Minebea Mitsumi Inc

TSE:6479

Earnings Call Transcript 2021-Q3

[Katsuhiko Yoshida, executive]

My name is Yoshida. Today, I first -- I would first like to explain the consolidated financial results for the third quarter of the fiscal year ending March 2021. And then Mr. Kainuma, Representative Director, CEO and COO, will explain the highlight of this fiscal year.

Next page, please. Consolidated net sales for the third quarter of the fiscal year ending March 2021, was up 3% year-on-year and up 0.5% quarter-on-quarter to total JPY 275.709 billion. Operating income was down 15.9% year-on-year and up by 11.6% quarter-on-quarter to total JPY 19.595 billion. Profit for the period attributable to the owners of the parent was down 15.9% year-on-year and up 22.2% quarter-on-quarter to total JPY 16.172 billion.

Operating income for this quarter includes special expenses, totaling approximately JPY 0.8 billion incurred due to impact of COVID-19, et cetera. We estimate that foreign currency translation have a year-on-year impact of minus JPY 6.6 billion in net sales and minus JPY 1.3 billion in operating income. Quarter-on-quarter impact was minus JPY 1.4 billion in net sales and minus JPY 0.7 billion in operating income. We made a slight retrospective changes to last fiscal year's financial statements due to the PPA for U-Shin. Please note that figures on the following pages are revised figures.

Next slide, please. This is for quarterly trend in net sales, operating income and operating margin. The operating margin for the third quarter was 7.1%, down 1.6 percentage point year-on-year and up 0.7 percentage points quarter-on-quarter.

Next slide, please. Here shows the difference between the forecast as of November and actual results of net sales and operating income by business segment for the third quarter. Despite lower-than-expected sales to the aircraft industry, sales for the machined components business segment exceeded the forecast. Thanks to robust sales to the other industries, mainly to automotive industry. Sales for the electronic devices and components business segment were higher than forecasted. Thanks to the strong sales of motors and electronic devices.

Sales for the MITSUMI business were higher than projection across the board, including mechanical components and analog semiconductors. The U-Shin business enjoyed higher-than-expected sales due to the recovery of the automobile market. Operating income for the machined components business segment was higher than projection. Thanks to the growing external shipment volume of ball bearings along with the improvement in profitability. The electronic devices and components business, the MITSUMI business and the U-Shin business enjoyed higher-than-expected operating income as a result of increased sales.

Next slide, please. Now let's take a look at the results by segment, starting with machined components business segment. The left graph indicates quarterly net sales trends. And on the right, bar chart shows the quarterly operating income trends along with a line chart for operating margins. The third quarter net sales increased 4.4% quarter-on-quarter to total JPY 39.7 billion. Ball bearings sales increased 8.4% quarter-on-quarter to total JPY 28.1 billion. The monthly external shipment volume was up by 13.8% quarter-on-quarter for an average of 222 million units. The growing shipment volume of automotive ball bearings continued to drive our sales upward.

Sales of aircraft bearings remained sluggish due to the stagnant market. Sales of rod-ends and fasteners totaling JPY 6.3 billion were down 9.5% from the previous quarter. Aircraft manufacturing rate has not yet recovered and is expected to remain in the doldrums. Sales of pivot assemblies increased 3.2% quarter-on-quarter to total JPY 5.3 billion. Operating income for the quarter totaled JPY 8.3 billion, and the operating margin was 20.9%. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, operating income rose 20.3%, while the operating margin improved 2.7 percentage points. Looking at the results by product, profits for ball bearings, rod-ends and fasteners and pivot assemblies, all increased quarter-on-quarter.

Next slide, please. Now let's look at electronic devices and components segment. Net sales decreased 8% quarter-on-quarter to hit JPY 90.7 billion. Looking at the results by product, we see that sales of motors increased 8.5% quarter-on-quarter to reach JPY 53.3 billion. This is because the growing demand for energy-efficient products, mainly in the automotive market, kept sales of all types of models up. Sales of electronic devices were down 29.4% from the previous quarter to total JPY 28.1 billion. This is because the peak demand for our major customers' models that use our LED backlights came to an end.

Sales of sensing devices totaling JPY 8.2 billion were down 5.3% from the previous quarter. Operating income came to JPY 4.3 billion, and operating margin was 4.7%. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, operating income fell 21.9%, while the operating margin dropped 0.9 percentage points. By product, the operating profit of motors increased, but that of electronic devices and sensing devices went down due to the decline in sales.

Next slide, please. Let's take a look at the performance for the MITSUMI business segment. Net sales rose 3.2% quarter-on-quarter to total JPY 114.3 billion. While sales of mechanical components went down as the peak demand period has passed, sales for other businesses grew due to mainly steady sales of optical devices and semiconductors.

Operating income totaled JPY 10 billion, while the operating margin reached 8.7%. Operating income was up 30.8% quarter-on-quarter, while operating margin was up 1.8 percentage points for the same period. This is due to the better product mix in profitable businesses such as optical devices and analog semiconductors.

Moving on to the next slide. Finally, let's take a look at the U-Shin business segment. Net sales increased 15.6% quarter-on-quarter to hit JPY 30.7 billion. Sales increased as the overall automotive market rebounded, although the level of recovery varied by region and customers. Operating income came to JPY 1.7 billion, and operating margin was 5.4%. Operating income was up 39.4% quarter-on-quarter, while operating margin was up 0.9 percentage points for the same period. On top of the improved profitability due to the recovery of sales through improved quality and productivity and strengthening management system following the business integration led to an increase in profit following the previous quarter.

Moving on to the next slide. The bar graph here shows trends in profit attributable to owners of the parent, while the line graph chart changes in the profit for the period per share. The profit for the period was JPY 16.2 billion. Earnings per share was JPY 39.6.

Next slide, please. Next is the quarterly inventory trend. At the end of the third quarter, inventory totaled JPY 174.3 billion, which is JPY 12.2 billion less than what it was 3 months ago. This is due primarily to the fact that the inventory strategically accumulated at the end of the first quarter was sold in stages as expected, while securing the inventory needed to increase sales that is currently expected.

Next slide, please. This graph contains a bar chart showing trends in net interest-bearing debt, which is total interest-bearing debt minus cash and cash equivalents, and a line chart indicating free cash flows. At the end of the third quarter, net interest-bearing debt totaling JPY 121.7 billion was up JPY 46.5 billion from the end of the previous fiscal year. This figure includes the cost of caring shares in ABLIC, JPY 33.9 billion, and the cost of additional acquiring shares in C&A, JPY 4.6 billion.

Net interest-bearing debt is expected to increase from the previous forecast at the end of March 2021 to JPY 90 billion. This is mainly due to an increase in working capital resulting from higher-than-expected sales in the fourth quarter and is expected to decrease to around JPY 60 billion by the end of June, mainly due to progress in collecting sales proceeds in the first quarter of the next fiscal year.

Next slide, please. We made an upward revision to the full year forecast for the fiscal year ending March 2021, which we had also revised last November. This latest revision was prompted by higher-than-projected third quarter results and expectation that demand for electronic devices, semiconductors, ball bearings et cetera, will continue in the fourth quarter.

We have revised the forecast for net sales from JPY 940 billion to JPY 980 billion, for operating income from JPY 50 billion to JPY 58 billion, respectively. While temporary expenses related to restructuring and the PPA for ABLIC totaling JPY 6 billion to JPY 8 billion may be incurred, we are currently scrutinizing this and did not factor them into the above-mentioned performance forecast. Once we have the exact figures, we will revise the forecast as needed. The exchange rate assumed to be JPY 103.5 to the U.S. dollar.

Next slide, please. This slide shows the forecast by business segment. This is all for my presentation.

[Yoshihisa Kainuma, executive]

Good evening. This is Kainuma. And Page 14 onwards, I would like to use, in order to explain to you, as you may be aware, this year, in May, we showed the fiscal year's target in the form of a range from JPY 50 billion to JPY 60 billion. And in November, this floor of JPY 50 billion we showed to you. As I spoke repeatedly in the past, ever since I joined the company, what I have been told repeatedly was that bearing is the indicator of the economic performance. And when things start to improve, it usually starts with bearings.

And October was 187 million units and then followed by 210 million and 219 million and 213 -- 230 million in December, but a number for January may have been too conservative. And I would like to apologize. The demand -- stronger demand than anticipated is now generated, I strongly feel that. And at the end of November, I was not feeling such a strong demand. However, in January to March period, we are seeing even stronger demand.

So to be quite honest with you, I thought I should put up JPY 60 billion a target, but after all, it's semiconductors. And therefore, I keep this conservative target of JPY 58 billion. And several times, we had semiconductor-related issues, but in actuality, we would like to achieve increased profit and increased sales.

So post-COVID-19 enhanced structure. This year, at this conference call, the message I want to convey to you is that we are tackling with this task to put together post-COVID-19 structure as a united force. So our monthly capacity is JPY 250 million per month, 200 million -- JPY 250 million per month and 10 million each we added, and therefore, we want to achieve 270 million. However, thanks to improved productivity, it was likely to reach 350 million. But looking back, our production capacity, it went up to 325 million. As a matter of the fact, for March, the anticipated production volume is 314 million, and it's a fact that we can handle these many units. So it's an evidence that we can actually achieve this number.

Against such backdrop, this time as well, the pre-investment and efforts we made in the past in order to improve productivity, now that demand is improving and we are able to handle that because we have already been working on it. And we have always made preemptive strike to be prepared for the future movement. And this time around, we are making new investment once again to reach 345 million to be realized by the end of next fiscal year.

And due to this, the existing plants, there will be no additional capacity. So we are full, so to speak. However, in terms of the machined components business, we are putting in a lot of measures to further grow this business and further enhancing our structure in May, when we announce our full year results, we will give you some figures and explain more in detail about this. That's my thoughts.

So MinebeaMitsumi. So once we had more than JPY 72 billion of operating income, currently, more recently, because of the trade war between the United States and China, and then we have to go through the COVID-19 situation the next year, the operating profit has started to go down. So what type of growth products will be driving MinebeaMitsumi. When this question is asked, I clearly can say, there are 4 products. I want to point to these 4 products. One is ball bearings. Next -- from next year onwards, we're going to grow substantially the camera actuator business or OIS-related products and motors and analog semiconductors. These 4 products for the time being will drive our business. I'm very confident about this.

For motors, so JPY 200 billion of sales has been achieved, and next year, we want to do more than JPY 230 billion. And so after that, JPY 280 billion is a target for motors. And different types of motors have started to -- we have to start to see a sales pickup for various types of motors and that's good. And for semiconductors, in 2 to 3 years' time, operating income, JPY 10 billion, will be the target. That was what we have said, but I think we will be able to achieve that this year because the semiconductor demand is very strong, and that is backed up by this.

For next year onwards, the semiconductor will continue to grow. So the 7 spears -- out of the 7 spears, the 3 spears will be at the forefront. It is related to smartphones, but the OIS, this new growth product. For our side, we will clearly put these products on the forefront and grow as a business. So for these 4 products, I will explain more in detail and clarify that in May when we announce our full year results. So what I'm always saying is that these games, backlight, they won't go away. So in terms of the backlight business, the inquiries are stronger than we have expected. So in terms of future scenario, we are not anticipating that the backlight business will go away.

And going to Page 16 -- excuse me, this is Page 15. On the lower right-hand side, please look at the chart on the lower right-hand side. In 2017 -- in May 2017, we announced our results. For the following 10 years, we announced our growth strategy. By March 2021 -- fiscal year March '21, what -- how do you want to be? So meaning this year, what should we anticipate. So we are assuming that we'll be able to achieve JPY 100 billion. And this is diagram we showed you. So maybe I'm making excuses, but unfortunately, after the announcement, the U.S.-China trade friction started. So we were damaged severely by this.

And this year, from January -- from -- last fiscal year from January to February of last year, the COVID-19 situation has set us, and this is some major damage for us. So we have not been able to grow our business as anticipated. But what I want to say today is that by March 2023, maybe we are -- want to go very close to what we have anticipated, and maybe we'll be able to realize that. So for the machined components, so bearings will be producing 300 million, we are producing more than 300 million for ball bearings. So we can do that from next fiscal year. Electronic devices and components, motors will be a big driver, and the sales that I have said will start to show up.

For MITSUMI business, this -- they have the 2 pillars: OIS and semiconductors. The profitability of these businesses will start to appear. And Mr. Yoshida has touched upon the U-Shin business. For the U-Shin business, we are going through -- we're planning to go through a structural reform. So with the local labor union, we have started to conduct negotiations. There are some legal issues that we have to clarify. So at this point, I cannot give you what magnitude this will be, but I think, basically, you'll have to go through structural reform. In May, again, I think I'll be able to talk more in detail about that.

So in the post-COVID world -- so for the second half of next year, that is from December onwards, I think, gradually, the business will start to pick up. As part of our business, we'll go back to what it was. So the aircraft industry will start to recover. So based on -- we have the scenario in mind. So right now, the aircraft industry is very dark, but these old aircraft will be scrapped. So the aircraft industry, they have to pay a high -- big money for the maintenance. So for the -- for efficiencies sake, they are going to scrap these old aircraft.

So once the recovery sits in, I think the aircraft version of the automobile industry will start because the mobility of the people will be more than before once we overcome this situation. So for the aircraft alone, more than JPY 12 billion impact was seen on the operating income. But once this business recovers, after that, we think we'll be able to go over JPY 50 billion.

Regarding motors, as I said a little bit previously and as I always say, if global GDP increases, then high income people will increase, and therefore, more aircraft components will sell. And various kinds of motors are being used centering around automotive motors, and we are to enter into such space, and that is going to be the core part of the growth strategy of electronic parts and components. And MITSUMI, I said that OIS will be growing and analog semiconductors, and the target is JPY 15 billion for 2 years from now.

And hot market situation is likely to continue for some time, and we are implementing various measures in order to improve production capacity. I should be able to give you more details in May. So looking at the overall situation, MITSUMI's JPY 30 billion is not at all unrealistic. And U-Shin, as I said, by taking various measures, what we promised at the outset, JPY 10 billion, we would like to achieve this number as soon as we can.

Turning to Page 16. Having said all that, as we held the internal discussions, our share buybacks, it may be better. Some people said that it will be better to announce share buybacks in May, but I decided to announce the decision. Now nobody knows what will happen in the future, but we do think that the future will be rosy and promising. And right now, share price is low, and there is a huge gap between the realistic price and the current price, and therefore, JPY 10 billion will be the amount of share buybacks. So we made this decision.

And why JPY 10 billion? If you could move on to the next page, Page 17, this is another thing that we promised you, half of our free cash flow should be spent for shareholder returns. That is what we promised you. From March 2019 onwards, you can see the dividend and the share buyback ratio. And adding up all 3 years, the dividend, the JPY 34.3 billion and the buyback, JPY 35.8 billion. So JPY 34.3 billion and JPY 35.8 billion, respectively. So we have been conducting share buybacks in this way, and it will be 50% when it becomes JPY 10 billion. So that is the reason why we are conducting this much share buybacks.

And the dividends are shown on Pages 18 -- the Page 18. The dividend amount is to be JPY 28 per share. In the following page, you can see a topic that I want to share with you briefly. First of all, B2C business. I always had this in my mind, and in order to study the environment and to make social contribution, we saw the surgical masks and 6 million pieces of masks that we made were sold. And we were able to make a contribution to the society, and we should keep working on this, given the current situation.

And I put an article or advertisement in newspaper today. We have no intention of making money from this activity. And also, the other 2 small step forward from U-Shin smart lock was launched. And SALIOT pico, it's a lighting device. Using smartphone, the lighting can be attenuated. It may be difficult to see, but please look at better pictures on our website. So B2C business, we are studying various possibilities and as a new methodology or new attempts, we would like to expand our sales and profits going forward.

Very quickly, I have shared with you some important points. Next, we're going to a Q&A session.

[Katsuhiko Yoshida, executive]

The first question is coming from Goldman Sachs. Takayama-san, please.

[Daiki Takayama, analyst]

Can you hear me?

[Yoshihisa Kainuma, executive]

Yes, please.

[Daiki Takayama, analyst]

I have 3 questions. First, about the ball bearings business. So currently, 325 million is the current capacity. And I think in March, it's going to be very close to 100%. For next fiscal year, there will be a bottleneck for the supply or will there be any tightness in supply? What is your outlook?

And I would like to learn about your inventory as well. And in terms of the profitability, to Mr. Kainuma, you said that when things are not bad, so cost reduction and productivity has improved and then that will generate profit. So even if the aircraft business hasn't come back that strongly, but the other businesses will come back. So maybe 25% or more of the profitability from machined components, even without the aircraft industry, is that possible? Can you give us your view on that?

[Yoshihisa Kainuma, executive]

So if I'm -- yes, I think the supply will become tight, but as I have been saying to you -- so a low price bearings, well, can be sold into the market. Well, not us, but from us. But basically, I think the customers' demand can be satisfied because of those types of ball bearings -- low-cost ball bearings and the pivots may be going down a bit. So for this one year, the inventory will not be that high because we have reduced inventory once it will be tight. But at the current -- if we consider our current capacity, I think we'll be able to cover that.

And when we cover that, what is going to happen to the profit? So what I'm saying to the business units is that even if the aircraft business doesn't recover, the profit of the -- we're having from the aircraft industry and the pivots and ball bearings, maybe altogether, let's achieve JPY 10 billion of profit per quarter. So we don't know until we actually start operating, but I think it will be mainly in line with that. So once the aircraft business comes back, so I talked about JPY 12 billion-plus, so meaning that the JPY 52 billion or JPY 53 billion machined components profit will come into our view. So that's what I'm thinking.

[Daiki Takayama, analyst]

Understood. The second question is about the analog semiconductors. So I think you bought this business at very good timing. So MITSUMI -- including what MITSUMI has or recently had, so this year, what type of sales it will be this year? And how was the potential for that to increase for next fiscal year? I think this will be a very busy business. So what will be the scale of this business?

[Katsuhiko Yoshida, executive]

So in terms of sales, we are looking into detail. In March, we will come out with the budget. I will not -- I do not want to mislead you, but the unit price is going up. So by increasing the unit price and in terms of what we're going to produce, we already have a plan in place. So we will start producing those type of products. I think that MITSUMI should have.

So the sales of the semiconductor, per se, are happy. We always disclose that. Yes, it has been about JPY 60 billion, and this year will be more or less close to that number. And from that, for next fiscal year, as Mr. Kainuma has said, we are investigating that in detail, but we think we'll be able to grow from the JPY 60 billion.

[Daiki Takayama, analyst]

So JPY 10 billion in 2 to 3 years will be achieved next year, but not JPY 10 billion. But as soon as the capacity -- as long as output is there, maybe you can achieve that. Maybe is that too optimistic?

[Katsuhiko Yoshida, executive]

No. This year -- I said this fiscal year, we're going to achieve JPY 10 billion. So this year, we're going to achieve JPY 10 billion. But this is really unexpected. So this is a like windfall for us. So if that is the case, next fiscal year, we'll go over -- of course, we'll be over JPY 10 billion. By how much in May, be -- I think we will be able to talk about that.

[Daiki Takayama, analyst]

So lastly, so OIS, can you give me some quantitative answers. So maybe JPY 102 billion of actuator. So 100 maybe it went down. But next fiscal year, the technology is going to change, and maybe this might be -- it will be next year and when people will take up these new technologies. So what type of sales are you anticipating? So is it going to double or 1.5x? Is that the level of sales that you're anticipating?

[Yoshihisa Kainuma, executive]

So we have been spending around JPY 100 billion. So for the Chinese smartphones, it has been damaged. But for the North American market, it's going very well. Well, we can't offset all of the downside, but that said, I think we have to be able to offset that substantially. So against the regional sales plan, maybe 80% level. Currently, at this level, I think we'll be able to achieve. So for next fiscal year, as you know, so in terms of the smartphones, more and more smartphones is going to use, this new OIS, we are anticipating that. And as [indiscernible] just mentioned, the range that you have mentioned, I think that level of sales increase, the [indiscernible] to sales increase can be expected.

[Katsuhiko Yoshida, executive]

Let's move on to the next question. Morgan Stanley MUFG Securities. Mr. Sato, please.

[Shoji Sato, analyst]

This is Sato. I have 3 questions. First one is about MITSUMI. In fiscal year 2021, I think you are expecting increased sales and increased profit, and games may decline and semiconductor and OIS will grow. Or games, OIS and semiconductors, all of them -- are all of them expected to grow. What is your view on this? And consignment sales of games from JPY 40 billion -- almost JPY 40 billion in Q2, how it changed over the time?

[Katsuhiko Yoshida, executive]

First of all, I, Yoshida, would like to share with you numbers. Q3, JPY 33 billion; and Q4, JPY 15 billion. Those are the expectations. And as you said -- you said fiscal 2021. Are you talking about next year?

[Shoji Sato, analyst]

Yes. Yes.

[Katsuhiko Yoshida, executive]

So you want to know what the situation of game business will be next year? At this point in time, the market, it's still undersupplied. That is how we look at it. And looking back, in retrospect, the COVID-19 and people staying at home. So there was this favorable wind. And if it continues, I think game business will stay solid. But it may have something to do with the number of the cases, the number of people who are infected. But in May, I think I will be able to share with you more specific numbers.

[Shoji Sato, analyst]

Understood. My second question is about motors. The automotive motors sales are growing. I can see that. But the TVD motors, the competitors are raising prices. And MinebeaMitsumi, as HDD demand is shrinking, are you planning to make capital investment in order to increase capacity? Or are you going to maintain the same capacity and do it within that capacity.

[Katsuhiko Yoshida, executive]

I cannot share with you the details, but basically, we must make investment. Otherwise, we will not be able to keep up with the demand. Our production will not be able to keep up with the demand. So we must increase production capacity.

[Shoji Sato, analyst]

I see. My third question is about the numbers. Ball bearings, the internal and external sales and the production volume, actual and forecast.

[Yoshihisa Kainuma, executive]

So Q3 external sales and the unit is million pieces. 211 million, 220 million. I mean, that was October and November and December, 234 million. And January, February and March, 242 million, 280 million and 250 million. And internal sales from October, once again, unit is million, 57 million, 54 million, 56 million, 58 million, 60 million, 57 million.

[Shoji Sato, analyst]

I see. 58 million, 60 million and 57 million. From January, 58 million, 60 million and 57 million. What about the production volume?

[Yoshihisa Kainuma, executive]

Likewise, from October, 247 million, 266 million, 252 million, 282 million, 273 million, 315 million.

[Shoji Sato, analyst]

And recently, is it progressing in line with the numbers you have just shared with me? Or is there an upside?

[Yoshihisa Kainuma, executive]

Well, I have just shared with you the latest numbers.

[Katsuhiko Yoshida, executive]

Let's go to the next question. Mizuho Securities. Goto-san, please.

[Fumihide Goto, analyst]

Hello. Can you hear me?

[Yoshihisa Kainuma, executive]

Yes. Please, go on.

[Fumihide Goto, analyst]

I have 2 questions. One is about, Mr. Kainuma. You have made -- you have become more and more powerful in your presentation for this quarter. So the background, can you explain why you're so powerful today? Talked about the ball bearings and as things have turned to the better recently maybe that is the reason or motors, et cetera, the things that you have to strive to improve. You feel that things has advanced and you have more confidence of being able to reap the fruit for next year or maybe both? Maybe. Can you give me more color about why you feel so confident?

[Yoshihisa Kainuma, executive]

Yes. It's exactly what you have said. It's both actually. For ball bearings, as I've said at the beginning, this is a kind of indicator of the economy. So we are basically -- we have a share of the global economy. So we are impacted whether we like it or not. So that is the reality.

So this time around, the -- we thought the ball bearings business recovered and at that timing, the other businesses start to recover. And in terms of the unofficial orders for the ball bearings for the next fiscal year is quite strong. So basically, I think we are just right in the way for the trend of the global economy.

And if we have the -- I think we can sell against that following. And we talked about the 4 growth products, but not only ball bearings, but semiconductors. Well, a couple of years ago, this was a loss-making business, but we want to bring this to JPY 10 billion, and they have some external factors, of course, that impacted us. But through the efforts of our employees, earlier, by many years, we have been going to be able to achieve that. And next year onwards, we think that this situation will continue. So this is basically in line with the trend of the environment.

Well, EV, electrification through various reasons, our analog semiconductor demand is quite strong. And in terms of the OIS, it's going to the new phase. And in 4 to 5 years, this demand for OIS will continue, and it will grow. And we have been steadily putting in efforts for motor business and now we are able to sell more volume. So we are taking a second vendor strategy. So we are not looking for the top-notch position.

But within the motor industry, the development of the motor industry under various conditions is happening. For instance, maybe fans, motors for fans. Well, it is double compared to the more recent years. So under these various situations, I think we are seeing more sales on motors. But as a trend, this -- I think we can -- our business can straightforwardly receive the benefits of these trends, and that's a very -- I think it's very good. So we have spent a long time trying to develop this business.

So these 4 products, future core products and for other products as well. So we said -- I said, it was the 3 spears as the 7 spears. For the other 4 spears, it is growing steadily. So in that sense, I'm thankful. And the backlight business is not going to go away. That's for sure. And the recurring business, all the customers are looking at that. So not only the high-end business is going to grow, but the low end business is going to grow as well. So that is what we have experienced this year.

So all this combined, maybe it seems that way, but I have this determination that this is a strategy that I'm going to take, and I have been disclosing that to you. So I'm not just -- it's not only hot air, I think our product -- if you look at our product sales, I'm confident that we'll be able to achieve that level of sales.

[Fumihide Goto, analyst]

My second question is about the ball bearings. I want to know more in detail. For instance, March, you talked about JPY 250 million in terms of external sales. Compared to the past, it seems to be at a quite high level. So what applications and how much has increased? Can you give me the breakdown?

[Yoshihisa Kainuma, executive]

Well, I don't want to go into detail in this business that much, but roughly, and Mr. Yoshida will give you some information. From May onwards, we won't be disclosing this level of detail, but anyway. So what is strong is automotive, automobiles. That is very strong, and it is continuing to increase the sales. Sales is growing.

And other businesses will be -- or other businesses, sales are increasing. In home appliances -- ball bearings for home appliances, sales is increasing for that. For Q-on-Q between third quarter and fourth quarter in various products, we think the sales is going to increase, the volume is going to increase. So it's not the case of this one specific factor. So for instance, fishing rods or like stay at home related products, I think that is one factor that you can consider.

So you talked about automobile. So with the rapid recovery of the production and then I think, basically, people -- inventories are piling up. So this is a kind of cyclical. In terms of say at home, whether this is going to continue or not, I think you could discuss about that. But the sustainability of this level of demand will -- I think you think that this will go into next fiscal year. So we shouldn't be too much concerned about that.

Well, to be frank, for -- about the global economy, I don't -- nobody will know. So -- well, if I knew it was going to happen for the global economy, I won't be sitting here. But I am always saying that with the development of global economy, it will lead to a -- high-end products will be selling more and high-end components also will be sold. So with the COVID and U.S. and China trade friction was -- put a downward pressure against this trajectory. But this will go back to the -- what has been anticipated. We should have that image. Well, basically, that's all I can say in terms of the future outlook. And I think it's quite natural to think that's going to happen.

[Katsuhiko Yoshida, executive]

We only have limited amount of time, and therefore, the next question will be the last. Mr. Akizuki from Nomura Securities.

[Manabu Akizuki, analyst]

I have 2 questions, if I may. First, about electronic components, the upward revision from November. In sales, JPY 13 billion revision was made, and we should be able to share with me the split of this number? That is my first question.

[Yoshihisa Kainuma, executive]

Motors about JPY 5 billion and JPY 7.7 billion electronic devices. Sensing was downwardly revised and the backlight was upwardly revised. Am I right?

[Katsuhiko Yoshida, executive]

Yes.

[Manabu Akizuki, analyst]

And accordingly, you have made a revision -- upward revision for profit. And in terms of marginal profit, is it in the same proportion?

[Katsuhiko Yoshida, executive]

I cannot share with you the number -- such numbers regarding motors.

[Manabu Akizuki, analyst]

I see. I understand. My second question is, well, Mr. Kainuma was mentioning that he may go into a new business. And what is your view on the Chinese New Year this year?

[Yoshihisa Kainuma, executive]

The Chinese government did not encourage people to go home to celebrate Chinese New Year. And it seems that Chinese and Taiwanese companies, many of them are still making goods in plants.

[Manabu Akizuki, analyst]

So what is your view on keeping the factories running during the Chinese New Year? And what about your peers?

[Yoshihisa Kainuma, executive]

Well, it depends on the customer. Some customers may stop operation and some may keep operation. But in our case, all locations, all factories will keep operating during the new year -- Chinese New Year.

[Manabu Akizuki, analyst]

Is that because you are very busy? And also the Chinese government seems to encourage that?

[Yoshihisa Kainuma, executive]

Both. Because if they go home and something happens, we would have to carry out the screening of the employees who come back from their hometowns, whether -- to see whether they have infected or not. So after the Chinese New Year, the production may drop if something happens. And of course, the Chinese government policy is one thing that we appreciate. And the safe operation is our top priority and our employees fully understand that. So all of our plants will keep operating during the Chinese New Year.

[Katsuhiko Yoshida, executive]

So this ends the Q&A session. This ends the meeting for today. Thank you very much for your participation. Thank you.