BEIJING, July 26 (AP) -- China's leading search engine Baidu.com Inc. said Thursday its second-quarter profit and revenue more than doubled, and its shares jumped nearly 20 percent in U.S. trading.

Baidu earned 141.9 million yuan (US$18.8 million; £á13.7), up from 58.5 million yuan in the year-earlier period, the company said. Revenue jumped to 401.3 million yuan (US$52.7 million; £á38.7 million) from 189.1 million yuan a year ago.

The results easily surpassing Wall Street expectations. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial were expecting earnings of 43 U.S. cents (31 euro cents) per share on revenue of US$49.3 million (£á35.9 million).

"During the second quarter, we saw robust revenue growth and a healthy increase in online marketing customers," Chairman and Chief Executive Robin Li said in a statement.

The Beijing-based company's American Depositary shares jumped US$35.77 (£á26.06), or 19.5 percent, to US$219 (£á159) in after-hours trading. The stock had closed up US$8.19 (£á5.97), or 4.7 percent, at US$183.23 (£á133.50) in the regular session.