Can Baidu Get Rich the Youku Way?

Shares of Baidu moved higher on Tuesday after an executive of its video-streaming business expressed interest in an IPO at a tech conference in Beijing.

This would be a smart move for Baidu, longtime Fool contribution Rick Munarriz explains in this video.

Youku Tudou commands a $3.3 billion market despite losing money, and the assets that Baidu has collected in recent months make it a top player in video. An IPO or spinoff would also help improve Baidu's bottom line as video may be a big drag on its bottom line as it was for Google after its initially controversial move to acquire YouTube.

As Google, Baidu, and Youku know, it isn't easy making money by serving up videos and paying licensing fees on top of that. However, as advertisers grow to pay up for personalized video streams, the market will evolve.

Money from an IPO sale? Healthier margins? Finding a way to take its video business public would thrill two birds with one stone.

Yes, thrill.

Regardless of your short-term view on the Chinese economy, there may be opportunity in Baidu (a.k.a. the "Chinese Google"). The Motley Fool's brand-new premium report breaks down the dominant Chinese search provider's strengths and weaknesses. Just click here to access it now.

The article Can Baidu Get Rich the Youku Way? originally appeared on Fool.com.

Longtime Fool contributor Rick Munarriz has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends and owns shares of Baidu and Google. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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