Investigation into Baidu's Possible Securities Law Violations
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 1 day ago
0mins
Should l Buy BIDU?
Source: Businesswire
- Stock Price Decline: On November 26, 2025, Baidu's stock fell by $1.54, or 1.3%, closing at $116.34 after the Pentagon added it to a list of companies aiding the Chinese military, resulting in investor losses.
- Investigation Context: The investigation stems from a letter dated October 7, 2025, from Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg, indicating Baidu's potential violations of federal securities laws, raising significant concerns among investors.
- Increased Stock Volatility: On February 13, 2026, Baidu was again listed as aiding the Chinese military by the Pentagon, which was retracted shortly after, causing the stock to drop nearly 5% during intraday trading, further exacerbating investor losses.
- Legal Consultation Opportunity: The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz are offering consultations for affected investors, encouraging those who purchased Baidu securities to reach out to explore potential claims for recovering their losses.
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Analyst Views on BIDU
Wall Street analysts forecast BIDU stock price to rise
13 Analyst Rating
11 Buy
2 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 138.380
Low
100.00
Averages
160.67
High
215.00
Current: 138.380
Low
100.00
Averages
160.67
High
215.00
About BIDU
Baidu Inc is a Chinese language Internet search provider. The Company operates its businesses through two segments, Baidu Core segment and iQIYI segment. Baidu Core segment mainly provides search-based, feed-based, and other online marketing services, as well as products and services from the Company’s new artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives, such as display advertisement and based on performance criteria other than cost-per-click, cloud services, smart devices and services, non-marketing consumer-facing services such as membership, and intelligent driving. iQIYI segment produces, aggregates and distributes a wide variety of professionally produced content, as well as a broad spectrum of other video content, in a variety of formats, including a variety of products and services encompassing online video, online games, online literature, comics and others.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Legal Investigation Initiated: The Law Offices of Howard G. Smith are investigating potential violations of federal securities laws on behalf of Baidu investors, aiming to provide legal support and avenues for claims to recover losses.
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See More
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- Stock Price Impact: On November 26, 2025, Baidu's stock fell by 1.3% to close at $116.34 after the Pentagon identified it as one of the companies aiding the Chinese military, resulting in investor losses.
- List Addition Incident: On February 13, 2026, the Pentagon added Baidu to the list of companies aiding the Chinese military but quickly withdrew it, causing the stock to drop nearly 5% during intraday trading, further harming investors.
- Legal Consultation Opportunity: The Law Offices of Howard G. Smith are investigating on behalf of Baidu investors, urging those who suffered losses to contact them for potential claims, highlighting the significance of legal action.
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- Regulatory Compliance Demand: China's State Administration for Market Regulation summoned leading internet platforms like Alibaba, Baidu, and JD.com, mandating strict adherence to anti-unfair competition laws, e-commerce laws, consumer rights protection laws, and pricing laws to ensure fair market competition.
- Warning Against Cutthroat Competition: The regulator urged companies to eliminate 'involution-style competition,' which refers to cutthroat rivalry, and called for collaboration to maintain a healthy market environment, promoting sustainable development and industry stability.
- Participating Companies: Other firms such as ByteDance's Douyin, Tencent, Meituan, and Taobao also took part in the discussions, highlighting the regulator's focus on the entire industry and the importance of compliance.
- Impact on Market Environment: This regulatory action may have profound implications for internet companies' operational models, prompting them to prioritize compliance and cooperation in their competitive strategies, thereby influencing the future market landscape.
See More
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- Escalating US-China Tensions: The addition of Alibaba and BYD to the 'Chinese Military Companies' list is likely to escalate trade tensions ahead of the Trump-Xi summit, potentially impacting future economic cooperation and policy directions between the two nations.
- Reputational Risks: While being placed on the list does not carry immediate legal consequences, it poses reputational risks for the companies, which could lead to future punitive measures from the US, affecting investor confidence and market performance.
- National Security Concerns: US intelligence agencies expressed concerns about Alibaba's potential national security threat, leading to its designation three months ago, reflecting increased scrutiny on Chinese tech firms that may impact their international operations.
- BYD's Legal Battle: BYD's advancements in battery technology have solidified its position in the EV market, while the company has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over 100% tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, demonstrating its resistance in a challenging policy environment.
See More
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- Stock Price Impact: On November 26, 2025, Baidu's stock fell by 1.3% to close at $116.34 per share after the Pentagon identified the company as aiding the Chinese military, resulting in significant investor losses.
- Legal Investigation Initiated: The Law Offices of Howard G. Smith are investigating potential violations of federal securities laws on behalf of Baidu investors, aiming to provide legal support and avenues for claims to recover losses.
- Market Reaction Intensified: On February 13, 2026, Baidu was again listed as aiding the Chinese military by the Pentagon, which was quickly retracted, causing the stock to drop nearly 5% during intraday trading, further exacerbating investor losses.
- Investor Rights Protection: The law firm is urging all investors who purchased Baidu securities during this period to contact them to explore potential claims, ensuring that investors' legal rights are upheld.
See More
Baidu Under Investigation for Possible Securities Law Violations
- Stock Price Impact: On November 26, 2025, Baidu's stock fell by 1.3% to close at $116.34 after the Pentagon identified it as one of the companies aiding the Chinese military, resulting in investor losses.
- List Addition Incident: On February 13, 2026, the Pentagon added Baidu to the list of companies aiding the Chinese military but quickly withdrew it, causing the stock to drop nearly 5% during intraday trading, further harming investors.
- Legal Consultation Opportunity: The Law Offices of Howard G. Smith are investigating on behalf of Baidu investors, urging those who suffered losses to contact them for potential claims, highlighting the significance of legal action.
- Investor Rights Protection: This situation underscores the importance of investors seeking legal advice and protecting their rights in the face of potential corporate legal issues, especially during stock price volatility.
See More
Infini Capital Fully Exits Baidu Position
- Complete Exit from Baidu: On February 13, 2026, Infini Capital Management Ltd reported fully exiting its Baidu position by selling 33,399 shares for an estimated $4.4 million, indicating a significant loss of confidence in the stock.
- Asset Management Shift: Following this liquidation, Baidu now represents 0% of Infini's reportable AUM, with the fund reallocating its investments primarily to VNET and CHA, highlighting a major portfolio restructuring.
- Financial Impact: The quarter-end value of Baidu decreased by $4.4 million, illustrating that Infini failed to capitalize on Baidu's 48.3% stock price increase over the past year, reflecting broader market challenges.
- Market Sentiment: Infini's decision to exit follows an 18% drop in advertising revenue and a $2.2 billion impairment charge in Q3 2025, suggesting growing frustration with Baidu's stock performance, leading to a gradual sell-off throughout 2025.
See More
Infini Capital Fully Exits Baidu Position with $4.4 Million Sale
- Complete Exit from Baidu: On February 13, 2026, Infini Capital Management Ltd reported fully exiting its Baidu position by selling 33,399 shares for approximately $4.4 million, indicating a significant loss of confidence in the stock.
- Asset Management Shift: This transaction reduced Baidu's representation in Infini's reportable AUM to 0%, with the fund reallocating its holdings primarily to VNET and CHA, which now constitute 97.7% and 2.3% of AUM respectively, reflecting a major portfolio shift.
- Financial Impact: The decision to liquidate comes amid a challenging financial backdrop, including an 18% year-over-year drop in advertising revenue and a $2.2 billion impairment charge, leading to a nearly $1.6 billion loss for Infini in the quarter, which likely influenced the exit strategy.
- Market Performance Insight: Despite Baidu's stock price rising 48.3% over the past year and outperforming the S&P 500 by 35.35 percentage points, Infini's continued divestment suggests a cautious outlook on the company's long-term growth potential, reflecting broader concerns about its market performance.
See More
