Jefferies analyst Cynthia Meng upgraded Baidu to Buy saying concerns around search ad spending are overdone. Recent channel checks with top ad agents indicated "strong traction" for performance-based ads, with any cuts to ad budgets being mostly offset by more allocation toward key word search from display ads, Meng tells investors in a research note. At current levels, Meng believes Baidu shares have largely priced in reduced earnings growth expectations. She keeps a price target of $210 for the stock. The Chinese search giant closed Friday up 7c to $152.13.

HSBC analyst Charlene Liu lowered the firm's price target on Baidu to $145 from $157 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares following the company's developer conference. The firm says Baidu's advertising outlook remains more challenging than it expected. It cut estimates on weaker a macro envinrment.