• Baidu Inc. (NASDAQ:BIDU) reported Q3 2024 earnings with an EPS of $2.36, missing the estimated $2.49.
• The company's revenue was approximately $4.78 billion, slightly above the forecast.
• Despite a decrease in online marketing revenue, Baidu's net income rose by 14% to 6.68 billion yuan ($1.09 billion), surpassing expectations.

Baidu Inc. (NASDAQ:BIDU), a leading Chinese internet search and robotaxi company, recently reported its Q3 2024 earnings. The company announced earnings per share (EPS) of $2.36, which fell short of the estimated $2.49. Despite this, Baidu generated revenue of approximately $4.78 billion, slightly surpassing the estimates. This performance reflects the company's ongoing efforts to balance its diverse business segments.

Following the earnings report, Baidu's stock experienced a decline of approximately 6%, reaching a multi-year support level in the low $80s. This drop is attributed to the double miss in its earnings report, as highlighted by Seeking Alpha. Despite the setback, Baidu's AI Cloud and Apollo Go businesses have shown significant progress, indicating potential areas of growth for the company.

Baidu's online marketing revenue decreased by 4% year-over-year, impacted by macroeconomic challenges and ongoing renovations in its "Search" segment. However, the company's net income rose by 14% to 6.68 billion yuan, or $1.09 billion, exceeding the consensus forecast of $857.17 million. This increase in net income highlights Baidu's ability to manage costs and improve profitability despite revenue challenges.

The company's financial metrics provide further insight into its performance. Baidu has a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 8.17, indicating the market's valuation of its earnings. Its price-to-sales ratio stands at 1.50, reflecting its market value relative to its revenue. Additionally, Baidu's enterprise value to sales ratio is 1.86, showing the company's total value compared to its sales. These metrics suggest that Baidu is valued reasonably in the market.

Baidu maintains a strong balance sheet, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27, indicating a relatively low level of debt compared to its equity. The company also has a current ratio of 2.19, suggesting it can comfortably cover its short-term liabilities. This strong liquidity position supports Baidu's long-term outlook, with notable advancements in AI and autonomous driving, backed by a strong balance sheet and the potential for substantial growth in the future.