Baidu unveils first-ever dividend and US$5 billion buy-back amid AI race



Search-engine leader Baidu introduced its first-ever dividend policy and unveiled a three-year share buy-back programme of US$5 billion on Thursday, briefly sending its shares sharply higher, as the Chinese artificial intelligence heavyweight sought to shore up investor confidence amid intensifying competition.

The company said in a stock exchange filing that its board had approved a share repurchase programme running through the end of 2028.

Baidu also declared its first-ever dividend payment this year, which may include regular or special distributions.

Its shares rose 1 per cent to HK$138.50 as of noon trading break, after earlier jumping as much as 2.4 per cent following the announcement.

The buy-back programme and dividend plan were in line with expectations, said analysts led by Alicia Yap at Citigroup in a note, adding that a more consistent and transparent approach to shareholder returns was likely aimed at improving investor confidence and would be “viewed positively by the market”.

They expect Baidu to formally declare the dividend either when it reports its fourth-quarter 2025 earnings or alongside its first-quarter 2026 results in May.

  • Related Posts

    With Meta-Manus AI deal ‘difficult’ to undo, how will Beijing exert its authority?

    It could be “time-consuming”, “complex” and “difficult” for Meta Platforms to unwind its acquisition of Manus, an artificial intelligence start-up that originated in China, given how far the deal has…

    Continue reading
    WuXi AppTec shares surge 14% in Hong Kong after record first-quarter earnings

    Shares of WuXi AppTec surged both on the mainland and in Hong Kong after stronger-than-expected quarterly results lifted sentiment across the contract research and innovative drug sectors. The pharmaceutical company’s…

    Continue reading

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *