Baidu Inc (BIDU)

baidu

Baidu Inc is listed on Nasdaq where it is traded as BIDU.

Baidu Inc is most famous for their Chinese-language search platform (baidu.com). The Baidu search engine helps Chinese-language web users find content online, including web pages, images, multimedia files and documents. Baidu’s offer of vertical search-based products includes Maps, Video Search, Image Search, New Search, and more.

In addition to the search platform, Baidu Inc also power several community-based products, such as:

  • Baidu PostBar, the world’s largest Chinese-language query-based searchable online community platform
  • Baidu Knows, the world’s largest Chinese-language interactive knowledge-sharing platform
  • Baidu Encyclopedia, the world’s largest Chinese-language user-generated encyclopedia (only registered users can enter or change content)
  • Baidu Experience, a platform where users can share their experiences

Examples of other online services offered by Baidu:

  • Baidu Web Directory
  • Hao123.com (web directory navigation site)
  • Baidu Group Buy Directory
  • Baidu Open Platform
  • Baidu News
  • Baidu personalized homepage (customizable landing page)
  • Baidu Space (personalized homepage)
  • Baidu Share (helps users share web content at social networking sites and communities)
  • Baidu WenKu (online document sharing platform, for PDF, Excel, Word, etc)
  • Baidu Map Search
  • Baidu Shenbian (user location based search for local restaurants and other facilities)
  • Baidu Ting! (free music portal for streaming and download)
  • Baidu MP3 Search
  • Baidu TT Player (software for playing multi-format audio files)
  • Baidu Media Player (software for playing audio and video)
  • Baidu Reader (reader for various document formats)
  • Baidu Browser
  • Baidu Toolbar
  • Baidu Input Method Editor
  • Baidu Companion
  • Baidu Hi (instant messaging)
  • Baidu Patent Search (operated in cooperation with the China Patent Information Center under the People’s Republic of China State Intellectual Property Office)
  • Baidu Translation (online translation of texts and web pages; Chinese ↔ Japanese and Chinese ↔ English are available)
  • Baidu Missing Person Search
baidu inc

Mobile

Recently, Baidu has launched a lot of products specially designed for mobile devices. Examples: Baidu Mobile Browser, Baidu Mobile Search, Baidu Mobile App Search, Baidu PhotoWonder, Baidu Yi, Baidu Palm, Baidu Contacts, Baidu Mobile Phone Input Method, and Baidu Netdisk.

Japan

Examples of services offered by Baidu on the Japanese market: Japanese Web Search, Japanese Image Search, Japanese Video Search, Japanese Mobile Search, Baidu Type (Japanese input method for PC), Simeji (Japanese imput method for Android)

Associated or Cooperative Websites

Examples: iQivi Internet TV, Youa, Leho

Purchasing shares directly from the company?

Baidu has a direct stock purchase plan available to all investors, including investors that are not currently owning stock in Baidu.

Dividends planned?

Baidu has never payed any dividends in the past. At the time of writing, the company has no plans to pay any cash dividends on its ordinary shares in the foreseeable future. The plan is instead to retain available funds and future earnings and use them to operate and expand Baidu’s business.

What is this company selling?

Using the Baidu web search platform is free of charge. Instead, Baidu sells online marketing services, including sponsored links and the display of advertisements on Baidu sites and affiliated sites. Baidu Union is a program through which Baidu expands distribution of its customer’s sponsored links by leveraging traffic directed from Baidu Union members.

Baidu’s client stock is, at the time of writing, chiefly made up by Chinese companies of all sizes (small, medium and large) and Chinese-focused divisions of very large non-China based multinational companies.

Timeline & History

  • Founding & Core Algorithm

    January 2000

    Robin Li and Eric Xu co-found Baidu in Zhongguancun, Beijing. The search engine builds upon Li’s patented RankDex hyperlink analysis algorithm, designed to index and rank Chinese-language web content.

  • NASDAQ Initial Public Offering

    August 5, 2005

    Baidu lists on NASDAQ under the ticker BIDU at an initial offering price of $27.00 per American Depositary Share (ADS). The stock surges over 350% on its first trading day, marking one of the largest foreign IPO debuts in US market history.

  • Phoenix Nest Monetization Platform

    April 2009

    Baidu launches Phoenix Nest (Fengchao), a revamped search marketing and pay-per-click (PPC) bidding platform. The system decouples keyword auctions from pure organic ranking, introducing quality-score algorithms and conversion metrics for advertisers.

  • 10-for-1 ADS Stock Split

    May 12, 2010

    To improve liquidity and accessibility for retail investors, Baidu changes its ADS-to-ordinary-share ratio from 1:1 to 10:1 (effectively a 10-for-1 forward split of its depositary shares).

  • Controlling Stake in Qunar

    July 2011

    Baidu invests $306 million to acquire a 62.01% controlling interest in Qunar, China’s leading online travel aggregation and booking platform, solidifying its presence in vertical search and online travel agency (OTA) services.

  • Acquisition of PPS Video

    May 2013

    Baidu acquires the online video business of PPS (PPStream) for $370 million, merging it into its subsidiary iQIYI to create one of China’s largest streaming and digital video platforms.

  • Institute of Deep Learning & Apollo Launch

    2013 – 2017

    Baidu establishes the Institute of Deep Learning (IDL) in Beijing and Silicon Valley, pivoting heavily toward artificial intelligence. In 2017, it launches Apollo, an open-source autonomous driving software platform.

  • Hong Kong Secondary Listing

    March 23, 2021

    Baidu completes a dual-primary/secondary listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX: 9888), raising approximately HK$23.9 billion ($3.1 billion) to fund investments in cloud computing and autonomous mobility.

  • ERNIE Bot & Generative AI Pivot

    March 2023 – 2024

    Baidu unveils ERNIE Bot (Wenxin Yiyan), integrating large language models across its core search engine, enterprise cloud services, and Apollo intelligent driving ecosystems.

  • Global Footprint

    Ongoing

    Maintains core domestic engineering and commercial hubs in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou, alongside international operational, research, and data centers across Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, the United States, Brazil, and Egypt.

Practical info

Baidu, Inc. Quick Facts
Company Type Public Company
Industry Internet & Artificial Intelligence
Traded As NASDAQ: BIDU
Founded 2000
Headquartered Beijing, China
Website baidu.com

Contact information

Baidu Inc
Baidu Campus
No. 10, Shangdi 10th Street
Haidian District
Beijing 100085

CHINA
Phone #: +86-10-5992-8888
Fax #: +86-10-5992-0000

Email address: ir@baidu.com

Transfer agent

Maples Finance Limited
P.O. Box 1093GT,Queensgate House
South Church Street
George Town, Grand Cayman

CAYMAN ISLANDS