Nikon Corp
TSE:7731
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Nikon Corp
Earnings Call Analysis
Q3-2024 Analysis
Nikon Corp
The Chief Financial Officer of the company presented the financial results for the third quarter and updated the full-year forecast for 2024. The third quarter saw an increase in revenue across most segments except for the components business. However, operating profits declined year-on-year, attributed partly to the decrease in profit in the profitable service business. Free cash flow showed significant improvement compared to the previous six quarters of negative cash flow due to M&A activities. For the full year, the company adjusted some of its segment forecasts, resulting in an updated overall revenue forecast to JPY 705 billion and an operating profit forecast to JPY 36 billion.
The Imaging Products Business reported strong performance, with revenue up JPY 37.5 billion year-on-year to JPY 221.9 billion, and operating profit increasing by JPY 1.7 billion to JPY 42.9 billion. This was driven by high sales of mirrorless cameras and lenses, shifting towards mid- to high-end camera markets. The company also benefited from a weaker yen, which bolstered profits. Digital camera market forecasts have been revised, but Nikon's sales expectations are maintained. The company predicts a 21% revenue growth for the year in this segment, increasing its operating profit forecast by JPY 1 billion to JPY 44 billion.
The Precision Equipment business saw a revenue increase of JPY 21 billion, albeit with a JPY 3.2 billion decrease in operating profit year-on-year. Despite lower unit sales in FPD Lithography systems, this segment performed positively overall. For the Healthcare business, revenues rose by JPY 4.7 billion while operating profit declined by JPY 4.3 billion, due to higher parts prices and one-time costs. The full-year revenue forecast for Healthcare is revised up by JPY 2 billion but predicts lower profits due to unexpected one-time expenses.
The components business experienced a decrease in both revenue and profit due to several factors including lower sales of EUV-related components and reduced utilization rates in semiconductor manufacturing. Nevertheless, Q3 results for this segment were in line with the plan. The newly established Digital Manufacturing business, which includes Industrial Metrology and Advanced Manufacturing, reported revenue increases due to successful M&A activities but faced increased losses from operating costs and a weaker yen. However, the trend suggests a decreasing loss over time.
The company's strategy includes close monitoring of investor trends and adapting to market changes. For instance, Nikon's steady sales in the camera and lens segment and anticipated expansion in revenue and operational profits were highlighted. The company reassured investors regarding significant one-time costs not recurring in the next fiscal year and expects the Digital Manufacturing business to have smaller losses in the future.
Management showed confidence in rebounding from certain declines, particularly in the Healthcare business, as they observed more than planned performance in the Emerging Products and Precision Equipment Businesses which exceeded quarterly projections. Although cost revisions took place due to contributions from Imaging Product and Precision Equipment businesses, the overall operating profit forecasts for the year were positively revised to JPY 36 billion, up JPY 2 billion. The company expressed anticipation of eliminating one-time costs and making further gains in the coming fiscal year.
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Good afternoon. This is Tokunari, CFO. I would like to thank you for your precious time despite your busy schedule to attend our financial results briefing. I will explain the financial results for the third quarter of the year ending March 31, 2024, as well as our forecast for the full fiscal year 2024. The top half shows the summary of Q1 to Q3 cumulative results and the bottom half shows the summary of Q3 alone. From Q1 to Q3 cumulative actuals for the 9 months from April to December year-on-year basis, though revenue increased, but operating profit declined.
As shown in the bottom half, as for Q3 alone, namely October 3, December, just like Q1 to Q3 cumulative basis, revenue went up, but operating profit went down year-on-year. Slide 4 shows the cumulative numbers from the first to the third quarter of the year, as shown in the yellow years, the operating profit and profit attributable to owners of parent went down year-on-year. Free cash flow improved significantly. This was driven by the improved working capital and the sale of investment securities, et cetera, resulting in the positive free cash flow for Q3 alone. Over the past 6 quarters, we continued negative free cash flow due to the M&A we had in order to expand our business operations as well as the increased inventory.
We intend to conduct our business operations while keeping an eye on free cash flow. Slide 5 shows the cumulative results from Q1 to Q3 by segment. Though we enjoyed growth in revenue in all the segments, except for the component business. In terms of operating profit, only the Imaging Products business shows the growth year-on-year. Going to Page 6 and onward. I will now explain each segment Q1 to 3 year to date, starting with the Imaging Products business. First, in the Imaging Products Business, revenue was JPY 221.9 billion, up JPY 37.5 billion year-on-year. Operating profit became JPY 42.9 billion, up JPY 1.7 billion year-on-year. Sales of mirrorless cameras, mainly Z 8 and Z f and interchangeable lens of mirrorless cameras grew family. We also made efforts in shifting mid- to high-end cameras for professionals and hobbies, which result in high ASP. Cheaper yen also contributed.
Here now I like to further explain looking into the third quarter results from October to December compared with the plan. In October through December, digital camera interchangeable lens type grew 19%, and interchangeable lens grew 16% year-on-year, almost hitting the plan. As for operating profit, partly thanks to the cheaper yen as tailwind, we went above the plan. We achieved 20% plus operating profit just like the third quarter last year. Thanks to our strategy, making shift to professionals and hobbies market and mid- to high-end cameras, this imaging products business remains as our major source of revenue for Nikon as a whole.
Next, Precision Equipment business. Revenue was up JPY 21 billion, becoming JPY 154.5 billion year-on-year. Operating profit, down JPY 3.2 billion becoming JPY 11.1 billion. Semiconductor Lithography Systems, driven mainly by our major ArF Lithography systems. We sold 22 new systems, up 8 units from the previous year. As for FPD Lithography systems, the units went down by 8 from the previous year, remaining at 11 units. For the entire Precision Equipment business, though ArF for Lithography system grew in sales, but it was not good enough to overcome the profit decline in the profitable service business and FPD business.
For your information, in this third quarter, we were able to sell 3 new FPD Lithography systems for Gen 10.5. Though we had already shipped these 3 units to the customer. But due to the situation on the side of the customer, the revenue generation has been postponed. But this time, we were able to book the revenue meeting with the accounting requirements. Slide 8 on the Healthcare business. Revenue was JPY 76.8 billion, up JPY 4.7 billion year-on-year. Operating profit was JPY 2.9 billion, down JPY 4.3 billion year-on-year. Revenue grew on the increased sales in North America and China in Life Science Solutions on top of the cheaper yen effect.
Operating profit declined due to the higher parts prices and new onetime costs such as disposal and write-down of inventory. Now allow me to expand on this onetime costs. Disposal and write-down of inventory was as much as JPY 1 billion. We had to pay our lawyers to address the results for the retinal diagnostic imaging system, which we booked during the second quarter as well as the technology survey costing us about JPY 500 million. We booked those provisions in the third quarter. Slide 9 shows the components business. Revenue was JPY 42.3 billion. Operating profit was JPY 11.6 billion. Both revenue and profit were down. In the semiconductor business, EUV-related components were almost the same level of the last year, but we were affected by lower utilization rates among the semiconductor device manufacturers, optical parts and other consumables decline in sales. Non-semiconductor customized products and encoders declined also in sales.
But October through December Q3 alone, the results were almost in line with the plan. Now Slide 10 on the Digital manufacturing business. This segment consists of Industrial Metrology business and the newly established advanced manufacturing business or ADM business. In the ADM business, revenues were up JPY 14.9 billion year-on-year, thanks to the sales contribution by SLM, our newly consolidated affiliate in Germany. Operating profit deteriorated further by JPY 9 billion since last year due to the operating loss for SLM as well as the amortization of the non-tangible assets and upfront investment for the Industrial Metrology business as well as increased costs driven by the cheaper yen. But on the quarterly basis, the deficit size is now showing the trend of becoming smaller. Opening loss for the third quarter declined by JPY 1.5 billion from the second quarter.
Next, I would like to go through the forecast for the full year. For the full year forecast, revenue for the Precision Equipment business is revised at JPY 13 billion. Health care business is revised up JPY 2 billion. So the company total forecast is now JPY 705 billion. On the operating profit side, the imaging products are revised up JPY 1 billion. Precision Equipment Business has now revised up JPY 4 billion, but Healthcare business revised down JPY 3 billion. Company total forecast for operating profit is now revised up JPY 2 billion to JPY 36 billion. Profit attributable to owners of parent remains at JPY 27 billion. Annual dividend forecast is JPY 50 per share, unchanged from the previous forecast. As for our exchange rate assumption for the fourth quarter, JPY 140 for the U.S. dollar and JPY 150 for the euro, unchanged from the previous forecast.
Now please go to Slide 13. This shows the financial highlights for the full year forecast, indicating changes from the previous year as well as the previous forecast. I have already explained the highlights. Slide 14 shows our full year forecast by segment showing changes from the previous year as well as the previous forecast. I will go through details by segment. First, the Imaging Products business. Please refer to the bottom left. As for the digital camera market scale as a whole, in light of the latest trend, we revised down from our November forecast. Digital camera interchangeable lens type 6.1 million units, down 200,000 units from the previous forecast Interchangeable lens, 9.8 million units, down 200,000 units. But as for Nikon, DCIL are 800,000 units, Interchangeable lens, 1, 250,000 units. So no changes here.
Though the market expansion pace is slowing down. We believe Nikon cameras and the lenses continue to enjoy firm sales going forward. Revenue remains the same as been JPY 275 billion, no change from the last forecast. Year-on-year basis, on top of the higher sales volume, higher ASP would contribute to the growth of 21% in revenue. As for the full year operating profit, in light of the third quarter actual performance, we have now revised up to JPY 44 billion, up JPY 1 billion from the previous forecast. It is going to be up JPY 1.8 billion in profit year-on-year. Slide 16 shows the Precision Equipment business. First, please look at the bottom left.
The FPD Lithography systems was the addition of the 3 units of the Gen 10.5 booked in the third quarter, our full year forecast is now 16 units. As for the semiconductor Lithography systems, 30 new systems, no change from the previous forecast. But the installation of the refurbished systems already delivered is to be postponed to the next fiscal year due to the customer situation. So we expect to refurbish the units will be 12 down 4 units. With these changes units as well as the effect of the cheaper Japanese yen in the third quarter.
Our revenue forecast is now revised up by JPY 13 billion from our November forecast becoming JPY 230 billion. As for operating profit, thanks to the growth in revenue is now revised up JPY 4 billion from November focus to JPY 12 billion. Next, please go to Slide 17. Now I would like to explain the Healthcare business, reflecting the cheaper yen impact in the third quarter, we revised our revenue forecast to JPY 105 billion, up JPY 2 billion. We expect particularly the Life Science Solutions would grow in revenue year-on-year. We revised down our operating profit for just JPY 3 billion to JPY 6.5 billion due to the onetime cost for the provision booked and Q3 and Eye Care Solutions.
Profit in the third quarter declined significantly due to the onetime costs. But we believe operating profit in the fourth quarter should be reaching the same level of the last year because the one-time cost will be reduced significantly in the fourth quarter. The Healthcare business so far enjoyed a smooth growth in revenue and operating profit. But in the current fiscal year, we had unexpected onetime expenses such as Eye Care, though the revenue would grow, we expect profit would decline. As for the next fiscal year, though we are still working on the budget, we believe the Healthcare business will grow firmly.
Slide 18 shows the forecast for the Component business. No change from the previous forecast, both in revenue and operating profit. Looking at the trends of the semiconductor-related customers, there are almost no changes from the previous forecast we made back in November. We believe the fourth quarter would go as we planned. Now the last Slide 19, this is the Digital manufacturing business. There are no changes from the previous forecast both in revenue and operating profit. We are going to have some revenue coming from the third quarter, both in the Industrial Metrology business and ADM business. So revenue in the fourth quarter is expected to grow compared with the third quarter.
As for SLM in the current fiscal year, we completed to make the company as our 100% owned subsidiary. Its orders received in the third quarter made a record high on a quarterly basis. So its business is expanding rather smoothly, and there is no change as to our plan to go for profit and revenue for SLM non-consolidated basis in fiscal year 2025.
That's all I plan to explain today. But if I may now like to make my [indiscernible] family. In the third quarter, we are able to hit back the decline we had in the Healthcare business, thanks to the higher-than-planned performance in Emerging Products business and Precision Equipment Business.
We are able to produce JPY 34.4 billion in operating profit on a cumulative basis, going above the plan, JPY 24 billion for the full year operating profit forecast. As for the fourth quarter, due to the smaller contributions to profit from the Imaging Product business and the Precision Equipment business for the full year forecast, we are revising up to JPY 36 billion, up JPY 2 billion. Currently, we are still working on the budget for the next fiscal year FY '24. So today, I simply cannot say anything definitive -- that's though, the Imaging business is quite firm.
The Healthcare business will not have the onetime costs we had this year. We can also expect that Digital manufacturing business will have smaller loss. So we can expect to have those positive factors. At the same time, we have to assume to bear on some onetime costs as well as IT investment we need to make due to the relocation of the headquarters. So with this point considered, in May, when we announced the final performance, we plan to explain only the next fiscal year's business forecast, but also we plan to look back our medium-term margin plan with 2 years past and to explain our future policy.
I'd like to ask for your continued support and understanding with our important investors. Thank you indeed for your kind attention.