Baidu Inc. (BIDU): Today's Featured Internet Winner

Editor's Note: TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model.

Baidu (BIDU) pushed the Internet industry higher today making it today's featured internet winner. The industry as a whole closed the day up 0.6%. By the end of trading, Baidu rose $3.38 (3.1%) to $111.39 on average volume. Throughout the day, 5.5 million shares of Baidu exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of five million shares. The stock ranged in a price between $108.22-$111.82 after having opened the day at $108.47 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $108.01. Other companies within the Internet industry that increased today were: Zynga Inc Class A (ZNGA), up 14.1%, LookSmart (LOOK), up 10.2%, Internet Initiative Japan (IIJI), up 7.6%, and Youku Tudou (YOKU), up 6.7%.

• EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Jim Cramer's Protégé, Dave Peltier, only buys Stocks Under $10 that he thinks could potentially double. See what he's trading today with a 14-day FREE pass.

Baidu, Inc. provides Internet search services. The company offers a Chinese language search platform on its Website, Baidu.com; and a Japanese language search platform on its Website, Baidu.jp. Baidu has a market cap of $37.73 billion and is part of the technology sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 20.2, above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 8% year to date as of the close of trading on Friday. Currently there are 11 analysts that rate Baidu a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and five rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Baidu as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its robust revenue growth, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, impressive record of earnings per share growth, compelling growth in net income and expanding profit margins. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had lackluster performance in the stock itself.

• You can view the full Baidu Ratings Report.

• Use our internet section to find industry-relevant news.
• Or find some new ideas from our top rated stocks lists.

For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the internet industry could consider First Trust Dow Jones Internet Idx (FDN) while those bearish on the internet industry could consider ProShares Ultra Short Technology (REW).

• Find other investment ideas from our top rated ETFs lists.

It's Official: Action Alerts PLUS beats the S&P 500 with Dividends Reinvested! Cramer and Link were up 16.72% in 2012. Were you? See what they are trading for 14-days FREE.

 

For more information on Baidu Inc. click any of the following:

• Baidu Inc. Stock Price

• Baidu Inc. Analyst Ratings

• Baidu Inc. Key Stats & Profile

• Baidu Inc. Earnings

• Baidu Inc. Ratio Comparison

• Baidu Inc. Growth Rates

• Baidu Inc. Balance Sheet

• Baidu Inc. Cash Flow

• Baidu Inc. Income Statement