Blue Lotus Non US Internet research, Blue Lotus Research Institute

Ying Pan

Blue Lotus Non US Internet research

China growth and global non-US Internet equities

Blue Lotus Research Institute

Blue Lotus Research is a Hong Kong Type 4 Licensed investment advisory firm focusing on Chinese growth equities and global non-US Internet equities

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Baidu (BIDU) reported C4Q23 top line, non-GAAP operating profit and GAAP net income inline, 9.4% and (43%) vs. our estimates, and inline, 8.2% and (46%) vs. consensus. </li>
<li>We believe LLM is fundamentally an upgrade of search; further, BIDU is a 2B/general AI play in China, a country filled with 2C/specialized AI players;</li>
<li>We cut our TP for BIDU from US$157 to US$116 and maintain BUY.</li>
</ul>


Baidu (BIDU) reported C4Q23 top line, non-GAAP operating profit and GAAP net income inline, 9.4% and (43%) vs. our estimates, and inline, 8.2% and (46%) vs. consensus. 
We believe LLM is fundamentally an upgrade of search; further, BIDU is a 2B/general AI play in China, a country filled with 2C/specialized AI players;
We cut our TP for BIDU from US$157 to US$116 and maintain BUY.


[Baidu,Inc.(BIDU US,BUY,TP US$116) TP Change]: AI Transforming Search Is a Long and Treacherous Road

<ul>
<li>We expect Baidu to report C4Q23 revenue, GAAP op. profit and GAAP net income inline, (2.3%) and (4.5%) vs. consensus.</li>
<li>The slight bottom-line miss was mainly attribute to the increased marketing costs related to user acquisition. Baidu cloud revenue is robust due to AI product stimulating demand. </li>
<li>We cut our target price to US$146 for the spendings related to the construction of future e-commerce business but maintain BUY for its cheap valuation.</li>
</ul>


We expect Baidu to report C4Q23 revenue, GAAP op. profit and GAAP net income inline, (2.3%) and (4.5%) vs. consensus.
The slight bottom-line miss was mainly attribute to the increased marketing costs related to user acquisition. Baidu cloud revenue is robust due to AI product stimulating demand. 
We cut our target price to US$146 for the spendings related to the construction of future e-commerce business but maintain BUY for its cheap valuation.


[Baidu, Inc. (BIDU US, BUY, TP US$146)TP Change]: The Commercialization Path of AI Is Becoming Clear

External broker reports(aggregated public sources), CMB International

CMB International

External broker reports(aggregated public sources)

Incorporated in Hong Kong, supported by the mainland and targeting in global market, CMB International Capital Corporation Limited (“CMBI”) is an integrated financial institution providing comprehensive and professional services. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Merchants Bank ("CMB"), by leveraging on the Group’s synergy and coordination in domestic and overseas markets, as well as CMB’s strong resources and outstanding social reputation, CMBI and its subsidiaries have been actively implementing diversified business strategies and set up an overall layout of main business segments including Corporate Finance, Asset Management, Wealth Management, Global Markets and Structured Finance, etc. Adhering to the philosophy of “being clients oriented and increasing our own values by the way of creating value for clients”, CMBI endeavors to provide quality and integrated financial services to institutional, corporate and individual customers both domestic and overseas including Hong Kong IPO sponsorship and underwriting, share placement and rights issue for listed companies, financial advisors, bonds issuance services, asset management, direct investment, wealth management, equity sales and trading, etc.

<ul><li>We expect Baidu to deliver inline 4Q23 revenue growth, with likely better-thanexpected operating profit growth aided by more disciplined-than-expected operating cost spent.</li><li>The ramp-up in revenue generation from generative AIrelated advertising and AI cloud was on track in 4Q23, in our view, and could drive further revenue growth in 2024.</li><li>We fine-tune our SOTP-based target price to USD195.7 (previous: USD195.6), which translates into 17.9x 2024E nonGAAP PE. Maintain BUY.</li></ul><p><em>Content is external broker report sourced from online content aggregator through publicly available sources and is displayed below for general informational purposes only. Refer full disclaimer below.</em></p>

We expect Baidu to deliver inline 4Q23 revenue growth, with likely better-thanexpected operating profit growth aided by more disciplined-than-expected operating cost spent.The ramp-up in revenue generation from generative AIrelated advertising and AI cloud was on track in 4Q23, in our view, and could drive further revenue growth in 2024.We fine-tune our SOTP-based target price to USD195.7 (previous: USD195.6), which translates into 17.9x 2024E nonGAAP PE. Maintain BUY.Content is external broker report sourced from online content aggregator through publicly available sources and is displayed below for general informational purposes only. Refer full disclaimer below.

Baidu (BIDU US) – Ramp-Up of Generative AI-Related Revenue on Track

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements, Aequitas Research

Sumeet Singh

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements

IPOs and Placements coverage across Asia Pacific

Aequitas Research

We cover all listing across the Asia Pacific along with follow-up placements. As of Dec 2020, our team had covered 539 IPOs with a hit rate of 73.5% and 685 placements with a hit rate of 66.8%.

We combine fundamental bottom-up views with our proprietary quantitative framework to provide a holistic coverage across new listings and placements. Our coverage includes pre-IPO notes before the deal is launched, follow-up analysis once the deal is live and post-listing trading analysis as well.

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>PCAOB officials concluded their Hong Kong visit last month and PCAOB is due to announce its annual judgment on whether it had adequate access to US listed China companies.</li>
<li>The Hong Kong visit was on the back of the 26th Aug 2022 announcement by PCAOB and CSRC that they had entered into an agreement with US authorities for access.</li>
<li>In this note, we'll talk about the latest developments, possible outcomes and implications.</li>
</ul>


PCAOB officials concluded their Hong Kong visit last month and PCAOB is due to announce its annual judgment on whether it had adequate access to US listed China companies.
The Hong Kong visit was on the back of the 26th Aug 2022 announcement by PCAOB and CSRC that they had entered into an agreement with US authorities for access.
In this note, we'll talk about the latest developments, possible outcomes and implications.


China ADRs Delisting - Friday Could Be Judgment Day for over US$800bn Mcap of Stocks

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

Travis Lundy

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

KraneShares CSI China Internet ETF / Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>The PCAOB has not, despite a cooperation agreement with the CSRC signed in 2013, been able to conduct on-site investigations of a HK or mainland-based company since 2010.</li>
<li>On Friday, the CSRC published a new Strengthening Confidentiality and File Management Related to Overseas Issuance to replace 2009 rules. </li>
<li>Importantly, the revised Provisions deletes the stipulation that “on-site inspections shall be dominated by domestic regulators or depend on the conclusions of inspections by domestic regulators.” Will it be enough?</li>
</ul>


The PCAOB has not, despite a cooperation agreement with the CSRC signed in 2013, been able to conduct on-site investigations of a HK or mainland-based company since 2010.
On Friday, the CSRC published a new Strengthening Confidentiality and File Management Related to Overseas Issuance to replace 2009 rules. 
Importantly, the revised Provisions deletes the stipulation that “on-site inspections shall be dominated by domestic regulators or depend on the conclusions of inspections by domestic regulators.” Will it be enough?


New CSRC "Provisions" Take a Step Towards Meeting PCAOB Requirements

China

East Money Information Co., Ltd. operates online financial information platform.  The Company's products include internet advertising and financial data.

Hithink RoyalFlush Information Network Co Ltd provides online financial data, data analysis software, and other financial software system.

Hithink RoyalFlush Information Network (300033 CH)

Wangsu Science & Technology Co., Ltd. provides online business solutions in China. The Company also provides Content Delivery Network (CDN), and Internet Data Centers (IDC).

Shanghai Wangsu Science & Technology Co (300017 CH)

People.cn Company Limited mainly engages in internet advertising, information services, mobile value-added and technical services. The Company's main products include original messages, government information services, public opinion research and consulting, mobile news, and ISP services.

Autohome Inc is an online destination for automobile consumers in China.  The Company delivers comprehensive, independent and interactive content to automobile buyers and owners.

JOYY Inc. operates a global social media platform. The Company offers platform which enables users to interact with each other in real time through online live media by creating, sharing, and enjoying a vast range of entertainment content and activities. JOYY serves customers in China.

Beijing TRS Information Technology Company Limited develops and markets software and technology services for unstructured data management. The Company provides software products that are enterprise search, content management and text mining.

Beijing Sinnet Technology Company Limited provides customers with broadband access services, IDC and its value-added services, and other internet integrated services. The Company's core business are broadband access services, IDC and its value-added services.

GDS Holdings Limited operates as a holding company. The Company, through its subsidiaries, develops and operates data centers. GDS Holdings offers risk and security management, information technology planing, remote monitoring, cloud hosting, virtualization, disaster recovery, and remote data protection services.

INESA Intelligent Tech Inc. operates in the IT industry. The Company designs and manages cloud servers and big data applications for businesses. INESA Intelligent also manufactures electronic components.

eBay Inc. operates an online trading community.  The Company's service is used by buyers and sellers for the exchange of products and services such as coins, collectibles, computers, memorabilia, stamps and toys, as well as concert and sporting tickets.  eBay also offers, through a subsidiary, secure online payment services.

Akamai Technologies, Inc. provides services for accelerating and improving the delivery of content and applications over the Internet; ranging from live and on-demand streaming video capabilities to conventional content on websites, to tools that help people transact business and reach out to new and existing customers.

AppFolio, Inc. provides cloud-based software solutions. The Company offers a cloud-based property management software that allows apartment and residential property managers to market, manage, and grow their business. AppFolio conducts business in the United States.

Zillow Group, Inc. provides e-commerce services. The Company provides information about homes, real estate listings, and mortgages through their website and mobile applications. Zillow serves homeowners, buyers, sellers, renters, and real estate professionals throughout the United States.

VeriSign Inc provides domain names and Internet security, enabling the world to connect online with reliability and confidence, anytime, anywhere. The Company ensures the security, stability and resiliency of key Internet infrastructure including the .com and .net top-level domains among others. VeriSign also offers intelligence-driven security services.

Info Edge (India) Limited operates an online job posting website. The website offers services for recruiters, job seekers, and employers. The Company also operates  an online matrimonial website for prospective brides, grooms, and relatives.

Kakao Corp. provides Internet portal services such as news, free e-mail, and leisure information.  The Company also offers cross-platform mobile messaging application that allows users to exchange messages.

GoDaddy, Inc. provides a cloud-based web platform for small businesses, web design professionals and individuals. The Company's platform provides applications that help them connect to their customers, manage their businesses and get found online.

Naver Corp. provides Internet site with web portal services, such as search engine, online game and content development.  The Company also offers marketing service through text and banner advertisement.

CoStar Group Inc. provides building-specific information to the United States commercial real estate industry and related industries. The Company's database details office and industrial space. The database provides digitized photographs and floor plan images on individual commercial buildings in the company's markets.

Baidu, Inc. operates an Internet search engine. The Company offers algorithmic search, enterprise search, news, MP3, and image searches, voice assistance, online storage, and navigation services. Baidu serves clients globally.

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Baidu (BIDU US)

[Baidu,Inc.(BIDU US,BUY,TP US$116) TP Change]: AI Transforming Search Is a Long and Treacherous Road

Baidu's Q4 results meet expectations, seen as a leader in AI in China with potential for growth, price target lowered to $116 but still rated as a...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

[Baidu, Inc. (BIDU US, BUY, TP US$146)TP Change]: The Commercialization Path of AI Is Becoming Clear

Baidu's Q4 earnings in line with expectations, slight miss due to marketing costs, cloud revenue strong from AI products, target price cut to $146...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

China ADRs Delisting - Friday Could Be Judgment Day for over US$800bn Mcap of Stocks

PCAOB officials concluded their Hong Kong visit last month and PCAOB is due to announce its annual judgment on whether it had adequate access to US...

Sumeet Singh

New CSRC "Provisions" Take a Step Towards Meeting PCAOB Requirements

CSRC has published new Provisions putting the onus of info management on companies, making it easier for the PCAOB to conduct on-site audits. It...

Travis Lundy

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

[Baidu,Inc.(BIDU US,BUY,TP US$116) TP Change]: AI Transforming Search Is a Long and Treacherous Road

​Baidu's Q4 results meet expectations, seen as a leader in AI in China with potential for growth, price target lowered to $116 but still rated as a...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

[Baidu, Inc. (BIDU US, BUY, TP US$146)TP Change]: The Commercialization Path of AI Is Becoming Clear

​Baidu's Q4 earnings in line with expectations, slight miss due to marketing costs, cloud revenue strong from AI products, target price cut to $146...

Blue Lotus Research Institute

Baidu (BIDU US) – Ramp-Up of Generative AI-Related Revenue on Track

We expect Baidu to deliver inline 4Q23 revenue growth, with likely better-thanexpected operating profit growth aided by more disciplined-than...

CMB International

China ADRs Delisting - Friday Could Be Judgment Day for over US$800bn Mcap of Stocks

PCAOB officials concluded their Hong Kong visit last month and PCAOB is due to announce its annual judgment on whether it had adequate access to US...

Sumeet Singh

New CSRC "Provisions" Take a Step Towards Meeting PCAOB Requirements

CSRC has published new Provisions putting the onus of info management on companies, making it easier for the PCAOB to conduct on-site audits. It...

Travis Lundy

Baidu's Q4 results meet expectations, seen as a leader in AI in China with potential for growth, price target lowered to $116 but still rated as a...

Baidu's Q4 earnings in line with expectations, slight miss due to marketing costs, cloud revenue strong from AI products, target price cut to $146...