BEIJING, Oct. 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Baidu, Inc. (NASDAQ: BIDU), the leading Chinese language Internet search provider, today announced its unaudited financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2015[1].

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"With mobile accounting for nearly two-thirds of Baidu's search traffic and China squarely in a mobile age, Baidu is pioneering and redefining the mobile experience for users in China. We further extended the reach of our platform by deeply integrating and connecting search and maps with transaction services," said Robin Li, chairman and CEO of Baidu. "We have made great momentum in O2O and seen strong progress in transaction services for Baidu," Li said.

"We delivered another solid quarter, with mobile growing its contribution. The momentum in transaction services gives us the confidence to continue investing," said Jennifer Li, CFO of Baidu. "We will invest in ways that leverage and buttress our competitive advantage," she said.

Third Quarter 2015 Operational Highlights


    --  Mobile search monthly active users (MAUs) were 643 million for the month
        of September 2015, an increase of 26% year-over-year
    --  Mobile maps MAUs were 326 million for the month of September 2015, an
        increase of 34% year-over-year
    --  Gross merchandise value[2] (GMV) for Transaction Services totaled
        RMB60.2 billion ($9.5 billion) for the third quarter of 2015, an
        increase of 119% year-over-year
    --  Baidu Wallet activated accounts reached 45 million at the end of
        September 2015, an increase of 520% year-over-year

Share Repurchase

In the third quarter of 2015, the Company completed its share repurchase program authorized by the board of directors in July 2015. Under the program, the Company repurchased approximately 6.0 million ADSs for approximately $1 billion. On October 22, 2015, Baidu's board of directors authorized a new share repurchase program under which the Company may repurchase up to $2 billion of its shares over the next 24 months.

Third Quarter 2015 Financial Highlights


    --  Total revenues in the third quarter of 2015 were RMB18.383 billion
        ($2.892 billion), a 36.0% increase from the corresponding period in
        2014. Mobile revenue represented 54% of total revenues for the third
        quarter of 2015, compared to 37% for the corresponding period in 2014.
    --  Operating profit in the third quarter of 2015 was RMB2.512 billion
        ($395.2 million), a 35.9% decrease from the corresponding period in
        2014. Transaction Services[3] reduced non-GAAP operating margins by 32.0
        percentage points and iQiyi further reduced non-GAAP operating margins
        by 5.4 percentage points.
    --  Net income attributable to Baidu in the third quarter of 2015 was
        RMB2.841 billion ($447.0 million), a 26.7% decrease from the
        corresponding period in 2014. Diluted earnings attributable to Baidu per
        ADS for the third quarter of 2015 were RMB7.92 ($1.25); diluted earnings
        attributable to Baidu per ADS excluding share-based compensation
        expenses (non-GAAP) for the third quarter of 2015 were RMB9.07 ($1.43).

Third Quarter 2015 Results

Baidu reported total revenues of RMB18.383 billion ($2.892 billion) for the third quarter of 2015, representing a 36.0% increase from the corresponding period in 2014.

Online marketing revenues for the third quarter of 2015 were RMB17.680 billion ($2.782 billion), representing a 31.7% increase from the corresponding period in 2014. Baidu had approximately 623,000 active online marketing customers[4] in the third quarter of 2015, representing a 20.7% increase from the corresponding period in 2014 and a 5.6% increase from the second quarter of 2015. Revenue per online marketing customer for the third quarter was approximately RMB28,300 ($4,453), a 9.3% increase from the corresponding period in 2014 and a 3.3% increase compared to the second quarter of 2015.

Traffic acquisition cost as a component of cost of revenues was RMB2.411 billion ($379.4 million), representing 13.1% of total revenues, as compared to 12.9% in the corresponding period in 2014 and 12.7% in the second quarter of 2015.

Bandwidth costs as a component of cost of revenues were RMB970.0 million ($152.6 million), representing 5.3% of total revenues, compared to 5.6% in the corresponding period in 2014. Depreciation costs as a component of cost of revenues were RMB657.3 million ($103.4 million), representing 3.6% of total revenues, compared to 3.8% in the corresponding period in 2014.

Content costs as a component of cost of revenues were RMB914.5 million ($143.9 million), representing 5.0% of total revenues, compared to 3.7% in the corresponding period in 2014, and 5.1% in the previous quarter. The year-over-year increase was mainly due to iQiyi's increased content costs.

Selling, general and administrative expenses were RMB5.702 billion ($897.1 million), representing an increase of 111.2% from the corresponding period in 2014, primarily due to an increase in promotional spending for transaction services.

Research and development expenses were RMB2.690 billion ($423.2 million), a 46.9% increase from the corresponding period in 2014. The increase was primarily due to an increase in the number of research and development personnel.

Share-based compensation expenses, which were allocated to related operating costs and expense line items, were RMB400.3 million ($63.0 million) in the third quarter of 2015, compared to RMB234.2 million in the corresponding period in 2014 and RMB354.7 million in the second quarter of 2015. The increase from the corresponding period in 2014 was a result of increased share grants to employees.

Operating profit was RMB2.512 billion ($395.2 million), representing a 35.9% decrease from the corresponding period in 2014. Operating profit excluding share-based compensation expenses (non-GAAP) was RMB2.912 billion ($458.2 million), a 29.9% decrease from the corresponding period in 2014.

Income tax expense was RMB590.5 million ($92.9 million), compared to an income tax expense of RMB656.8 million in the corresponding period in 2014. The effective tax rate for the third quarter of 2015 was 19.4% as compared to 15.5% for the corresponding period in 2014 and 19.0% in the second quarter of 2015.

Net income attributable to Baidu was RMB2.841 billion ($447.0 million), representing a 26.7% decrease from the corresponding period in 2014. Basic and diluted earnings per ADS for the third quarter of 2015 amounted to RMB7.94 ($1.25) and RMB7.92 ($1.25), respectively.

Net income attributable to Baidu excluding share-based compensation expenses (non-GAAP) was RMB3.241 billion ($510.0 million), a 21.1% decrease from the corresponding period in 2014. Basic and diluted earnings per ADS excluding share-based compensation expenses (non-GAAP) for the third quarter of 2015 amounted to RMB9.09 ($1.43) and RMB9.07 ($1.43), respectively.

As of September 30, 2015, the Company had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of RMB70.144 billion ($11.037 billion). Net operating cash inflow for the third quarter of 2015 was RMB4.785 billion ($759.2 million). Capital expenditures for the third quarter of 2015 were RMB1.862 billion ($295.3 million).

Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP), defined in this announcement as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, other non-operating income and share-based compensation expenses, was RMB3.842 billion ($604.5 million) for the third quarter of 2015, representing a 21.9% decrease from the corresponding period in 2014.

Outlook for Fourth Quarter 2015

Baidu currently expects to generate total revenues in an amount ranging from RMB18.200 billion ($2.864 billion) to RMB18.750 billion ($2.950 billion) for the fourth quarter of 2015, representing a 29.5% to 33.4% year-over-year increase. Pursuant to Baidu's exchange of Qunar shares with Ctrip, as as a result of which Baidu no longer retains voting control of Qunar, Baidu will no longer consolidate Qunar's financials after October 26, 2015. 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 29, 2015, U.S. Eastern Time (8:00 AM on October 30, 2015, 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 2030598139

    Hong Kong:                 +852 30186771



    Passcode for all regions:       59702295

A replay of the conference call may be accessed by phone at the following number until November 6, 2015:



    International:                                 +61 2 8199 0299


    Passcode:                                             59702295

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. As a technology-based media company, Baidu aims to provide the best and most equitable way for people to find what they're looking for. In addition to serving individual Internet search users, Baidu provides an effective platform for businesses to reach potential customers. 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 of 2015 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: our growth strategies; our future business development, including development of new products and services; our ability to attract and retain users and customers; competition in the Chinese and other Internet search markets; competition for online marketing customers; changes in our revenues and certain cost or expense items as a percentage of our 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 and elsewhere. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in our 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 measures defined as non-GAAP financial measures by the SEC: adjusted EBITDA, operating profit excluding share-based compensation expenses, net income excluding share-based compensation expenses, and basic and diluted earnings per ADS excluding share-based compensation expenses. 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. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the tables captioned "Reconciliations of non-GAAP results of operations measures to the nearest comparable GAAP measures" and "Reconciliation from net cash provided by operating activities to adjusted EBITDA" set forth at the end of this release.

Baidu believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding its performance and liquidity by excluding certain expenses, particularly share-based compensation expenses, that may not be indicative of its operating performance or financial condition from a cash perspective. We believe that both management and investors benefit from referring to these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing our 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. Baidu has computed its non-GAAP financial measures using the same consistent method from quarter to quarter since April 1, 2006. We believe 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 share-based compensation charge that has been and will continue to be for the foreseeable future a significant recurring expense in our results of operations. A limitation of using non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA is that it does not include all items that impact our net income for the period. Management compensates for these limitations by providing specific information regarding the GAAP amounts excluded from each non-GAAP measure. The accompanying tables have more details on the reconciliations between GAAP financial measures that are most directly comparable to the non-GAAP financial measures.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

Sharon Ng
Baidu, Inc.
Tel: +86-10-5992-4958
Investor inquiries email: ir@baidu.com
Media inquiries email: intlcomm@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 RMB
                    6.3556 to US$1.00, the effective
                    noon buying rate as of September
                    30, 2015 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]             Gross merchandise value (GMV) for
                    Transaction Services is defined as
                    GMV generated by Qunar, Baidu Nuomi
                    and Baidu Takeout Delivery. GMV
                    generated by Qunar is defined as
                    the value of confirmed orders of
                    products and services, excluding
                    cancellations. GMV generated by
                    Baidu Nuomi and Baidu Takeout
                    Delivery is defined as the value of
                    confirmed orders of products and
                    services, regardless of whether the
                    service has been consumed or
                    delivered.

    [3]             Transaction Services (formerly O2O &
                    Other) includes Qunar, Baidu Nuomi,
                    Baidu Takeout Delivery, Baidu Maps,
                    Baidu Connect, Baidu Wallet and
                    other products.

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


                                                                                                Baidu, Inc.

                                                                                Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income

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

                                                                                                                               September 30,              September 30,               June 30,

    (In RMB thousands except for share, per share (or ADS) information)                                                                              2015                       2014                    2015
    ------------------------------------------------------------------                                                                               ----                       ----                    ----

                                                                                                                                 Unaudited                  Unaudited                Unaudited

     Revenues:

     Online marketing services                                                                                                                 17,680,374                 13,427,179              16,227,496

     Other services                                                                                                                               702,707                     92,577                 347,742

     Total revenues                                                                                                                            18,383,081                 13,519,756              16,575,238
                                                                                                                                               ----------                 ----------              ----------


     Operating costs and expenses:

     Cost of revenues (note 1, 2)                                                                                                             (7,479,580)               (5,068,337)            (6,503,020)

     Selling, general and administrative (note 2)                                                                                             (5,701,859)               (2,700,008)            (3,889,844)

     Research and development (note 2)                                                                                                        (2,689,970)               (1,831,590)            (2,712,681)

     Total operating costs and expenses                                                                                                      (15,871,409)               (9,599,935)           (13,105,545)
                                                                                                                                              -----------                 ----------             -----------


     Operating profit                                                                                                                           2,511,672                  3,919,821               3,469,693
                                                                                                                                                ---------                  ---------               ---------


     Other income:

     Interest income                                                                                                                              616,171                    536,367                 612,523

     Interest expense                                                                                                                           (329,372)                 (177,168)              (213,522)

     Foreign exchange income (loss), net                                                                                                           61,407                   (44,476)                  5,396

     Loss from equity method investments                                                                                                          (8,856)                   (9,982)                (2,417)

     Other income, net                                                                                                                            200,625                     20,091                 142,382

     Total other income                                                                                                                           539,975                    324,832                 544,362
                                                                                                                                                  -------                    -------                 -------


     Income before income taxes                                                                                                                 3,051,647                  4,244,653               4,014,055
                                                                                                                                                ---------                  ---------               ---------


     Income taxes                                                                                                                               (590,517)                 (656,768)              (762,951)


     Net income                                                                                                                                 2,461,130                  3,587,885               3,251,104
                                                                                                                                                =========                  =========               =========

     Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests                                                                                    (379,939)                 (288,227)              (410,909)

     Net income attributable to Baidu, Inc.                                                                                                     2,841,069                  3,876,112               3,662,013
                                                                                                                                                =========                  =========               =========



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

    Net income attributable to Baidu, Inc.-Basic                                                                                                    79.38                     110.53                  102.23

    Net income attributable to Baidu, Inc.-Diluted                                                                                                  79.20                     110.02                  101.86


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

    Net income attributable to Baidu, Inc.-Basic                                                                                                     7.94                      11.05                   10.22

    Net income attributable to Baidu, Inc.-Diluted                                                                                                   7.92                      11.00                   10.19


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

    Basic                                                                                                                                      34,850,398                 35,069,521              35,141,734

    Diluted                                                                                                                                    34,928,787                 35,231,630              35,268,366


     (1) Cost of revenues are detailed as follows:

     Sales tax and surcharges                                                                                                                 (1,260,606)                 (997,040)            (1,175,617)

     Traffic acquisition costs                                                                                                                (2,411,180)               (1,741,922)            (2,111,734)

     Bandwidth costs                                                                                                                            (970,005)                 (752,607)              (896,156)

     Depreciation costs                                                                                                                         (657,325)                 (512,758)              (616,072)

     Operational costs                                                                                                                        (1,254,114)                 (557,515)              (850,503)

     Content costs                                                                                                                              (914,545)                 (498,119)              (840,223)

     Share-based compensation expenses                                                                                                           (11,805)                   (8,376)               (12,715)

     Total cost of revenues                                                                                                                   (7,479,580)               (5,068,337)            (6,503,020)
                                                                                                                                               ==========                 ==========              ==========


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

     Cost of revenues                                                                                                                            (11,805)                   (8,376)               (12,715)

     Selling, general and administrative                                                                                                        (138,133)                 (102,680)              (130,418)

     Research and development                                                                                                                   (250,359)                 (123,137)              (211,592)

     Total share-based compensation expenses                                                                                                    (400,297)                 (234,193)              (354,725)
                                                                                                                                                 ========                   ========                ========


                                                                                    Baidu, Inc.

                                                                       Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets


                                                                                                             September 30             December 31

    (In RMB thousands except for number of shares and per share data)                                                            2015                   2014
    ----------------------------------------------------------------                                                             ----                   ----

                                                                                                               Unaudited                Audited


    ASSETS

        Current assets:

     Cash and cash equivalents                                                                                             14,575,190             13,852,725

     Restricted cash                                                                                                        1,968,449                413,010

     Short-term investments                                                                                                55,568,672             43,818,037

     Accounts receivable, net                                                                                               4,177,362              3,664,447

     Amounts due from related parties                                                                                              50                     50

     Deferred tax assets, net                                                                                               1,279,909                684,952

     Other assets, current                                                                                                  5,649,886              3,407,427

        Total current assets                                                                                               83,219,518             65,840,648
                                                                                                                           ----------             ----------


        Non-current assets:

     Fixed assets, net                                                                                                     10,564,579              8,705,364

     Intangible assets, net                                                                                                 3,574,316              3,574,359

     Goodwill                                                                                                              17,699,332             17,418,895

     Long-term investments, net                                                                                             8,176,655              2,878,922

     Deferred tax assets, net                                                                                                 258,649                259,127

     Other assets, non-current                                                                                              1,129,980                893,952
                                                                                                                                                    -------

        Total non-current assets                                                                                           41,403,511             33,730,619
                                                                                                                           ----------             ----------


    Total assets                                                                                                          124,623,029             99,571,267
                                                                                                                          ===========             ==========


    LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

       Current liabilities:

            Short-term loans                                                                                                  704,243                 93,000

    Accounts payable and accrued liabilities                                                                               19,858,180             12,964,893

    Customer advances and deposits                                                                                          5,557,235              4,296,440

    Deferred revenue                                                                                                          235,082                164,809

    Deferred income                                                                                                           532,065                518,543

    Long-term loans, current portion                                                                                                -             2,167,405

    Capital lease obligation                                                                                                   49,391                 57,346

    Due to Related Parties, Current                                                                                             1,602                  8,385

        Total current liabilities                                                                                          26,937,798             20,270,821
                                                                                                                           ----------             ----------


        Non-current liabilities:

    Deferred income                                                                                                            45,879                 39,626

    Long-term loans                                                                                                         4,120,196              1,860,000

    Notes payable                                                                                                          32,591,969             21,556,782

    Amounts due to related parties                                                                                                  -                     8

    Deferred tax liabilities                                                                                                1,078,163              1,143,821

    Capital lease obligation                                                                                                   15,502                 50,079

    Other Non Current Liabilities                                                                                             205,071                144,542

        Total non-current liabilities                                                                                      38,056,780             24,794,858
                                                                                                                           ----------             ----------


    Total liabilities                                                                                                      64,994,578             45,065,679
                                                                                                                           ----------             ----------


    Redeemable noncontrolling interests                                                                                     2,155,981              1,894,502


    Equity

    Class A Ordinary Shares, par value US$0.00005 per share,                                                                       12                     12
    825,000,000 shares authorized, and  27,613,315 shares and
    27,069,839 shares issued and outstanding as at December
    31, 2014 and September 30, 2015

    Class B Ordinary Shares, par value US$0.00005 per share,                                                                        3                      3
    35,400,000 shares authorized, and  7,492,921 shares and
    7,492,921 shares issued and outstanding as at December 31,
    2014 and September 30, 2015

    Additional paid-in capital                                                                                              5,833,199              3,633,919

    Retained earnings                                                                                                      50,111,572             47,659,772

    Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)                                                                             174,448                231,923
                                                                                                                                                    -------

        Total Baidu, Inc. shareholders' equity                                                                             56,119,234             51,525,629

        Noncontrolling interests                                                                                            1,353,236              1,085,457

    Total equity                                                                                                           57,472,470             52,611,086
                                                                                                                           ----------             ----------


    Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests, and equity                                                    124,623,029             99,571,267
                                                                                                                          ===========             ==========


    Reconciliations of non-GAAP results of operations measures to the nearest comparable GAAP measures (*) (in RMB thousands, unaudited)


                                                             Three months ended September 30, 2014   Three months ended June 30, 2015    Three months ended September 30, 2015
                                                             -------------------------------------   --------------------------------    -------------------------------------

                                                                           GAAP Result                           Adjustment                         Non-GAAP Results                 GAAP Result           Adjustment         Non-GAAP Results           GAAP Result           Adjustment         Non-GAAP Results
                                                                           -----------                           ----------                         ----------------                 -----------           ----------         ----------------           -----------           ----------         ----------------

    Operating profit                                                                     3,919,821                             234,193                                     4,154,014             3,469,693            354,725                  3,824,418             2,511,672            400,297                  2,911,969


                                                             Three months ended September 30, 2014   Three months ended June 30, 2015    Three months ended September 30, 2015
                                                             -------------------------------------   --------------------------------    -------------------------------------

                                                                           GAAP Result                           Adjustment                         Non-GAAP Results                 GAAP Result           Adjustment         Non-GAAP Results           GAAP Result           Adjustment         Non-GAAP Results
                                                                           -----------                           ----------                         ----------------                 -----------           ----------         ----------------           -----------           ----------         ----------------

    Net income                                                                           3,876,112                             234,193                                     4,110,305             3,662,013            354,725                  4,016,738             2,841,069            400,297                  3,241,366
    attributable to Baidu,
    Inc.


    (*) The adjustment is only for share-based compensation.



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



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

                                                                                                                  September 30, 2014             total revenues         June 30, 2015                total revenues        September 30, 2015                 total revenues
                                                                                                                  ------------------             --------------         -------------                --------------        ------------------                 --------------

    Net cash provided by operating activities                                                                                          4,855,114                  36%                     5,727,404                   35%                         4,785,393                      26%


    Less:  Capital expenditures                                                                                                      (1,380,039)                -10%                     (923,146)                  -6%                       (1,861,602)                    -10%


    Free cash flow                                                                                                                     3,475,075                  26%                     4,804,258                   29%                         2,923,791                      16%
                                                                                                                                       =========                  ===                      =========                   ===                          =========                      ===

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SOURCE Baidu, Inc.