Analyst Downgrades: Baidu Inc (ADR), Revance Therapeutics Inc, and Chesapeake Energy Corporation

Analysts are weighing in on Chinese internet stock Baidu Inc (ADR) (NASDAQ:BIDU), biotech Revance Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:RVNC), and oil-and-gas-stock Chesapeake Energy Corporation (NYSE:CHK). Here's a quick roundup of today's bearish brokerage notes on BIDU, RVNC, and CHK.

• BIDU was notably lower in pre-market trading, after the company lowered its current-quarter revenue forecast, citing decreased healthcare ad spending as BIDU continues to deal with a government investigation into the death of a Chinese student. At least four brokerage firms slashed Baidu Inc's (ADR) price target, echoing Citigroup yesterday.  However, BIDU has muscled 0.6% higher to $164.60, at last check, much to the dismay of recent short sellers. Short interest in the stock rose 84% over the last reporting period, although still accounting for only 3.3% of BIDU's float.

• RVNC is down 27% at $13.39 -- and just hit a record low of $13.21-- after announcing it would halt development on its REALISE 1 topical gel, intended to treat 'crow's feet,' after the treatment missed its Phase 3 trial goals. Following this announcement, Brean downgraded Revance Therapeutics Inc to "hold" from "buy," Suntrust Robinson more than halved the stock's price target to $22 from $46, and William Blair issued a price-target cut to $41 from $50. RVNC has lost nearly 61% of its value since the beginning of the year, and this latest drop puts the stock below former support in the $15-$16 region. There are plenty of options bulls likely kicking rocks, with RVNC's 50-day call/put volume ratio at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX) of 15.4 sitting higher than 90% of all other readings from the past year.

• CHK is up 0.7% at $4.36, despite Deutsche Bank's price-target cut to $4 from $7. Chesapeake Energy Corporation has nearly tripled since hitting its lowest price in over a decade in February, but remains more than 63% lower year-over-year. Options players are still bullish towards the stock, however, with its 10-day ISE/CBOE/PHLX call/put volume ratio of 4.8 sitting higher than any other point over the past 52 weeks.