Tag Archives: nflx

Baidu Reportedly Pulling A Google, Spinning Off Video Service

Baidu ( BIDU ) will reportedly spin off its professional Baidu Video service, as the China Internet search leader looks to pare is newer, money-losing businesses from its core search operation. Baidu Video would receive RMB 1 billion ($154.3 million) in new investment as it takes on two more partners, according to a report Thursday from Young’s China Business blog . Rumors about changes at Baidu Video come soon after reports  of a major corporate reorganization at Baidu that aims to separate its older, profitable search services from its newer businesses, many of which are losing money. This is similar to what Google did in creating Alphabet ( GOOGL ) as the parent company for all its operations. Like Alphabet, Baidu is investing to develop self-driving cars and other technology not related to its core search operations. In November, Baidu announced it had submitted an application for a direct-banking license in partnership with China’s Citic Bank and for an online insurance license in partnership with Allianz ( AZSEY ) and Hillhouse Capital. To continue its growth, Baidu should follow in Google’s footsteps “and split its non-core businesses from its core search and ads business. If they do this, Baidu stock would likely receive a big boost, leaving them with the cash to make a foray into the U.S. market,” Taiwan-based Sephi Shapira, CEO of mobile advertising platform MassiveImpact, told IBD via email in February. Baidu Could Be Eyeing Big Structural Changes Young’s China Business said the Baidu Video unit is separate from Baidu’s iQiyi.com, the online video service that is similar to Google’s YouTube. Baidu announced in February that it would sell money-losing iQiyi to an outside group led by Baidu CEO Robin Li. IQiyi is looking to become a bigger force in the country’s video-streaming and movie-making fields, a nearly $6 billion market that also includes Baidu rivals Alibaba Group ( BABA ), Sohu.com ( SOHU ) and Tencent Holdings ( TCEHY ). Last year, Netflix ( NFLX ) said it wants to begin operating in China, but the streaming media company has expressed uncertainty about its planned move into the country by 2016. Baidu plans several changes to its business structure, including establishment of a subsidiary that will house its online search services, said Marbridge Consulting, citing a release via Baidu’s official account on Tencent’s   WeChat mobile messaging platform. According to Marbridge , the spinoff will see New Culture Media Group and venture capital firm SAIF each invest about RMB 500 million ($77.1 million) in Baidu Video. Each of the new partners would receive about 20% of Baidu Video, Marbridge said. Baidu stock has nearly doubled since skidding to a three-year low of 100 in early February. Baidu stock broke out of a cup-with-handle base in late March, at a 189.90 buy point. Shares were flat in midday trading in the stock market today , near 194. Baidu will report Q1 earnings on April 28 and has given revenue guidance below analyst expectations, as the company invests heavily in its “O2O” (online-to-offline) strategy to draw Web shoppers to in-person services and physical stores. Baidu recently  said it is seeking  a $1 billion loan. A Baidu spokeswoman said the company aims to borrow the funds through a five-year syndicated facility for general corporate purposes, according to the Bloomberg report. Image provided by Shutterstock .

Facebook Passed 50-Day Test; Netflix, Illumina Broke 2 Support Areas

Facebook ( FB ) tested a key level Tuesday but came out stronger. But Netflix ( NFLX ) and Illumina ( ILMN ) crashed through support levels on weak Q1 figures. IBM ( IBM ) gets an incomplete. MaxLinear ( MXL ) triggered a sell rule as well as breaking a support level. Will trends reverse today? Facebook Facebook has been finding support at its 50-day moving average since April 11, when shares finished just below that key level. Since then the stock has closed above that support level. On Tuesday, Facebook shook off a morning dip to just above the 50-day to rally for a 1.7% gain at 112.29. On the upside, the next key level is a buy point at 117.09. Facebook rose 0.1% in afternoon trading on the stock market today . Facebook releases earnings next week, with analysts expecting a 48% EPS gain, the third straight quarter of accelerating growth. Netflix Netflix late Monday reported an unexpected rise in Q1 earnings per share. Subscriber growth also topped expectations. But the Web-streaming giant expects net global-customer growth of just 2.5 million in Q2, which would be the weakest quarterly gain in two years . It also guided Q2 earnings lower. Netflix stock dived 13% Tuesday, crashing through its 200-day and 50-day moving averages in one fell swoop. (Netflix retook its 200-day line just last week). Netflix rose 1.8% Wednesday afternoon, still below its 50-day line. Illumina Illumina late Monday gave Q1 preliminary revenue figures that were well below Wall Street estimates. The gene-sequencing tools giant sees Q1 sales up 6%, ending a 14-quarter string of double-digit growth. Illumina stock crashed 23.2% on Tuesday, back near two-year lows. Like Netflix, Illumina tumbled through its 200-day and 50-day lines. The stock on Monday topped its 200-day for the first time this year. Illumina rose 1% Wednesday afternoon. IBM IBM revenue and earnings did top Wall Street forecasts late Monday, though sales have fallen for 16 straight quarters. Also, IBM’s implied Q2 EPS guidance appeared to be below analyst estimates. IBM stock fell 5.6% on Tuesday, undercutting its 200-day line intraday but closing just above that area. But IBM could easily retest the 200-day line in the coming days, with the 50-day only slightly below that. IBM rose 1.% intraday. MaxLinear MaxLinear’s chip designs are used in video streaming. The stock cleared an entry point of 17.85 last month, rising to a 19.10 peak on April 4. But shares drifted lower since then. On Tuesday, the stock dived 10.2% to 15.86, triggering an 8% sell rule from that entry point and breaking through its 50-day moving average. It wasn’t immediately clear why the MaxLinear shares fell. On Wednesday, MaxLinear tightened its fiscal Q1 revenue guidance and raised its gross margin target. MaxLinear jumped 7.6% by the early afternoon,  retaking its 50-day line.

Facebook Passes 50-Day Test; Netflix, Illumina Break 2 Support Areas

Facebook ( FB ) tested a key level Tuesday but came out stronger. But Netflix ( NFLX ) and Illumina ( ILMN ) crashed through support levels on weak Q1 figures. IBM ( IBM ) gets an incomplete. MaxLinear ( MXL ) triggered a sell rule as well as breaking a support level. Facebook Facebook has been finding support at its 50-day moving average since April 11, when shares finished just below that key level. Since then the stock has closed above that support level. On Tuesday, Facebook shook off a morning dip to just above the 50-day to rally for a 1.7% gain at 112.29. On the upside, the next key level is a buy point at 117.09. Facebook fell 0.1% shortly after Wednesday’s open on the stock market today, but is comfortably above its 50-day line for now. Facebook releases earnings next week, with analysts expecting a 48% EPS gain, the third straight quarter of accelerating growth. Netflix Netflix late Monday reported an unexpected rise in Q1 earnings per share. Subscriber growth also topped expectations. But the Web-streaming giant expects net global-customer growth of just 2.5 million in Q2, which would be the weakest quarterly gain in two years . It also guided Q2 earnings lower. Netflix stock dived 13% Tuesday, crashing through its 200-day and 50-day moving averages in one fell swoop. (Netflix retook its 200-day line just last week). Netflix rose 1.6% Wednesday morning, but is still significantly below its 50-day line. How do Netflix and IBM stack up vs. their rivals? Find out at IBD Stock Checkup Illumina Illumina late Monday gave Q1 preliminary revenue figures that were well below Wall Street estimates. The gene-sequencing tools giant sees Q1 sales up 6%, ending a 14-quarter string of double-digit growth. Illumina stock crashed 23.2% on Tuesday, back near two-year lows. Like Netflix, Illumina tumbled through its 200-day and 50-day lines. The stock on Monday topped its 200-day for the first time this year. Illumina rose 1% Wednesday morning. IBM IBM revenue and earnings did top Wall Street forecasts late Monday, though sales have fallen for 16 straight quarters. Also, IBM’s implied Q2 EPS guidance appeared to be below analyst estimates. IBM stock fell 5.6% on Tuesday, undercutting its 200-day line intraday but closing just above that area. But IBM could easily retest the 200-day line in the coming days, with the 50-day only slightly below that. IBM rose 0.5% Wednesday morning, but is not far above its 200-day. MaxLinear MaxLinear’s chip designs are used in video streaming. The stock cleared an entry point of 17.85 last month, rising to a 19.10 peak on April 4. But shares drifted lower since then. On Tuesday, the stock dived 10.2% to 15.86, triggering an 8% sell rule from that entry point and breaking through its 50-day moving average. It wasn’t immediately clear why the MaxLinear shares fell. On Wednesday, MaxLinear tightened its fiscal Q4 revenue guidance and raised its gross margin target. MaxLinear jumped 5.9% in early Wednesday trading, pennies within its 50-day line again.