In the latest close session, Baidu Inc. (BIDU) was down 2.44% at $119.14. Meanwhile, the Dow experienced a rise of 0.47%, and the technology-dominated Nasdaq saw a decrease of 0.16%.
Shares of the web search company have depreciated by 10.62% over the course of the past month, underperforming the Computer and Technology sector's gain of 1.8%, and the S&P 500's gain of 1.16%.
Analysts and investors alike will be keeping a close eye on the performance of Baidu Inc. in its upcoming earnings disclosure. The company is forecasted to report an EPS of $1.32, showcasing a 44.3% downward movement from the corresponding quarter of the prior year. Meanwhile, our latest consensus estimate is calling for revenue of $4.31 billion, down 9.96% from the prior-year quarter.
Looking at the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates suggest analysts are expecting earnings of $7.18 per share and revenue of $18.19 billion. These totals would mark changes of -31.81% and -1.61%, respectively, from last year.
Investors should also note any recent changes to analyst estimates for Baidu Inc. These revisions help to show the ever-changing nature of near-term business trends. As a result, we can interpret positive estimate revisions as a good sign for the business outlook.
Based on our research, we believe these estimate revisions are directly related to near-term stock moves. To take advantage of this, we've established the Zacks Rank, an exclusive model that considers these estimated changes and delivers an operational rating system.
The Zacks Rank system, spanning from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), boasts an impressive track record of outperformance, audited externally, with #1 ranked stocks yielding an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 1.47% lower. Baidu Inc. is holding a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold) right now.
Looking at its valuation, Baidu Inc. is holding a Forward P/E ratio of 17. This signifies a discount in comparison to the average Forward P/E of 25.78 for its industry.
The Internet - Services industry is part of the Computer and Technology sector. This industry, currently bearing a Zacks Industry Rank of 76, finds itself in the top 31% echelons of all 250+ industries.
The Zacks Industry Rank evaluates the power of our distinct industry groups by determining the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks forming the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
Make sure to utilize Zacks.com to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and more, in the coming trading sessions.
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Baidu, Inc. (BIDU): Free Stock Analysis ReportThis article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).
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