Stock Monitor: Points Intl. Post Earnings Reporting

LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / March 20, 2018 / Active-Investors.com has just released a free earnings report on Baidu, Inc. (NASDAQ: BIDU). If you want access to this report all you need to do is sign up now by clicking the following link www.active-investors.com/registration-sg/?symbol=BIDU. Baidu reported its fourth quarter and fiscal 2017 operating and financial results on February 13, 2018. The leading Chinese language Internet search provider outperformed top- and bottom-line expectations and provided revenue guidance for the upcoming quarter. Register today and get access to over 1,000 Free Research Reports by joining our site below:

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Active-Investors.com is currently working on the research report for Points International Ltd (NASDAQ: PCOM), which also belongs to the Technology sector as the Company Baidu. Do not miss out and become a member today for free to access this upcoming report at:

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Active-Investors.com is focused on giving you timely information and the inside line on companies that matter to you. This morning, Baidu most recent news is on our radar and our team decided to put out a fantastic report on the company that is now available for free below:

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Earnings Highlights and Summary

For the quarter ended December 31, 2017, Baidu's total revenues surged 29% to RMB 23.6 billion ($3.62 billion) compared to revenue of RMB 18. billion in Q4 2016. The Company's online marketing revenues were RMB 20.4 billion ($3.14 billion) in the reported quarter, representing a 26% increase on a y-o-y basis. Baidu's reported revenue numbers exceeded analysts' estimates of RMB 23.05 billion.

During Q4 2017, Baidu's selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) expenses were RMB 3.6 billion ($558 million), representing an increase of 9% on a y-o-y basis. The Company's research and development (R&D) expenses rose 25% to RMB 3.7 billion ($569 million), primarily due to the growth of R&D personnel-related cost.

For Q4 2017, Baidu reported operating profit of RMB 4.8 billion ($734 million), representing a 118% increase compared to operating profit of RMB 2.9 billion in Q4 2016. The Company's non-GAAP operating profit soared 104% on a y-o-y basis in the reported quarter to RMB 5.8 billion ($884 million).

Net income attributable to Baidu was RMB 4.2 billion ($639 million) in Q4 2017, representing a 1% over Q4 2016 net income attributable to the Company of $4.1 billion. Baidu's reported quarter diluted earnings per ADS amounted to RMB 12.38 ($1.90) compared to RMB 11.40 in the year ago corresponding period.

During Q4 2017, the Company's non-GAAP net income attributable to Baidu was RMB 5.2 billion ($804) million, reflecting a 14% on a y-o-y basis, while non-GAAP diluted earnings per ADS amounted to RMB 15 ($2.29). The Company's earnings beat Wall Street's estimates of RMB 13.38.

For full year (FY) 2017, Baidu's total revenues gained 20% to RMB 84.8 billion ($13.03 billion) compared to $70.5 billion in FY16.

For FY17, net income attributable to Baidu was RMB 18.3 billion ($2.81 billion), representing a 57% increase on a y-o-y basis, and diluted earnings attributable to Baidu per ADS amounted to RMB 52 ($8.06). The Company's non-GAAP net income attributable to Baidu was RMB 22.3 billion ($3.42 billion), representing a 68% increase compared to the year ago same period, while non-GAAP diluted earnings per ADS was RMB 64 ($9.79).

Operating Results

At the end of Q4 2017, Baidu had approximately 460,000 active online marketing customers, representing 2% growth on a y-o-y basis. The Company's revenue per online marketing customer was approximately RMB 44,300 ($6,800), up 25% on a y-o-y basis.

For Q4 2107, Baidu's traffic acquisition cost was RMB 2.5 billion ($387 million), representing 10.7% of total revenues, compared to 14.5% in Q4 2016. The Company's Bandwidth costs as a component were RMB 1.4 billion ($215 million), representing 5.9% of total revenues compared to 6.8% in the prior year's comparable quarter. Baidu's content costs were RMB 3.8 billion ($577 million) in Q4 2017, representing 15.9% of total revenues compared to 14.1% in Q4 2016 and this was attributed to iQIYI's increased content costs.

Cash Matters

As of December 31, 2017, Baidu had cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments of RMB 100.5 billion ($15.44 billion). The Company's net operating cash inflow was RMB 10.0 billion ($1.53 billion) and capital expenditures were RMB 1.2 billion ($183 million) in Q4 2017.

For FY17, Baidu's met operating cash inflow was RMB 32.9 billion ($5.05 billion) and capital expenditures were RMB 4.8 billion ($735 million).

Outlook

For the first quarter of 2018, Baidu is forecasting net revenues to be between RMB19.86 billion ($3.05 billion), and RMB20.97 billion ($3.22 billion), representing a 25% to 32% growth on a y-o-y basis. Excluding disposed businesses, such as mobile games and Baidu Deliveries, the guidance represents a 29% to 36% increase compared to the year ago same period.

Stock Performance Snapshot

March 19, 2018 - At Monday's closing bell, Baidu's stock fell 3.64%, ending the trading session at $252.83.

Volume traded for the day: 3.09 million shares, which was above the 3-month average volume of 2.76 million shares.

Stock performance in the last month ? up 1.87%; previous three-month period ? up 9.06%; past twelve-month period ? up 43.15%; and year-to-date ? up 7.95%

After yesterday's close, Baidu's market cap was at $87.90 billion.

Price to Earnings (P/E) ratio was at 30.54.

The stock is part of the Technology sector, categorized under the Internet Information Providers industry.

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