Baidu Announces First Quarter 2024 Results

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Baidu (BIDU), a leading AI company with a strong Internet foundation, announced its unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024. The company's online marketing revenue remained stable, while the end-to-end optimization of its AI technology stack continued to propel the growth of AI Cloud revenue during the quarter. Robin Li, Co-founder and CEO of Baidu, said that as a new era of Gen-AI unfolds in China, foundation models like ERNIE will serve as the underlying infrastructure, infusing various facets of people's lives.

In the first quarter of 2024, Baidu Core's non-GAAP operating margin expanded both year-over-year and quarter-over-quarter to 23.5%. The company has established a track record of consistently improving operational efficiency. In the coming quarters, they will execute on what is needed to optimize their operational efficiency in support of their AI enabled businesses and high-quality growth, and maintain a healthy non-GAAP operating margin.

Total revenues were RMB31.5 billion ($4.37 billion), increasing 1% year over year. Revenue from Baidu Core was RMB23.8 billion ($3.30 billion), increasing 4% year over year; online marketing revenue was RMB17.0 billion ($2.36 billion), up 3% year over year, and non-online marketing revenue was RMB6.8 billion ($935 million), up 6% year over year, mainly driven by AI Cloud business.

Revenue from iQIYI was RMB7.9 billion ($1.10 billion), decreasing 5% year over year. Cost of revenues was RMB15.3 billion ($2.12 billion), increasing 1% year over year, primarily due to an increase in traffic acquisition costs and costs related to AI Cloud business, partially offset by the decrease in content costs. Selling, general and administrative expenses were RMB5.4 billion ($745 million), accounting for 17% of total revenues in the quarter, compared to 18% in the same period last year.

Research and development expenses were RMB5.4 billion ($742 million), decreasing 1% year over year, primarily due to a decrease in personnel related expenses and other R&D expenditures, partially offset by the increase in server depreciation expenses and server custody fees which support Gen-AI research and development inputs. Operating income was RMB5.5 billion ($760 million), and Baidu Core operating income was RMB4.5 billion ($629 million), and Baidu Core operating margin was 19%. Total other income, net was RMB1.2 billion ($173 million), decreasing 52% year over year, primarily due to a decrease in fair value gain from long-term investments, partially offset by the increase in net foreign exchange gain.

As of March 31, 2024, cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments were RMB191.8 billion ($26.56 billion), and cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments excluding iQIYI were RMB185.8 billion ($25.73 billion). Free cash flow was RMB4.2 billion ($579 million), and free cash flow excluding iQIYI was RMB3.3 billion ($452 million).

Baidu (BIDU), China's largest search engine provider, still generates the majority of its revenue from online ad sales, which are under pressure due to slower Chinese economic growth. The company reported adjusted net income of 7 billion yuan for the quarter, beating the analysts' average estimate of 5.57 billion yuan, according to LSEG data.

Technical Outlook
Baidu (BIDU) stock is down 0.78% as of the time of writing. BIDU has a Relative Strength Index (RSI) of 56 which is down from the previous 60.