Samsung forecasts record profit but shares tumble

Samsung forecasts record profit but shares tumble
An employee of Samsung Electronics holds the Galaxy S4 LTE-A smartphones at a showroom of its headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, July 5, 2013. Even after setting a record high profit, Samsung Electronics disappointed investors who increasingly doubt its mainstay smartphone business can maintain rapid growth. Samsung Electronics Co. on Friday estimated its April-June operating profit at a record high of 9.5 trillion won ($8.3 billion). But it fell short of forecasts by analysts who held higher expectation for the world's largest smartphone maker. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Samsung Electronics Co. reported record quarterly profit Friday but its shares tumbled on doubts its mainstay smartphone business can maintain rapid growth.

Samsung Electronics Co. on Friday estimated its April-June at a record high of 9.5 trillion won ($8.3 billion). That is a 47 percent jump from a year earlier and 8 percent growth from the previous quarter.

But it fell short of forecasts by analysts who held higher expectation for the world's largest smartphone maker.

Analysts surveyed by FactSet, a financial data provider, forecast operating income of 10.2 trillion won on average. Samsung shares dropped nearly 4 percent in Seoul.

Samsung said sales grew 20 percent to 57 trillion won ($50 billion).

Sales of the latest iteration of Samsung's flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S4, hit 10 million units in May, less than a month since its debut. Sales of the S4 hit the 10 million mark about 20 days faster than the previous model.

Analysts say high marketing costs probably weighed on Samsung's despite the robust sales in the first month.

"Because of the marketing costs, the telecommunications business was probably weaker than expected," said CW Chung, an analyst at Nomura Financial Investment in Seoul. "Semiconductor and other businesses seem to have improved from the previous quarter."

Samsung forecasts record profit but shares tumble
A picture of Samsung Electronics' Galaxy S4 smartphone is seen on the screen at a showroom of its headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, July 5, 2013. Even after setting a record high profit, Samsung Electronics disappointed investors who increasingly doubt its mainstay smartphone business can maintain rapid growth. Samsung Electronics Co. on Friday estimated its April-June operating profit at a record high of 9.5 trillion won ($8.3 billion). But it fell short of forecasts by analysts who held higher expectation for the world's largest smartphone maker. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

The popularity of Galaxy smartphones has fueled Samsung's year-long string of record .

But worries have emerged that Samsung's profit growth will slow as developed countries, which are the biggest buyers of high-end phones, near a smartphone .

It has become harder to impress buyers with new features in upgraded models as most smartphones offer similar functions. Fewer wow factors in mean people will not upgrade as quickly as they did when the devices were still a novelty, forcing device makers such as Samsung to spend more on splashy advertising and marketing.

South Korean telephone companies reduced subsidies for new phones this year, which contributed to weaker Galaxy S4 sales in Samsung's home market and higher marketing spending for the handset maker, said Seo Won-seok, an analyst at Korea Investment & Securities.

Samsung forecasts record profit but shares tumble
Visitors tour a Samsung Electronics' showroom at its headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, July 5, 2013. Even after setting a record high profit, Samsung Electronics disappointed investors who increasingly doubt its mainstay smartphone business can maintain rapid growth. Samsung Electronics Co. on Friday estimated its April-June operating profit at a record high of 9.5 trillion won ($8.3 billion). But it fell short of forecasts by analysts who held higher expectation for the world's largest smartphone maker. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Another concern is that Samsung is increasingly relying on its mobile business for growth. Samsung's division that makes and sells mobile phones, tablet computers and cameras contributed 75 percent of its operating income in the first quarter of this year. Analysts surveyed by FactSet said 60 percent of Samsung's second-quarter sales likely came from the mobile business.

The South Korean company will announce net income and details of quarterly financial results later this month.

© 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Citation: Samsung forecasts record profit but shares tumble (2013, July 5) retrieved 19 March 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2013-07-samsung-profit.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

Samsung's operating profit up 53 percent in 1Q

0 shares

Feedback to editors