Smart Money Signals Bearish Sentiment in Baidu (NASDAQ:BIDU) Options

Recently, investors with significant capital have shown a bearish stance towards Baidu (NASDAQ:BIDU), an indication that market participants should take notice of this trend. Our analysis of option records has revealed this notable shift in strategy among these investors.

Our observations were made through tracking unusual options activities today, where our tools revealed a total of 12 remarkable actions concerning Baidu's options, a number that signals heightened interest.

The sentiment from these large-scale investors appears mixed; however, around 41% are taking a bearish position compared to only 25% that are bullish. This is particularly highlighted through three put options totaling about $121,695 and nine call options, which amount to $577,871.

Predicted Price Range for Baidu

By analyzing the volume and open interest linked with these options contracts, it appears that major investors are forecasting Baidu’s price to range between $80.00 to $125.00 in the coming months.

Volume and Open Interest Trends

Monitoring volume and open interest is crucial in options trading as these metrics reflect liquidity and trading interest. The recent data reveals how the volume and open interest of both calls and puts have developed in the last 30 days.

Baidu Options Activity Overview

Major Options Transactions:

Symbol	PUT/CALL	Trade Type	Sentiment	Exp. Date	Ask	Bid	Price	Strike Price	Total Trade Price	Open Interest	Volume
BIDU	CALL	TRADE	NEUTRAL	01/16/26	$5.75	$5.55	$5.65	$125.00	$113.0K	2.4K	200
BIDU	CALL	SWEEP	BULLISH	01/16/26	$16.6	$16.3	$16.59	$85.00	$99.5K	978	60
BIDU	CALL	TRADE	NEUTRAL	09/19/25	$13.35	$12.4	$12.85	$85.00	$64.2K	380	50
BIDU	CALL	TRADE	BULLISH	03/20/26	$12.55	$12.3	$12.45	$100.00	$62.2K	157	0
BIDU	PUT	TRADE	BEARISH	09/19/25	$9.6	$9.1	$9.4	$85.00	$61.1K	1.0K	0

About Baidu

Baidu stands as the leading internet search engine in China, controlling over 50% of the search engine market share as of 2024, based on data from Statcounter. The company primarily earns its revenue from online marketing services linked to its search engine, contributing to 72% of its total core revenue in 2023. Additionally, Baidu is engaged in various growth sectors, including artificial intelligence, cloud computing, video streaming services, voice recognition technologies, and autonomous driving.

After scrutinizing options trading patterns for Baidu, it's essential to delve deeper into the company's current market conditions and performance metrics.

Current Market Status of Baidu

• The latest trading data indicates a volume of 921,767 shares, with BIDU's price inching up by 0.3% to $86.71.
• Recent RSI indicators suggest that the stock is currently in a neutral range, showing neither overbought nor oversold conditions.
• The forthcoming earnings report is anticipated in 73 days.

Expert Opinions on Baidu

In the previous month, three financial analysts issued ratings for this stock, with the consensus average target price set at $110.00.

Noteworthy Options Activity: Insights from Major Investors

Recognizing unusual options activities allows traders to anticipate potential market shifts. It’s prudent to stay informed about larger bets being placed on stocks through specialized tools and platforms.

According to a recent report, an analyst from Barclays maintained an Equal-Weight rating for Baidu, with a target price of $95; another analyst from Benchmark has downgraded their perspective to a Buy rating with a $130 target; lastly, an expert from Mizuho kept an Outperform rating with a $105 target.

Investing in options can involve higher risks but also present opportunities for substantial gains. Investors must remain proactive by educating themselves, adapting their strategies, and monitoring market trends diligently.

Options, Investors, Baidu