Baidu Target of Unusually High Options Trading (NASDAQ:BIDU)

Baidu, Inc. (NASDAQ:BIDU) was the recipient of some unusual options trading activity on Wednesday. Stock traders purchased 57,474 call options on the company. This represents an increase of 35% compared to the typical daily volume of 42,590 call options.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Baidu

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Rialto Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Baidu in the fourth quarter worth $42,000. Sycomore Asset Management acquired a new stake in Baidu during the 4th quarter worth about $51,000. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC raised its stake in shares of Baidu by 630.9% during the 3rd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 687 shares of the information services provider’s stock valued at $72,000 after buying an additional 593 shares during the last quarter. World Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Baidu in the 3rd quarter valued at about $72,000. Finally, Grove Bank & Trust boosted its stake in shares of Baidu by 21.6% in the third quarter. Grove Bank & Trust now owns 731 shares of the information services provider’s stock worth $77,000 after buying an additional 130 shares during the last quarter.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have weighed in on BIDU shares. Barclays upped their target price on Baidu from $83.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Tuesday. China Renaissance lowered shares of Baidu from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and set a $86.00 price target for the company. in a research report on Monday, November 25th. Benchmark reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $130.00 price objective on shares of Baidu in a research report on Friday, January 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded shares of Baidu from an “overweight” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 27th. Finally, StockNews.com raised Baidu from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, December 27th. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $112.08.

Baidu Stock Up 3.5 %

Shares of BIDU stock opened at $96.59 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18, a quick ratio of 2.19 and a current ratio of 2.19. Baidu has a fifty-two week low of $77.19 and a fifty-two week high of $116.25. The firm has a market capitalization of $33.87 billion, a PE ratio of 11.82, a P/E/G ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 0.46. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $86.57 and its 200-day simple moving average is $88.61.

Baidu Company Profile

Baidu, Inc engages in the provision of internet search services in China. It operates through two segments: Baidu Core and iQIYI. The company offers Baidu App to access search, feed, and other services using mobile devices; Baidu Search to access its search and other services; Baidu Feed that provides users with personalized timeline based on their demographics and interests; Baidu Health that helps users to find the doctor and hospital for healthcare needs; and Haokan, a short video app.