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

[Baidu (BIDU US) Target Price Change]: Margin Improvement Offsets R&D Increase

[Baidu (BIDU US) Target Price Change]: Better Recovery with Leading Position in AIGC

[Baidu (BIDU US, BUY, TP US$178) Target Price Change]: Maintain BUY for Faster Recovery and AIGC

Baidu (BIDU US) – Core Business Recovery on Track with More to Expect on New Initiatives

Baidu (BIDU US) – Earnings beat on stringent cost control

Baidu (BIDU US) – Factoring into near-term pandemic impact but recovery is in sight

China/Asia TMT

Shawn Yang

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>We estimate that Baidu’s 4Q22 top line/bottom line would miss cons. by (1.6%)/(3.1%), mostly driven by the temporal disturbance of increasing COVID cases after reopening in Dec. 2022. </li>
<li>However, we remain optimistic about 2023 outlook: 1) Baidu’s ads would be recovering quickly in 1H23 as macro improves, and 2) leading position in AIGC development gives Baidu more potential.</li>
<li>Maintain BUY rating and raise TP to US$170, implying 17.2X PE in 2023</li>
</ul>


We estimate that Baidu’s 4Q22 top line/bottom line would miss cons. by (1.6%)/(3.1%), mostly driven by the temporal disturbance of increasing COVID cases after reopening in Dec. 2022. 
However, we remain optimistic about 2023 outlook: 1) Baidu’s ads would be recovering quickly in 1H23 as macro improves, and 2) leading position in AIGC development gives Baidu more potential.
Maintain BUY rating and raise TP to US$170, implying 17.2X PE in 2023


Baidu (Bidu.US): AIGC to Bring More Potential and Empower Search Biz