Baidu’s Stagnant Growth Amidst China’s Tech Sector Shifts
Baidu (BIDU -1.88%), China's dominant search engine, has seen its growth trajectory flatten after years of explosive expansion. Revenue CAGR plummeted from 45% (2005-2021) to just 2% (2021-2024), with ad sales pressured by ByteDance's Douyin and Tencent's Weixin reshaping search behavior. The stock languishes at $88, up merely 4% YTD despite favorable tech sector tailwinds.
Once a beneficiary of Google's 2010 China exit—reaching a $339.91 peak in 2021—Baidu now grapples with 78% reliance on stagnating search ads. Macroeconomic headwinds and platform competition have exposed structural vulnerabilities, leaving investors questioning its revival prospects absent radical innovation.