iQIYI, Inc. Sponsored ADR (NASDAQ:IQ) Receives Average Recommendation of "Hold" from Brokerages

Key Points

• Analysts give iQIYI a consensus "Hold" rating from four firms (1 sell, 1 hold, 2 buy) with an average 12‑month price target of about $2.55.
• Large institutions have been increasing stakes — UBS AM added ~1.72M shares (now ~2.15M) and Marshall Wace added ~2.63M shares (now ~2.81M) — and institutions own 52.69% of the stock.
• Shares trade near $1.25, below the 50‑day ($1.53) and 200‑day ($1.93) moving averages; market cap is $1.21B, the company has a negative P/E and weak liquidity (current and quick ratios ~0.47).

Shares of iQIYI, Inc. Sponsored ADR (NASDAQ:IQ - Get Free Report) have been given a consensus rating of "Hold" by the four research firms that are covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, one has assigned a hold recommendation and two have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month price target among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $2.5467.

Several brokerages have weighed in on IQ. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a "buy" rating and set a $2.22 price objective on shares of iQIYI in a report on Thursday, February 26th. Zacks Research raised iQIYI from a "strong sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, March 12th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a "sell (d)" rating on shares of iQIYI in a report on Friday, March 27th.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On iQIYI

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in IQ. Parallel Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of iQIYI by 20.8% in the fourth quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 29,472 shares of the company's stock worth $57,000 after acquiring an additional 5,077 shares during the period. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio boosted its holdings in shares of iQIYI by 1.6% in the third quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 432,300 shares of the company's stock worth $1,107,000 after acquiring an additional 6,900 shares during the period. Catalyst Funds Management Pty Ltd bought a new position in shares of iQIYI in the fourth quarter worth $1,205,000. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC boosted its holdings in shares of iQIYI by 393.4% in the first quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 2,152,263 shares of the company's stock worth $4,864,000 after acquiring an additional 1,716,011 shares during the period. Finally, Marshall Wace LLP boosted its holdings in shares of iQIYI by 1,423.3% in the fourth quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 2,811,044 shares of the company's stock worth $5,397,000 after acquiring an additional 2,626,502 shares during the period. 52.69% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

iQIYI Trading Down 2.3%

Shares of IQ stock opened at $1.25 on Friday. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $1.53 and its 200 day simple moving average is $1.93. iQIYI has a twelve month low of $1.18 and a twelve month high of $2.84. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.21 billion, a P/E ratio of -41.67 and a beta of 0.26. The company has a quick ratio of 0.47, a current ratio of 0.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76.

iQIYI Company Profile

iQIYI, Inc is a leading online entertainment service provider headquartered in Beijing, China, offering a comprehensive portfolio of streaming video content across multiple genres. The company operates a subscription-based video-on-demand (SVOD) platform, complemented by advertising-supported content (AVOD) and pay-per-view offerings. Its digital library encompasses original series, feature films, variety shows, animation and documentaries, catering to diverse demographic segments and viewer preferences.

Originally launched by Baidu in 2010 as an online video site, iQIYI was formally rebranded in early 2012 and has since expanded its footprint beyond China's domestic market.

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