Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Motorola posts profit, smartphone sales rise
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Motorola posts profit, smartphone sales rise
Reuters - Saturday, May 1
Send
IM Story
Print
By Sinead Carew
NEW YORK - Motorola Inc reported a surprising quarterly profit on better-than-expected demand for its higher-margin smartphones, so far vindicating its strategy of relying on Google Inc's Android software system.
Strength in Motorola's other units including network equipment and fewer sales of unprofitable, cheaper phones also bolstered the company's profit.
Motorola also forecast current-quarter earnings per share in a range that could beat average analysts' estimates.
Its shares rose 3 percent on Thursday and have gained 18 percent since January as more investors were willing to bet on its turnaround despite stiff competition from rivals like Apple Inc's iPhone.
Now the market is set to become even more crowded with the entrance of Hewlett-Packard Co, which on Wednesday announced a deal to buy Palm Inc.
"I think doing the best they can in a very competitive market," RBC Capital Markets analyst Mark Sue said, adding that investors were encouraged that Motorola was accelerating its exit from less advanced phones.
Some analysts said Motorola's share rise may have been muted by the Palm news. Sanjay Jha, Motorola's co-chief executive said the Palm deal may change the market dynamic but wouldn't alter Motorola's task of making stand-out phones.
Jha told an analyst conference call that the phone unit would post its first profit in years in the fourth quarter.
The mobile devices division still posted an operating loss of $192 million in the first quarter, but this was much narrower than its loss of $545 million a year earlier.
While Motorola smartphone sales rose to 2.3 million from 2 million in the fourth quarter its overall phone sales fell to 8.5 million phones from 12 million in the last quarter.
This was short of the average forecast of 10.2 million from nine analysts contacted by Reuters but Jha said the sales decline made the unit's progress all the more impressive.
"To see that contraction in shipments ... and yet improve our operating loss is a hell of a feat" Sanjay Jha, Motorola's Co-chief executive who heads mobile devices told Reuters.
"I see this as a sign we're turning the mobile devices business around and making great headway in probably the most important segment of the mobile devices market which is smartphones," he said.
In the global market Motorola is expected to rank seventh in the first quarter, behind Nokia, Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics.
But Jha estimated that it held its third place ranking in the North American smartphone market, putting it behind only iPhone and BlackBerry from Research In Motion.
He said that while total phone volumes would decline again this quarter, smartphones sales will increase sequentially, resulting in an improvement in operating losses.
Jha predicted growth for this quarter as Motorola's distribution expands. He also predicted that its new phones would do well, particularly in China.
NORTH AMERICA AND CHINA
It posted a first-quarter profit of $69 million, or 3 cents per share, compared with a loss of $231 million, or 10 cents a share, in the same quarter the year before.
Excluding items, profit per share was 2 cents compared with average analyst expectations for a loss of 1 cent per share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
As well as strong phone sales in North America and China Motorola said the profit was helped by a better-than-expected profit in Motorola's network equipment business, which increased operating earnings to $112 million from $62 million in the same quarter the year before.
Avian Securities analyst Matthew Thornton said some investors expected worse after a weak report from Nokia.
"It was a good quarter in the face of cautious expectations," he said, adding that Motorola's cash generation of $455 million was a good sign ahead of its plan to separate into two companies early next year.
Revenue fell 6 percent from a year ago to $5.04 billion, and compared with Wall St expectations for $5.098 billion.
Motorola forecast current-quarter earnings per share of 3 cents to 5 cents, including expenses for stock-based compensation and amortization of intangibles. That compares with the average Street forecast of 3 cents per share according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
The company tweaked its target for 2010 smartphone sales to a range of 12 million to 14 million from its previous guidance of 11 million to 14 million. Motorola shares rose 21 cents, or 3 percent, to $7.13 on New York Stock Exchange.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
US-TECH Summary Reuters - Saturday, May 1
Apple launches 3G iPad, looks to maintain momentum Reuters - Saturday, May 1
Taiwan executive to serve US prison time in price-fix case AFP - Saturday, May 1
HP tablet plans draw interest after Palm deal Reuters - Saturday, May 1
Apple stops Lala's music, Web-based iTunes expected Reuters - Saturday, May 1
News Search
Top Stories
Obama says US economic heartbeat 'growing stronger'
Putin proposes merging Gazprom, Ukraine gas firm
Spain jobless rate tops 20%, adding to debt worries
Disaster looms as oil slick reaches US coast
EU's Barroso says confident Greece will contain crisis
More Top Stories »
Related Full Coverage
Personal TechnologyMobile phones & personal gadgets
All Full Coverage »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
Australia plans world-first plain cigarette packets
Spain jobless rate tops 20%, adding to debt worries
Lady Gaga, Bill Clinton, Lula top Time's influence list
Flatulent orange superhero has a blast in British poll
Oscar winner Bullock divorces husband, adopts a baby: People
More Most Viewed »
Aliens may exist but contact would hurt: Hawking
Apple engineer loses iPhone prototype
French driving veil row escalates
Airlines want compensation as Europe's skies reopen
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
World Cup 2010
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Saturday, 1 May 2010 Putin proposes merging Gazprom, Ukraine gas firm
Clinton sees indirect Mideast talks next week
Putin stuns Ukraine with surprise gas deal
|
CEO pay package worth over 47 million dollars
Missing Mexicans rescued as Finland seeks attack probe
Three Afghan civilians 'killed by foreign forces'
Google, Germany bury hatchet over 'Street View'
Shanghai opens Expo with dazzling display
|
Obama says US economic heartbeat 'growing stronger'
Blair seeks to salvage British PM's fading poll hopes
Lebanon shocked by lynching of murder suspect
US-TECH Summary
China, Russia, Canada again top USTR piracy list
German court says blocking Eichmann files illegal
Ex-Chirac ally convicted for corruption
Taiwan firm hopeful as US to probe its claim against Apple
Turkey, Brazil brokering Iran nuclear deal
|
Music website Lala begins shutting down
Death penalty returns in Taiwan, 4 executed
|
Smartphone shipments surge
North Korea has plenty of doctors: WHO
|
Strike leaves Dutch streets strewn with garbage
|
Tensions mount in Nicaragua over Ortega re-election
|
US-TECH Summary
Smartphone shipments surge
Taiwan puts four to death in first executions since 2005
Thai hospital evacuated after stormed by protesters
NKorea says imprisoned American speaks to family
Death penalty returns in Taiwan, 4 executed
Vietnam War journalists reunite for anniversary
Reckless private security companies anger Afghans
UN: More funds needed for Myanmar cyclone recovery
High food costs force Indians to do more with less
Microsoft echoes Apple view on Adobe's Flash
|
NKorea allows jailed American to phone home
Apple stops Lala's music, Web-based iTunes expected
|
China, Russia, Canada again top USTR piracy list
|
iTunes expands online movie service to France, Ireland
Opera buys webmail firm for mobile messaging
|
Correction: China-Going Global story
First-time directors compete at Romanian film fest
India, Japan set to conclude trade pact in 2010: minister
German, U.S. films win top prizes at Tribeca festival
India restricting Chinese telecom purchases: operator
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Essar Energy cuts IPO price amid volatile markets: source
Curtain call for Japan's premier kabuki theatre
Fujitsu back in the black for fiscal year
French Muslims feel victimised by veil ban
Japan's ANA reports biggest loss in a decade
'Cash for work' program rebuilds Haiti, and its economy
China's Xinhua to unveil global television service
J.D. Salinger copyright case to be reconsidered
|
Neil Innes: And now for something completely different
|
Look out U.S., here comes Gustavo Dudamel
|
Turkey, Brazil brokering Iran nuclear deal
Argentina should not take up Franco crimes: prosecutor
Thai standoff may worsen to civil war: crisis group
|
Apple launches 3G iPad, looks to maintain momentum
Taiwan executive to serve US prison time in price-fix case
Iraq civilian death toll rises sharply in April
|
HP tablet plans draw interest after Palm deal
College Executives Debate Broken Higher Education Model
Apple stops Lala's music, Web-based iTunes expected
Blast in Pakistan's Swat kills 3: officials
|
Microsoft echoes Apple view on Adobe's Flash
Navy Secretary Mabus Welcomes Women Presence On Submarines
Houston Police Arrest and Beat Chinese Consular Officer; China Complains
RIM knocks Motorola off list of top five handset makers
Booming China on show to world at Shanghai Expo
|
U.S. Markets Tumble As Financials Slide On Goldman Probe
Gulf Coast Oil Spill Jeopardizes Obama's Offshore Drilling Policy
Goldman Sachs Hit By Federal Probe, Stock Downgraded
Chevron Q1 Profit More Than Doubles, Tops Estimates
Four Turkish soldiers killed in Kurd rebel attack
|
Economy: St. Vincent's Hospital Closes After 160 Years
Motorola posts profit, smartphone sales rise
U.S. Officials Say Hezbollah Armed With Better Missiles Courtesy Of Syria, Iran
Shanghai World Expo throws open its doors
RIM knocks Motorola off list of top five handset makers
Fractious U.N. council extends presence in Western Sahara
|
Crist Declares State of Emergency For Florida Coastline
Military tells Congress to keep gay ban for now
China 'sets up task force' after wave of school attacks
Motorola posts profit, smartphone sales rise
USGS reports 6.3 magnitude quake in Bering Sea
|
Arizona deputy shot; illegal immigrants suspected
US-TECH Summary
S.Korean activists send leaflets despite Pyongyang's threat
Anthony Lake takes over as UNICEF chief
Indonesian marchers demand better social security
US, Egypt negotiate Mideast nuclear-free zone: report
Pentagon: Don't lift gay ban yet
Nepal's Maoists stage huge anti-government demo
Bomb kills 2 people in Pakistan's Swat Valley
U.S. pushes BP to check oil spill menacing Gulf coast
Ind. boys accused of killing stepdad to run away
Jury convicts on 2 charges in Palin e-mail hacking
Ariz. gov signs bill revising new immigration law
Disaster looms as oil slick reaches US coast
Apple launches 3G iPad, looks to maintain momentum
|
HP tablet plans draw interest after Palm deal
|
Myanmar leader warns of election 'saboteurs'
Thai protesters criticise hospital evacuation
Vietnam detains senior monk, banned Buddhists say
Willie Nelson has more country tunes in the works
Adviser slams Tonga government over ferry inquiry
New film captures waning heyday of Chicago trading pits
Two Dixie Chicks hatch offshoot Court Yard Hounds
China manufacturing activity continues to expand
S.Korea Apr exports add hopes for trade recovery
"Family Guy" creator says Arizona law like Nazi Germany
Survey: China manufacturing accelerated in April
Conan O'Brien says has no regrets in Leno debacle
S.Korea trade surplus grows in April
Mob Of Villagers In Lebanon Beats Murder Suspect To Death
Spielberg, Scorsese, others call for Panahi release
Picture In Paper Gives Away Australian Bigamist
Obama says US economic heartbeat 'growing stronger'
Neil Innes: And now for something completely different
Chavez Calling On Castro, Morales To Join Him On Twitter
S.Korea April avg daily exports up vs March
John Lennons Handwritten Lyrics To 'A Day in the Life" At Auction
Look out U.S., here comes Gustavo Dudamel
Suntanned Women In Iran Face Arrest For Breaking Islamic Law
Gordon Brown "Bigoted" Comment Caught On Tape
J.D. Salinger copyright case to be reconsidered
U.K. Medical Panel Banishes Doc For Wrongly Removing Testicle, Taking Patients Sedative
The Very Sight Of Sick People, Illness Can Boost Immune System
California County Official Links Obesity To Happy Meals, Eyes Ban On Food Promos With Toys
Two Dixie Chicks hatch offshoot Court Yard Hounds
|
Family Guy creator says Arizona law like Nazi Germany
|
Willie Nelson has more country tunes in the works
|
New film captures waning heyday of Chicago trading pits
|
Spielberg, Scorsese, others call for Panahi release
|
Iraq civilian death toll rises sharply in April
China's online population passes 400 million: state media
Thousands join May Day protests in Europe
|
Four Turkish soldiers killed in Kurd rebel attack
Firm Recalls Liquid Medicines For Children
U.S., Australia warn of terror attacks in India
|
Britney Spears Designs Her Own Fashion Line For Candie's
Rare Russian opposition rally says Putin is Stalin
|
Blasts at Somali mosque kill 39
|
PM Brown fights on as media tips rivals in UK vote
|
NATO checks report of Afghan civilian deaths
|
Amid protest, Thai Cabinet calls emergency meeting
U.N. says Congo pull-out would undermine aid work
|
Crowds endure waits as Shanghai's Expo opens
US warns of possible militant attacks in Delhi
Arkansas tornadoes kill at least 1, injure 2 dozen
China city goes on defense after school attack
Rallies expect boost after Ariz. immigration law
3 nations warn of terror attacks planned in India
Obama calls for reforms in election funding
Thai standoff may worsen to civil war
Iran warns US against taking UN 'hostage'
China school attack triggered by home demolition threat-family
Census workers get ready for door-to-door count
Japan PM apology to industrial pollution victims
Kennedy cousin Skakel's appeal to challenge lawyer
Suicide attack kills three in Pakistan's Swat
Thai protesters call for reinforcements in capital
US cities brace for May Day immigration protests
Shanghai World Expo throws open doors
Taiwan workers protest against planned China deal
First for Central Asia as ADB meets in Uzbekistan
Malaysia's Petronas, Brunei in talks to develop oil blocks
Michael Jackson memorabilia go on show in Japan
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights