Inc. (NASDAQ:BIDU)’s stock price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Saturday . The company traded as high as $151.08 and last traded at $150.30, with a volume of 11973840 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $130.66.

Trending Headlines about Baidu

Here are the key news stories impacting Baidu this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Baidu announced a proposed spin‑off and separate Hong Kong listing of Kunlunxin, making the plan official and signaling management intends to unlock value and allow the chip arm to raise capital independently. Baidu Announces Proposed Spin-off and Separate Listing of Kunlunxin (PR Newswire)
• Positive Sentiment: Kunlunxin confidentially filed for a Hong Kong listing, confirming regulatory steps are underway and increasing odds the unit becomes a standalone public company — a catalyst for re‑rating Baidu on potential asset monetization. Baidu’s AI chip arm Kunlunxin files confidentially for Hong Kong listing (Reuters)
• Positive Sentiment: Major outlets report the confidential Hong Kong IPO filing and highlight investor enthusiasm for domestic AI chip plays — broad media coverage helps drive demand for BIDU stock ahead of and after the listing. Baidu Files Hong Kong IPO for AI Chip Unit Kunlunxin (Yahoo Finance)
• Positive Sentiment: Unusual options activity showed a pickup in call buying (about 63,458 calls), indicating speculative bullish positioning that can amplify short‑term upside momentum.
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysts and articles note Baidu’s relatively healthy balance sheet, which supports the company’s ability to execute a spin‑off and for Kunlunxin to operate independently; this is supportive but not immediately catalytic. Baidu Has A Pretty Healthy Balance Sheet (Yahoo Finance)
• Negative Sentiment: A Pomerantz law firm investor alert is investigating claims on behalf of Baidu investors, which could present legal/PR risk if it develops into litigation — an overhang to monitor. Investor Alert: Pomerantz Law Firm Investigates Claims On Behalf of Investors of Baidu, Inc. (PR Newswire)

Analysts Set New Price Targets

BIDU has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Baidu in a report on Monday. Bank of America lifted their price target on Baidu from $100.00 to $151.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 19th. National Bankshares raised Baidu to an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, November 24th. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on Baidu from $140.00 to $130.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, November 19th. Finally, Benchmark lifted their target price on Baidu from $115.00 to $158.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 19th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have assigned a Buy rating, six have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $147.44.

Baidu Price Performance

The firm has a market capitalization of $51.92 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 49.93 and a beta of 0.30. The company has a current ratio of 1.91, a quick ratio of 1.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $123.20 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $110.00.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Baidu

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Binnacle Investments Inc bought a new position in shares of Baidu during the second quarter worth about $29,000. Winthrop Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Baidu during the 2nd quarter valued at about $39,000. Mizuho Securities Co. Ltd. acquired a new position in Baidu during the 2nd quarter valued at about $43,000. UMB Bank n.a. grew its position in Baidu by 65.0% in the 3rd quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 340 shares of the information services provider’s stock worth $45,000 after purchasing an additional 134 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Ameritas Advisory Services LLC increased its stake in shares of Baidu by 12,400.0% in the third quarter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC now owns 375 shares of the information services provider’s stock valued at $49,000 after purchasing an additional 372 shares during the period.

Baidu Company Profile

Baidu, Inc, founded in 2000 and headquartered in Beijing, is a Chinese multinational technology company best known for operating one of China’s leading internet search engines. The company built its business around online search and related advertising services, providing search, content aggregation and targeted ad placements to consumers and marketers across China. Baidu went public on the NASDAQ in 2005 and has since diversified beyond search into a broader technology and AI-focused portfolio.

Core products and services include the Baidu search platform and mobile app, Baidu Maps and Baidu Baike (an online encyclopedia), along with digital content initiatives.