BIDU

We rate Baidu, Inc. (BIDU) as a Buy with a composite score of 66.8/100 at a current price of $133.36. The stock scores above average across the majority of our six quantitative factors and ranks #200 out of 7,333 stocks in our universe, reflecting a favorable risk-reward profile.

The rating is primarily driven by strength in momentum (88th percentile) and value (75th percentile), which together account for the majority of the composite score. All factors score above the 40th percentile, indicating no material weakness in the quantitative profile. We assign a Narrow Moat rating (66/100), Low uncertainty, and Exemplary capital allocation.

Key items to watch: whether strong momentum is fundamentally supported by revenue trends. Any material change in these dynamics could warrant a reassessment of our rating. The moat trend is stable, which suggests the competitive landscape is stable for now.

Baidu, Inc. holds an above-average position (#22 of 50) within the Services sector, based on our composite quantitative scoring across quality, value, momentum, and stability factors. The composite score of 66.8/100 places it at rank #200 in our full 7,333-stock universe. With a $29.1B market capitalization, Baidu, Inc. operates at meaningful scale within the Services sector, providing competitive advantages in distribution, procurement, and customer reach.

Despite positive momentum (88th percentile), revenue contraction of -4% creates a divergence between price action and fundamental trajectory. This divergence suggests either that the market is looking through near-term weakness or that technical factors are temporarily inflating the stock. Investors should assess whether the revenue decline reflects cyclical weakness or structural challenges.

The margin cascade tells an important story: gross margins of 50% (-9.2pp vs sector) narrow to operating margins of 16% (+12.5pp vs sector) and net margins of 18.2%, yielding a gross-to-net conversion rate of 36%. This efficient conversion suggests well-controlled operating costs and limited margin leakage between the gross and net levels.

At a current price of $133.36, Baidu, Inc. appears undervalued relative to its fundamentals. Our value factor score of 75/100 reflects a composite assessment across multiple valuation metrics including price-to-earnings, price-to-book, EV/EBITDA, and price-to-sales ratios relative to both sector peers and the broader market. The stock screens as attractively priced on a majority of these measures, suggesting the market may be underappreciating the underlying fundamentals.

The stock currently trades at a P/E of 85.9x (a 262% premium to the sector median of 23.7x), EV/EBITDA of 2.2x (discounted to peers), P/B of 1.3x, P/S of 0.6x. The above-sector P/E multiple suggests the market is pricing in superior growth or quality, which our analysis partially supports given strong quality metrics.

We assign a Low uncertainty rating to Baidu, Inc.. The company exhibits strong financial stability with a beta of 0.87, conservative leverage (27% D/E), and a stability factor in the 71th percentile. The predictable nature of the business model and solid financial position reduce the range of potential outcomes, giving us confidence in our fair value estimate.

Specific risk factors that inform our assessment include: elevated valuation multiple (P/E 85.9x) that leaves limited margin for error. Each of these factors independently widens the distribution of potential outcomes, and in combination they create a risk profile that demands careful position sizing. The stability factor at the 71th percentile and quality factor at the 64th percentile provide a quantitative summary of the overall risk landscape.

Key risk mitigants include: healthy gross margins of 50% provide a buffer against cost pressures; conservative leverage (27% D/E) limits balance sheet risk; above-average stability (71th percentile) suggests predictable business dynamics. These factors partially offset the identified risks and provide downside protection in adverse scenarios. On balance, the risk-reward profile is favorable for long-term investors.

We rate Baidu, Inc.'s capital allocation as Exemplary. Management demonstrates a strong track record of balancing reinvestment with shareholder returns, evidenced by returns on equity of 36.7%, disciplined leverage (27% D/E), best-in-class net margins of 18.2%. Exemplary allocators typically generate returns on equity above 20% while maintaining debt-to-equity below 50% — Baidu, Inc. meets this high bar.

The balance sheet remains conservatively managed, providing financial flexibility for opportunistic investments while maintaining a margin of safety for shareholders. We note that the combination of 22.6% return on assets and controlled leverage suggests management is deploying capital at rates well above the cost of capital — the hallmark of exemplary stewardship.

In summary, Baidu, Inc. receives a Buy rating with a composite score of 66.8/100 (rank #200 of 7,333). Our quantitative framework assigns a Narrow Moat (66/100, trend: stable), Low uncertainty, and Exemplary capital allocation. The average factor score across quality, value, momentum, stability, and investment is 68/100.

Our analysis supports a constructive view on Baidu, Inc.. The combination of identifiable competitive advantages, low uncertainty, and exemplary capital allocation creates a risk-reward profile that favors accumulation at current levels. We recommend investors consider adding this name to portfolios aligned with the stock's risk profile.