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Sony Second Quarter Earnings Call |
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Author: Maclintosh Kuhlengisa
123jump.com
Last Update: 2:30 PM EDT October 31 2007
123Jump:
The electronics, gaming and entertainment firm reported a 12% rise in sales from ¥1.85 trillion in 2006 to ¥2.1 trillion, driven by strong sales gains across most segments. The Electronic segment continued to achieve significant growth in sales and profitability, while PS2 and PSP sales continue to be strong, resulting in increased unit sales forecast. The firm revised upwards its full year earnings forecast and is on track to achieve a six-fold increase in operating income.
Investors Question and Answers
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This summary is based on the second quarter fiscal 2007 earnings call conducted by Sony Corp. (SNE) on October 25, 2007.
Management:
Senior Vice President of Investor Relations: San Levenson
CEO, EVP and CFO: Nobuyuki Oneda
Group Executive, Corporate Development and M&A: Robert Wiesenthal
Key Investors Issues
- Revenue was up 12% to ¥2.1 trillion, while income rose ¥73.9 billion.
- The European Commission reaffirmed its 2004 decision that the merger of the Sony and Bertelsmann''s recorded music businesses does not pose a threat to competition in America.
- An interim dividend of ¥12.5 per share was declared.
Year-to-date Highlights:]
- Sales increased by 12.4% from ¥3.6 trillion in 2006 to ¥4.1 trillion.
- Net income rose by 300% to ¥140 billion or ¥133.22 a share.
- Cash and cash equivalents strengthened from ¥555 billion in 2006 to ¥627 billion.
Second Quarter Highlights
Consolidated sales rose 12%, from ¥1.85 trillion in the prior year, to ¥2.1 trillion, driven by strong sales gains across all segments except financial services.
- Electronic segment sales increased 20.7%, to ¥1.7 trillion on strong sales from products such as Bravia LCD televisions, VAIO PC’s and Cybershot Digital cameras, despite declines in sales for LCD rear projection televisions.
- In the Game segment, sales were up 42.9% to ¥243 billion, driven by Playstation 3, which was released during the period.
- In the Pictures segment, there was a 6.4% increase in sales from ¥178.2 billion in 2006 to ¥189.6 billion as a result of higher sales of theatrically released and made for television movies.
- Revenues in the Financial Sevices segment were down 6.3% due to a deterioration in net gains from investments in the separate account and in net valuation gains from convertible bonds in the general account at Sony Life.
Operating income of was ¥90.5 billion compared to a loss of ¥20.8 billion in 2006 due to increase losses in the games segment.
- Restructuring charges, which are recorded as operating expenses, amounted to ¥18.5 billion, up from ¥5.3 billion in 2006.
- A ¥60.7 billion gain on the sale of the site of the former headquarters is included in the operating income
- In the Electronics segment, operating income increased due to a ¥51.2 billion provision recorded in 2006 for charges related to recalls by certain notebook computer makers and the subsequent global replacement program.
- Non-operating income improved ¥2.7 billion to a ¥2.5 billion loss due to the recording of the foreign exchange gain, compared to a foreign exchange loss in the prior year, despite an increase and loss on devaluation of securities investments.
- Equity and net income of affiliated companies increased 7% year-on-year to ¥21.1 billion, with Sony Ericsson contributing ¥21.1 billion, down ¥700 million from the prior-year period.
S-LCD, the joint venture with Samsung, contributed a loss of ¥500 million, over ¥3.4 billion lower than last year due to its investment in 8th generation equipment.
- SONY BMG, the joint venture with Bertelsmann, also contributed a loss of ¥500 million, which is an improvement of ¥1.8 billion from 2006.
- As a result, net income improved from ¥1.7 billion or ¥1.60 a share in 2006 to ¥73.7 billion or ¥70.09 a share.
- An interim dividend of ¥12.5 a share was declared and is payable on 3 December 2007.
Performance of Segments:
- In Electronics there was a decrease in the sales of LCD rear-projection televisions due to a shrinking market, though intersegment sales increased as a result of sales of PS3 semiconductors.
- Operating income in electronics was rose 13 times from ¥8 billion in 2006 to ¥107 billion, as a result of provisions, the global replacement program, increase in sales and positive impact from the depreciation of the yen against the dollar.
- The largest profit generating products were, in order of magnitude, digital cameras, video cameras, system LSI, PCs and broadcasting professional equipment.
- In the TV and semiconductor categories, overall sales were ¥307 billion, an increase of 20% from the prior year.
Operating losses amounted to ¥21 billion, ¥11 billion lower than last year due to impairment losses against certain assets.
- LCD TVs continue to be impacted by price, however, the firm introduced new large screen and full HT models in Europe, Japan and Asia.
- In semiconductors, overall sales were ¥225 billion, up 59% from the prior year, resulting in operating income of ¥24 billion due to the sale of chips for the PS3.
- Sony Ericsson''s sales increased 7% to EUR3.108 million, as unit sales rose by 31% to 25.9 million, following robust performance from Walkman and Cyber-shot phones.
- Sony Ericsson gained a percentage point of market share over the past year and finished the quarter at over 9% share.
- In the game segment sales increased 43% from ¥170.3 billion in 2006 to ¥243.4 billion, with the bulk of sales coming from hardware and accessories, while the rest came from software.
- Hardware sales increased due to an increase in unit sales, though PS3 contribution to sales was below original expectation.
- The company launched a new lighter, slimmer PSP model in Japan, in the U.S. and Europe in September and penetration is gaining speed with September unit sales in Japan reaching a record high.
Towards the holiday selling season, the firm will accelerate the expansion of the PS3 platform through enhancement of the software line-up, and proactive measures aimed at expanding sales
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