Nokia's three remaining business lines, including Networks, unveil stable financial numbers for the second quarter and expect a positive second half of the year.

July 24, 2014

5 Min Read
Nokia Holds Steady in Q2, Raises Outlook

In a week of turmoil for the Finnish technology sector, the new-look Nokia, which began its new life in late April, has provided some stability with the publication Thursday morning of its second-quarter financials and outlook for the rest of the year. (See Nokia Ushers In New Era, Retires NSN Name.)

With much of the recent focus on the job cuts at the former mobile devices business, Nokia Corp. (NYSE: NOK)'s three remaining business units have not only delivered solid if unspectacular results, but have also given cause for conservative optimism as operating profits continue to creep up. (See Expect Further Cuts at Microsoft Devices – Analyst and Microsoft to Axe 12,500 Ex-Nokia Employees.)

Nokia reported second-quarter revenues of €2.94 billion (US$4 billion), down 7% from a year ago (mainly due to strategic exits from certain areas of business) and up 10% sequentially. Its gross margin (before the impact of one-time costs) was steady at 44%, while operating profits were up significantly compared with a year ago at €284 million ($383 million) and were much better than anticipated.

In Euros millions

Q2 2014

Q2 2013

Change

Q1 2014

Change

Revenues

2,942

3,155

-7%

2,664

10%

-- Of which Networks

2,566

2,781

-8%

2,328

10%

-- Of which HERE

232

233

0%

209

11%

-- Of which Technologies

147

145

1%

131

12%

Gross margin

44.0%

43.6%

Increase of 0.4 of a percentage point

45.7%

Decrease of 1.7 percentage points

Operating profit

284

12

Massive!

242

17%

Source: Nokia

Nokia Networks , which accounts for 87% of sales, reported revenues of €2.57 billion ($3.5 billion), down 8% from a year ago. That decline is largely due to the company's decision to exit unprofitable professional services deals: Global Services revenues decreased by 19% to €1.19 billion ($1.6 billion) compared with the second quarter of 2013, while Mobile Broadband infrastructure revenues were up 6% from a year ago at €1.36 billion ($1.83 billion).

The company added that excluding currency exchange fluctuations and the divestment/exit of various accounts and business lines, like-for-like Networks revenues would have been up by 1% from a year ago.

The vendor said the year-on-year increase in mobile broadband revenues was attributable to "strong net sales growth in both LTE and core networks," partially offset by lower sales of 2G and 3G radio access equipment. Nokia also noted that revenues were "adversely affected by shortages of certain components," but that the impact was not as bad as in the first quarter.

On a geographic basis, Networks revenues were down in most regions compared with a year ago, with Asia-Pacific and China in particular the exceptions: Second-quarter revenues in China increased by 18% year-on-year to €306 million ($412 million) due to the roll-out of LTE TDD networks.

The vendor says it "further strengthened its position as the top non-Chinese vendor" for 4G network rollouts in China by becoming "the only non-Chinese vendor to win a double-digit unit share in the second phase" of China Mobile's LTE TDD tender. (See Nokia Networks Boasts China Mobile 4G Deals.)

Want to know more about 4G LTE? Check out our dedicated 4G LTE content channel here on Light Reading.

Now Nokia expects its infrastructure business to pick up momentum. The company said it expects Networks revenues to be better during the second half of 2014 compared with the same period a year earlier, and believes its operating profits will exceed previous expectations. There are a number of factors expected to affect Nokia's second-half revenues, including "a higher proportion of major new network deployment projects."

And as if to hammer home that point, the company also announced Thursday morning a three-year 4G infrastructure and professional services deal with Telefónica SA (NYSE: TEF), which will see Nokia Networks act as the "key supplier" in the regions of Andalusia, Galicia, Castilla Leon and Levante.

Investors liked that positive outlook, as Nokia's share price jumped by 7.5% to €6.15 in morning trading on the Helsinki exchange.

Revenues at Nokia's other two businesses, HERE (mapping and location applications) and Technologies (intellectual property licensing) were in line with a year ago.

Two of Nokia's key rivals, Ericsson and Huawei, have also unveiled financial details during the past week. (See Ericsson Leaps on Q2 Margin Boost, Ericsson's Network Boss Outlines Top Priorities, Huawei Boosts H1 Revenues by 18% and Huawei Unveils H1 Revenues.)

— Ray Le Maistre, Circle me on Google+ Follow me on TwitterVisit my LinkedIn profile, Editor-in-Chief, Light Reading

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