BEIJING, Oct. 26, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Baidu, Inc. (NASDAQ: BIDU) ("Baidu" or the "Company"), the leading Chinese language Internet search provider, today announced its unaudited financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017[1].

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"In the third quarter, we made good progress in our strategic pillars to strengthen our mobile foundation and lead in AI," said Robin Li, Baidu's Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer. "On strengthening our mobile foundation, our strategy to leverage Baidu's leading AI technologies to increase the user scale and user stickiness of Mobile Baidu is showing measurable results. On our AI initiatives, we continue to focus on developing platforms for smart device and autonomous driving markets, as well as leveraging AI into vertical sectors, such as financial services."

"We drove product innovation in our core business to strengthen our user and customer value proposition and made progress in our AI-enabled businesses," said Qi Lu, Baidu's Chief Operating Officer. "We continue to solidify the foundation of our AI platforms and grow our partner and developer ecosystems. iQIYI also continued to lead the online video industry, off the back of highly successful self-produced content."

"We delivered solid financial results in the third quarter with top line increasing 29% year over year and operating profit growing 69% year over year," said Herman Yu, Chief Financial Officer of Baidu. "In the third quarter, we also spun off Baidu Deliveries, as part of a year-long strategy to free up the company's resources and management attention to focus on AI and projects with strong synergy that will optimize Baidu's long term value."

Third Quarter 2017 Financial Highlights


    --  Total revenues in the third quarter of 2017 were RMB 23.5 billion ($3.53
        billion), a 29% increase from the corresponding period in 2016. Mobile
        revenue represented 73% of total revenues for the third quarter of 2017,
        compared to 64% for the corresponding period in 2016.
    --  Operating profit in the third quarter of 2017 was RMB 4.7 billion ($706
        million), a 69% increase from the corresponding period in 2016. iQIYI
        reduced non-GAAP operating margins by 11 percentage points for the third
        quarter of 2017. Non-GAAP operating profit was RMB 5.5 billion ($833
        million), representing a 73% increase from the corresponding period in
        2016.
    --  Net income attributable to Baidu in the third quarter of 2017 was RMB
        7.9 billion ($1.20 billion), a 156% increase from the corresponding
        period in 2016. Diluted earnings attributable to Baidu per ADS for the
        third quarter of 2017 were RMB 24 ($3.62); non-GAAP net income
        attributable to Baidu[2] in the third quarter of 2017 was RMB 9.1
        billion ($1.36 billion), a 163% increase from the corresponding period
        in 2016; non-GAAP diluted earnings per ADS[3]  for the third quarter of
        2017 were RMB 26 ($3.89).

In the following section, comparison and analysis are provided based on reported consolidated financial results.

Third Quarter 2017 Results

Baidu reported total revenues of RMB 23.5 billion ($3.53 billion) for the third quarter of 2017, representing a 29% increase from the corresponding period in 2016.

Online marketing revenues for the third quarter of 2017 were RMB 20.1 billion ($3.02 billion), representing a 22% increase from the corresponding period in 2016. Baidu had about 486,000 active online marketing customers[4] in the third quarter of 2017, representing a 7% decrease from the corresponding period in 2016. Revenue per online marketing customer for the third quarter of 2017 was approximately RMB 40,900 ($6,147), a 31% increase from the corresponding period in 2016.

Traffic acquisition costs as a component of cost of revenues was RMB 2.5 billion ($372 million), representing 10.5% of total revenues, compared to 14.2% in the corresponding period in 2016 and 11.9% in the second quarter of 2017.

Bandwidth costs as a component of cost of revenues were RMB 1.4 billion ($216 million), representing 6.1% of total revenues, compared to 6.8% in the corresponding period in 2016.

Depreciation costs as a component of cost of revenues were RMB 0.9 billion ($128 million), representing 3.6% of total revenues, compared to 4.4% in the corresponding period in 2016.

Operational costs as a component of cost of revenues were RMB 1.4 billion ($208 million), representing 5.9% of total revenues, compared to 6.3% in the corresponding period in 2016.

Content costs as a component of cost of revenues were RMB 3.9 billion ($586 million), representing 16.6% of total revenues, compared to 12.1% in the corresponding period in 2016. The year-over-year increase was mainly due to iQIYI's increased content costs.

Selling, general and administrative expenses were RMB 3.7 billion ($563 million), representing an increase of 4% from the corresponding period in 2016.

Research and development expenses were RMB 3.2 billion ($487 million), representing a 24% increase from the corresponding period in 2016. The increase was primarily due to the growth of research and development personnel-related costs.

Share-based compensation expenses, which were allocated to related operating costs and expense line items, were RMB 0.8 billion ($126 million) in the third quarter of 2017, compared to RMB 0.4 billion in the corresponding period in 2016.

Operating profit was RMB 4.7 billion ($706 million), representing a 69% increase from the corresponding period in 2016. Non-GAAP operating profit was RMB 5.5 billion ($833 million), representing a 73% increase from the corresponding period in 2016.

Other income, net was RMB 4.2 billion ($636 million), which mainly consisted of the investment gain recognized as a result of the disposal of Baidu Deliveries.

Income tax expense was RMB 1.1 billion ($165 million), compared to RMB 1.0 billion in the corresponding period in 2016. The effective tax rate for the third quarter of 2017 was 12% as compared to 25% for the corresponding period in 2016. The decrease in the effective tax rate was primarily due to the nontaxable investment gain.

Net income attributable to Baidu was RMB 7.9 billion ($1.20 billion), representing a 156% increase from the corresponding period in 2016. Basic and diluted earnings per ADS for the third quarter of 2017 amounted to RMB 24 ($3.65) and RMB 24 ($3.62), respectively.

Non-GAAP net income attributable to Baidu was RMB 9.1 billion ($1.36 billion), a 163% increase from the corresponding period in 2016. Non-GAAP diluted earnings per ADS for the third quarter of 2017 amounted to RMB 26 ($3.89).

As of September 30, 2017, the Company had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of RMB 108.1 billion ($16.25 billion). Net operating cash inflow for the third quarter of 2017 was RMB 9.7 billion ($1.45 billion). Capital expenditures for the third quarter of 2017 were RMB 1.3 billion ($0.20 billion).

Adjusted EBITDA was RMB 6.8 billion ($1.03 billion) for the third quarter of 2017, representing a 62% increase from the corresponding period in 2016.

Outlook for Fourth Quarter 2017

Baidu currently expects to generate total revenues in the fourth quarter of 2017 between RMB 22.23 billion ($3.34 billion) to RMB 23.41 billion ($3.52 billion), representing a year-over-year growth of 22% to 29%. Excluding disposed businesses, such as mobile games and Baidu Deliveries, the guidance represents a year-over-year growth of 28% to 34%. This forecast reflects Baidu's current and preliminary view, which is subject to change.

Conference Call Information

Baidu's management will hold an earnings conference call at 8:00 PM on October 26, 2017, U.S. Eastern Time (8:00 AM on October 27, 2017, Beijing/Hong Kong Time). Dial-in details for the earnings conference call are as follows:



    International:              +65 67135090

    China                         4006208038

    US:                        +1 8456750437

    UK:                       +44 2036214779

    Hong Kong:                 +852 30186771


    Passcode for all regions:       98359218

A replay of the conference call may be accessed by phone at the following number until November 3, 2017:



    International:                                 +61 2 8199 0299


    Passcode:                                             98359218

Additionally, a live and archived webcast of this conference call will be available at http://ir.baidu.com.

About Baidu

Baidu, Inc. is the leading Chinese language Internet search provider. Baidu aims to make a complex world simpler through technology. Baidu's ADSs trade on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "BIDU". Currently, ten ADSs represent one Class A ordinary share.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "confident" and similar statements. Among other things, the outlook for the fourth quarter 2017 and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as Baidu's strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. Baidu may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Baidu's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: Baidu's growth strategies; its future business development, including development of new products and services; its ability to attract and retain users and customers; competition in the Chinese Internet search market; competition for online marketing customers; changes in the Company's revenues and certain cost or expense items as a percentage of its revenues; the outcome of ongoing, or any future, litigation or arbitration, including those relating to intellectual property rights; the expected growth of the Chinese language Internet search market and the number of Internet and broadband users in China; Chinese governmental policies relating to the Internet and Internet search providers and general economic conditions in China, Japan and elsewhere. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company's annual report on Form 20-F and other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Baidu does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of the press release, and Baidu undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

About Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement Baidu's consolidated financial results presented in accordance with GAAP, Baidu uses the following non-GAAP financial measures: non-GAAP operating profit, non-GAAP net income attributable to Baidu, non-GAAP diluted earnings per ADS, adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP.

Baidu believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding its performance and liquidity by excluding certain items that may not be indicative of its recurring core business operating results, such as operating performance excluding not only non-cash charges, but also other items that are infrequent or unusual in nature. The Company believes that both management and investors benefit from referring to these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing its performance and when planning and forecasting future periods. These non-GAAP financial measures also facilitate management's internal comparisons to Baidu's historical performance and liquidity. The Company believes these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors in allowing for greater transparency with respect to supplemental information used by management in its financial and operational decision making. A limitation of using these non-GAAP financial measures is that these non-GAAP measures exclude certain items that have been and will continue to be for the foreseeable future a significant component in the Company's results of operations. These non-GAAP financial measures presented here may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. Other companies may calculate similarly titled measures differently, limiting their usefulness as comparative measures to the Company's data.

Non-GAAP operating profit represents operating profit excluding share-based compensation expenses.

Non-GAAP net income attributable to Baidu represents net income attributable to Baidu excluding share-based compensation expenses and the gain or loss associated with the issuance of shares by Baidu's equity method investees at a price higher or lower than the carrying value per share.

Non-GAAP diluted earnings per ADS represents diluted earnings per ADS calculated based on non-GAAP net income attributable to Baidu.

Adjusted EBITDA represents operating profit excluding depreciation, amortization and share-based compensation expenses.

Free cash flow represents net cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures.

For more information on non-GAAP financial measures, please see the tables captioned "Reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to the nearest comparable GAAP measures".

For investor inquiries, please contact:

Sharon Ng
Baidu, Inc.
Tel: +86-10-5992-4958
Email: ir@baidu.com

[1] This announcement contains translations of certain RMB amounts into U.S. dollars at specified rates solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from RMB to U.S. dollars are made at a rate of RMB6.6533 to US$1.00, the effective noon buying rate as of September 29, 2017, in The City of New York for cable transfers of RMB as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

[2] Non-GAAP net income attributable to Baidu represents net income attributable to Baidu excluding share-based compensation expenses and the gain or loss associated with the issuance of the shares by our equity method investees at a price higher or lower than our carrying value per share.

[3] Non-GAAP diluted earnings per ADS represents diluted earnings per ADS calculated based on non-GAAP net income attributable to Baidu.

[4] The number of active online marketing customers and revenue per online active customer exclude our group-buying and delivery related businesses for consistency with previous reporting.


    Baidu, Inc.

    Condensed Consolidated Statements
     of Income

                                                                     Three Months Ended
                                                                     ------------------

                                                                        September 30,              June 30,             September 30,

    (In RMB millions except for share,
     per share (or ADS) information)                                                          2016                 2017                     2017
    ----------------------------------                                                        ----                 ----                     ----

                                                                          Unaudited                Unaudited              Unaudited

     Revenues:

     Online marketing services                                                              16,490               17,883                   20,108

     Other services                                                                          1,763                2,991                    3,381

     Total revenues                                                                         18,253               20,874                   23,489
                                                                                            ------               ------                   ------


     Operating costs and expenses:

     Cost of revenues (note 1, 2)                                                          (9,256)            (10,582)                (11,801)

     Selling, general and administrative
      (note 2)                                                                             (3,596)             (2,934)                 (3,746)

     Research and development (note 2)                                                     (2,614)             (3,148)                 (3,242)

     Total operating costs and expenses                                                   (15,466)            (16,664)                (18,789)
                                                                                           -------              -------                  -------


     Operating profit                                                                        2,787                4,210                    4,700
                                                                                             -----                -----                    -----


     Other income:

     Interest income                                                                           627                  712                      876

     Interest expense                                                                        (320)               (334)                   (557)

     Foreign exchange income(loss), net                                                         20                (139)                   (130)

     Loss from equity method investments                                                     (248)               (118)                    (73)

     Other income, net                                                                       1,272                  643                    4,229

     Total other income                                                                      1,351                  764                    4,345
                                                                                             -----                  ---                    -----


     Income before income taxes                                                              4,138                4,974                    9,045
                                                                                             -----                -----                    -----


     Income taxes                                                                          (1,045)               (564)                 (1,097)


     Net income                                                                              3,093                4,410                    7,948
                                                                                             =====                =====                    =====

     Less: net loss attributable to
      noncontrolling interests                                                                 (9)                 (5)                     (1)

     Net income attributable to Baidu                                                        3,102                4,415                    7,949
                                                                                             =====                =====                    =====



    Earnings per share for Class A and Class B ordinary shares:

    Net income attributable to Baidu
     -Basic                                                                                  85.27               113.58                   242.48

    Net income attributable to Baidu
     -Diluted                                                                                85.06               113.11                   240.49


    Earnings per ADS (1 Class A ordinary share equals 10 ADSs ):

    Net income attributable to Baidu
     -Basic                                                                                   8.53                11.36                    24.25

    Net income attributable to Baidu
     -Diluted                                                                                 8.51                11.31                    24.05


    Weighted average number of Class A and Class B ordinary shares outstanding:

    Basic                                                                               34,678,734           34,678,268               34,703,924

    Diluted                                                                             34,764,579           34,824,387               34,991,177


     (1) Cost of revenues are detailed
      as follows:

     Sales tax and surcharges                                                              (1,221)             (1,509)                 (1,700)

     Traffic acquisition costs                                                             (2,594)             (2,478)                 (2,476)

     Bandwidth costs                                                                       (1,241)             (1,382)                 (1,440)

     Depreciation costs                                                                      (802)               (828)                   (852)

     Operational costs                                                                     (1,159)             (1,225)                 (1,383)

     Content costs                                                                         (2,211)             (3,112)                 (3,897)

     Share-based compensation expenses                                                        (28)                (48)                    (53)

     Total cost of revenues                                                                (9,256)            (10,582)                (11,801)
                                                                                            ======              =======                  =======


     (2) Includes share-based compensation expenses as follows:

     Cost of revenues                                                                         (28)                (48)                    (53)

     Selling, general and administrative                                                     (117)               (236)                   (252)

     Research and development                                                                (273)               (512)                   (536)

     Total share-based compensation
      expenses                                                                               (418)               (796)                   (841)
                                                                                              ====                 ====                     ====



    Baidu, Inc.

    Condensed Consolidated
     Balance Sheets


                               December 31,         September 30,

    (In RMB millions
     except for number of
     shares and per share
     data)                                     2016                  2017
    ---------------------                      ----                  ----

                                 Audited              Unaudited


    ASSETS

        Current assets:

     Cash and cash
      equivalents                            10,898                15,357

     Restricted cash                            318                   447

     Short-term
      investments                            71,196                92,730

     Other invested
      securities                              7,748                21,496

     Accounts receivable,
      net                                     4,109                 4,728

     Loans and interest
      receivable, net                         1,800                14,070

     Amounts due from
      related parties                           346                   993

     Other assets, current                    3,345                 5,248

        Total current assets                 99,760               155,069
                                             ------               -------


        Non-current assets:

     Fixed assets, net                       11,294                12,058

     Intangible assets, net                   3,872                 4,895

     Goodwill                                15,342                15,810

     Long-term
      investments, net                       45,690                46,214

     Loans and interest
      receivable, net                         2,709                 3,699

     Amounts due from
      related parties                            11                    10

     Deferred tax assets,
      net                                     1,100                 1,532

     Other assets, non-
      current                                 2,219                 4,169

        Total non-current
         assets                              82,237                88,387
                                             ------                ------


    Total assets                            181,997               243,456
                                            =======               =======


    LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

       Current liabilities:

            Short-term loans                  1,115                 1,353

            Convertible notes
             payable                              -                8,186

            Amounts due to the
             third-party
             investors                        6,759                35,410

    Accounts payable and
     accrued liabilities                     21,896                24,985

    Customer advances and
     deposits                                 6,032                 6,920

    Deferred revenue                            596                   526

    Deferred income                             566                   561

    Long-term loans,
     current portion                          3,468                 1,008

    Notes payable, current
     portion                                  5,203                11,637

    Capital lease
     obligation                                   8                     -

    Amounts due to related
     parties                                    459                   337

        Total current
         liabilities                         46,102                90,923
                                             ------                ------


        Non-current
         liabilities:

    Deferred income                              28                    73

    Long-term loans                           6,822                 6,841

    Notes payable                            27,648                29,768

    Deferred tax
     liabilities                              3,589                 3,472

    Other non-current
     liabilities                                 65                    75

        Total non-current
         liabilities                         38,152                40,229
                                             ------                ------


    Total liabilities                        84,254               131,152
                                             ------               -------


    Redeemable
     noncontrolling
     interests                                5,492                 3,097


    Equity

    Class A Ordinary
     Shares, par value
     US$0.00005 per share,
     825,000,000 shares
     authorized, and
     27,325,551 shares and
     27,521,260 shares
     issued and
     outstanding as at
     December 31, 2016 and
     September 30, 2017                           -                    -

    Class B Ordinary
     Shares, par value
     US$0.00005 per share,
     35,400,000 shares
     authorized, and
     7,401,254 shares and
     7,201,254 shares
     issued and
     outstanding as at
     December 31, 2016 and
     September 30, 2017                           -                    -

    Additional paid-in
     capital                                  8,323                10,958

    Retained earnings                        85,734                97,979

    Accumulated other
     comprehensive
     income(loss)                           (1,783)                   70
                                             ------

        Total Baidu, Inc.
         shareholders' equity                92,274               109,007

        Noncontrolling
         interests                             (23)                  200

    Total equity                             92,251               109,207
                                             ------               -------


    Total liabilities,
     redeemable
     noncontrolling
     interests, and equity                  181,997               243,456
                                            =======               =======



    Reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to the nearest comparable GAAP measures (in RMB millions except for share and per ADS
     information, unaudited)


                                                       Three months ended
                                                       ------------------

                                                 September 30, 2016                               June 30,                               September 30, 2017
                                                                                                                  2017
                                                                                                                  ----

    Operating profit                                                 2,787                                        4,210                                        4,700

    Add:  Share-based
     compensation
     expenses                                                          418                                          796                                          841
                                                                       ---                                          ---                                          ---

    Non-GAAP operating
     profit                                                          3,205                                        5,006                                        5,541
                                                                     -----                                        -----                                        -----

    Add:  Depreciation
     of fixed assets                                                   899                                          932                                          957

    Add:  Amortization
     of intangible
     assets                                                            126                                           70                                          347
                                                                                                                   ---

    Adjusted EBITDA                                                  4,230                                        6,008                                        6,845
                                                                     -----                                        -----                                        -----


                                                     Three months ended
                                                     ------------------

                                                 September 30, 2016                               June 30,                               September 30, 2017
                                                                                                                  2017
                                                                                                                  ----

    Net income
     attributable to
     Baidu                                                           3,102                                        4,415                                        7,949

    Add:  Share-based
     compensation
     expenses                                                          418                                          796                                          841

    Add:  (Gain)loss
     associated with
     the dilution of
     equity method
     investees                                                        (73)                                         360                                          286
                                                                       ---                                          ---

    Non-GAAP net
     income
     attributable to
     Baidu                                                           3,447                                        5,571                                        9,076
                                                                     -----                                        -----                                        -----


    Weighted average
     number of ADS used
     in computing GAAP
     and non-                                                  347,645,787                                  348,243,867                                  349,911,767
    GAAP diluted
     earnings per ADS


    GAAP diluted
     earnings per ADS                                                 8.51                                        11.31                                        24.05

    Add:  Accretion of
     the redeemable
     noncontrolling
     interests                                                        0.42                                         1.37                                       (1.33)

    Add:  Share-based
     compensation
     expenses                                                         1.20                                         2.29                                         2.40

    Add: (Gain)loss
     associated with
     the dilution of
     equity method
     investees                                                      (0.21)                                        1.03                                         0.82
                                                                     -----                                         ----                                         ----

    Non-GAAP diluted
     earnings per ADS                                                 9.92                                        16.00                                        25.94
                                                                      ====                                        =====                                        =====



    Reconciliation from net cash provided by operating activities to free cash flow (in RMB millions, unaudited)



                                               Three months ended                    As a % of               Three months ended         As a % of          Three months ended               As a % of
                                               ------------------                    ---------               ------------------         ---------          ------------------               ---------

                                               September 30, 2016                 total revenues                June 30, 2017        total revenues        September 30, 2017            total revenues
                                               ------------------                 --------------                -------------        --------------        ------------------            --------------

    Net cash provided
     by operating
     activities                                                    4,501                             25%                      6,626                   32%                        9,680                     41%


    Less:  Capital
     expenditures                                                (1,183)                            -6%                    (1,125)                  -5%                      (1,297)                    -6%


    Free cash flow                                                 3,318                             19%                      5,501                   27%                        8,383                     35%
                                                                   =====                             ===                       =====                   ===                         =====                     ===

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SOURCE Baidu, Inc.