Tag: Sony Group Corporation (SONY)

Is Now the Right Time to Buy (Nintendo) NTDOY Stock Amidst the Leak?

Posted on by The INO.com Team

Nintendo Co., Ltd.’s (NTDOY) Nintendo Switch has been around for more than seven years, and enthusiasts are beginning to get impatient about a successor. Initially rumored for a release in 2024, recent reports now suggest that the Nintendo Switch 2 is more likely to launch in the early months of 2025.

NTDOY has been secretive about its plans so far, but a recent significant leak suggests revealing a key detail about the new controllers for the rumored Switch 2, which will differ from the present design.

The major difference is that the upcoming controllers (which may be called Joy-Con) will utilize a magnetic system to attach to the console’s body, unlike the current design that relies on rails that the Joy-Con slides into. This magnetic attachment may be similar to the Lenovo Legion Go, in which the controllers need to move less to attach.

However, unlike the Legion Go, which has a mechanical lock, this appears to be distinct from that approach.

The leaked information comes from Spanish outlet Vandal, citing accessory vendors who got to touch the new console but did not see it. As per reports, these manufacturers were allowed to handle the console inside an opaque box that conceals its look, allowing them to get a feel for the hardware in general.

The shift to magnetic attachment raises significant concern about the compatibility of the current Joy-Con models with the new console, particularly in handheld mode. However, the report suggests the console will support the Nintendo Switch Pro controller. Further, it seems that Joy-Con would be supported in wireless mode, akin to how they can be used with a Nintendo Switch Lite.

Another noteworthy detail from the leak is that the Nintendo Switch 2 will be larger than the current Switch models but smaller than a Steam Deck. Earlier reports indicated an 8-inch LCD display is being built into the console, making a bigger size mandatory.

But, intriguingly, the Nintendo Switch 2 will be smaller than a Steam Deck, given that the latter has a 7-inch panel. That said, the larger trackpads on the sides of the screen and the thicker controller may contribute to Nintendo’s console being still smaller overall.

As per sources cited by Vandal, the hardware for the Nintendo Switch 2 is completed. However, the company is postponing its launch to coincide with a more captivating lineup of games. This strategy mirrors the success of the Nintendo Switch, which was highly influenced by a strong lineup of titles available in the first year, like Super Mario Odyssey, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and Splatoon 2.

In addition to this information, earlier reports have indicated that the Switch 2 will use an Nvidia chip based on the Ampere architecture with support for DLSS. There are also speculations about the console's backward compatibility with the current generation.

The leaked details about the Nintendo Switch 2’s innovative features have fueled excitement and speculation about the console’s potential success in the market. The upcoming launch of Nintendo Switch’s successor is anticipated to be a key catalyst for NTDOY’s stock price.

Investors will likely closely monitor developments related to the new next-generative video game console, including its release date, pricing, and game lineup.

Now, let’s analyze other factors that could influence NTDOY’s performance in the near term:

Recent Developments

On March 10, 2024, NTDOY and Illumination announced a new animated film based on the world of Super Mario Bros. This animated film will be released on April 3, 2026, in the U.S. and additional markets globally, with select territories releasing throughout April.

The film will be produced by Chris Meledandri, Illumination’s Founder and CEO, and Shigeru Miyamoto, Representative Director and Fellow of NTDOY, directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, and written by Matthew Fogel. The film will be co-financed by Universal Pictures and Nintendo and distributed theatrically globally by Universal Pictures.

On November 8, 2023, NTDOY announced the development of a live-action film of The Legend of Zelda. The film will be produced by Nintendo and Arad Productions Inc. and directed by Wes Ball. It will be co-financed by Nintendo and Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc., with over 50% financed by Nintendo.

By producing visual content of Nintendo IP by itself, NTDOY is opening up new avenues for global audiences to experience the entertainment world it has built via different means apart from its dedicated game consoles.

Gaming Console Industry Analysis

As per the market analysis, customers highly prefer home consoles due to their enhanced gaming experience. Favorable features of home consoles include online multiplayer gaming experience and cloud support, among others. Factors like rising disposable incomes and the availability of several gaming options boost the market growth.

Further, the integration of emerging technologies such as 3D and augmented reality & virtual reality (AR&VR) in gaming is expected to drive the industry’s expansion.

According to a Mordor Intelligence report, the global game console industry is expected to reach $80.98 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 7.2% during the forecast period (2024-2029). The market is moderately competitive, with dominant players such as Sony Group Corporation (SONY) and Microsoft Corporation (MSFT).

The gaming console industry’s bright growth prospects should bode well for NTDOY.

Robust Financial Performance and Upbeat 2024 Outlook

For the nine months that ended December 31, 2023, NTDOY reported net sales of ¥1.39 trillion ($8.83 billion), an increase of 7.7% year-over-year. The company sold 13.74 million Switch consoles for the nine-month period. Its operating profit grew 13.1% from the prior year’s period to ¥464.41 billion ($2.95 billion).

Furthermore, the gaming giant’s profit attributable to owners of parent came in at ¥408.04 billion ($2.59 billion), up 17.9% year-over-year. Its profit per share rose 18% from the previous year’s period to ¥350.48.

As of December 31, 2023, NTDOY’s total assets stood at ¥3.07 trillion ($19.51 billion), compared to ¥2.85 trillion ($18.11 billion) as of March 31, 2023. The company’s net assets were ¥2.48 trillion ($15.76 billion) versus ¥2.27 trillion ($14.43 billion) as of March 31, 2023.

After an outstanding financial performance, the Japanese video game company expects to sell 15.5 million of its Switch consoles in the fiscal year 2024, up from the prior forecast. NTDOY revised its net profit to ¥440 billion ($2.80 billion) for the full year, compared to its previous forecast of ¥420 billion ($2.67 billion).

Impressive Historical Growth

Over the past five years, NTDOY’s revenue and EBITDA grew at CAGRs of 7.3% and 17.8%, respectively. The company’s net income and EPS rose at respective CAGRs of 23.4% and 24.1% over the same timeframe. Its total assets improved at 11% CAGR over the same period.

Solid Profitability

NTDOY’s trailing-12-month gross profit margin of 56.78% is 15.5% higher than the 49.17% industry average. Likewise, the stock’s trailing-12-month EBIT margin and net income margin of 32.81% and 29.07% are considerably higher than the industry averages of 8.31% and 2.62%, respectively.

In addition, the stock’s trailing-12-month ROCE, ROTC, and ROTA of 21.27%, 15%, and 16.1% are favorably compared to the respective industry averages of 2.94%, 3.39%, and 1.18%.

Bottom Line

NTDOY surpassed market expectations for profit and revenue in the last reported quarter and raised its full-year 2024 forecast for Switch console sales and profit. The Japanese video gaming company has managed to keep up the momentum for the Switch, driven by the release of the “Super Mario Bros. Movie” and the flagship Zelda game last year.

Investors and enthusiasts are now watching for an outright announcement of a successor to its Flagship console, Switch. Latest reports indicate that the Nintendo Switch 2 is expected to launch in the early months of 2025.

The company has maintained secrecy regarding its plans so far, but a recent significant leak from Spanish outlet Vandal revealed crucial hardware details about the purported Switch 2, which will likely be different from the current design.

The new controller will use a magnetic system to attach to the body of the console. Also, it will be larger than the present Switch models, albeit not as large as Steam Deck. Further, prior reports suggest that the Switch 2 will incorporate an Nvidia chip based on the Ampere architecture with DLSS support.

Additionally, there are speculations that the console may feature backward compatibility with the current generation.

The upcoming launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 presents a significant opportunity for investors. Investors should closely monitor developments related to this new console, such as release date, game lineup, and pricing.

Notably, NTDOY has a valuable portfolio of iconic gaming franchises, including Mario, Zelda, and Pokémon. Continued innovation, strategic partnerships, and expansion into mobile gaming are expected to drive the company’s growth and profitability.

Given these factors, it could be wise to invest in this stock for potential gains.

Breaking Down Sony (SONY) Stock's 2023 Performance - The Ups, Downs, and Trends

Posted on by The INO.com Team

Sony Group Corporation (SONY), the Japanese tech giant, recently confirmed raising the prices of its PlayStation Plus (PS Plus) subscription service by more than 30% across all benefit plans.

Implemented on September 6, 2023, the PS Plus Essential tier has gone up to $72-$80/year depending on where you’re located, with the PS Plus Extra increasing to a whopping $134/year. The most significant bump is for the Premium tier, which has increased by $40 to $159 for a year of access. This move has, predictably, not gone down well with the gaming fraternity.

SONY justified this decision, suggesting that the price adjustment is pivotal to ensure that the company can “continue bringing high-quality games and value-added benefits to your PlayStation Plus subscription service.”

Adding to its stance, the Tokyo-based company emphasizes the cost efficiency of its 12-month subscription plan, stating it provides a significant discount when compared to the cumulative cost of purchasing several one- or three-month plans during the same period.

After the PlayStation Plus price hike announcement, SONY’s stock has risen the most since July. According to CLSA’s analyst Amit Garg, Sony’s move could cause a series of regular price increases from other subscription service providers.

This “steep” increase is expected to boost the company’s annual net sales by ¥100 billion, which is nearly $680.50 million. It could also add ¥55 billion (approximately $374.27 million) of operating profit annually. However, Amit Garg warned that there may be a fallout for gamer spending amid the challenging macroeconomic conditions.

Shares of SONY have gained nearly 2.5% over the past month and more than 10% year-to-date.

Although Sony’s rising stock price will benefit shareholders in the short term, gamers may be contemplating their PS Plus subscriptions, potentially leading to declined revenue in the long term.

Now, let’s review in detail what has happened over the year and discuss several factors that could impact SONY’s performance in the upcoming months:

Positive Recent Developments

On August 29, 2023, SONY’s subsidiary, Sony Electronics Inc., launched the wide-angle zoom lens G-Master™ FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II, a 35mm full-frame α™ (Alpha™) E-mount lens that covers focal lengths from 16mm to 35mm with a maximum aperture of F2.8 over the entire zoom range.

The new launch FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II satisfies the needs of photographers and videographers looking for high-performance lenses, with the descriptive power and high-speed AF (autofocus) unique to G Master.

Also, in the same month, the company unveiled two new additions to the Alpha 7C series of compact full-frame interchangeable lens cameras, the Alpha 7C II (model ILCE- 7CM2) and Alpha 7C R (model ILCE-7CR). These additions ensure top-tier imagery and visual performance across Sony’s state-of-the-art imaging devices and respond to the wide range of image expressions creators seek.

These fresh additions to the company’s product portfolio are expected to extend its market reach and drive its revenue stream and growth.

On June 6, Sony Electronics announced its partnership with SQUARE ENIX® on the latest standalone title in the esteemed FINAL FANTASY game franchise, FINAL FANTASY® XVI, available exclusively on PlayStation®5 (PS5™).

Deteriorating Financials

For the first quarter that ended June 30, 2023, SONY’s total sales and financial services revenue increased 32.9% year-over-year to ¥2.96 trillion ($20.14 billion). However, its operating income declined 30.1% year-over-year to ¥253.04 billion ($1.72 billion). The sharp drop in operating income was due to decreased profits in the company’s financial services and movie businesses.

Furthermore, the company’s adjusted EBITDA was ¥406.20 billion ($2.76 billion), down 18.3% year-over-year. Its net income decreased 16.6% from the year-ago value to ¥217.94 billion ($1.48 billion). Also, net income attributable to SONY’s stockholders came in at ¥175.67 per share, a decline of 16.2% year-over-year.

As of June 30, 2023, SONY’s cash and cash equivalents stood at ¥1.53 trillion ($10.41 billion), compared to ¥2.05 trillion ($13.95 billion) as of April 1, 2022.

Solid Historical Growth

Over the past three years, SONY’s revenue and EBIT grew at CAGRs of 13.9% and 8.1%, respectively. The company’s net income increased at a CAGR of 12.7% over the same time frame, while its EPS and total assets grew at 13.2% and 11.6% CAGRs, respectively.

Improved Full-Year Sales Forecast

Despite a disappointing financial performance in the last reported quarter, SONY raised its revenue forecast for the full year ending March 31, 2024, by 6.1% from the April forecast to ¥12.20 trillion ($83.02 billion), thanks to strength in its PlayStation gaming unit. The company made a 7% upward revision to its sales forecast for the Games & Network Services unit to ¥4.20 trillion ($28.58 billion).

Net income attributable to SONY’s stockholders is forecasted to be ¥860 billion ($5.85 billion), compared to its April forecast of ¥840 billion ($5.72 billion). The company’s August forecast for operating income remained unchanged at ¥270 billion ($1.84 billion). It expects full-year adjusted EBITDA of ¥1.75 trillion ($11.91 billion), which is also unchanged from the April forecast.

SONY is expecting a great year for its PlayStation gaming business. The company previously said it expects to sell a record 25 million PlayStation 5 units in the ongoing fiscal year 2024, compared with 19.1 million units in the prior year.

Moreover, the company sold 3.3 million units of the PlayStation 5 in its April-June quarter, an increase of 38% year-over-year. Although the numbers are softer compared with the December quarter, when consumer electronics tend to do well thanks to the holiday shopping period, it is still a solid result, given the macroeconomic weakness that has caused consumers to cut back their spending.

Piers Harding-Rolls, analyst at Ampere Analysis, said that Sony’s strong PlayStation results reflected its “much healthier position with regards to console availability.”

Warning About Delays in Smartphone Market Rebound

Last month, SONY warned about delays in the smartphone market recovery. The key supplier of image sensors, which are vital semiconductor components for smartphone photography and used by Apple Inc. (AAPL) and other device markers, said that it doesn’t expect demand in the smartphone market to bounce back until 2024 at the earliest due to sluggish demand in China and the U.S.

The entertainment and electronics group earlier said it expected a rebound in global smartphone sales in the second half of this year.

As a result, SONY expects its imaging sensors business to perform weaker than anticipated. For the full year 2024, the company’s operating income for the imaging sensors unit is projected to be ¥180 billion ($1.22 billion), down from an earlier forecast of ¥200 billion ($1.36 billion).  

Mixed Analyst Estimates

Analysts expect SONY’s EPS to decline 21.9% year-over-year to $1.13 for the fiscal 2024 second quarter ending September 2023. However, the company’s revenue for the ongoing quarter is estimated to increase 5.1% year-over-year to $19.53 billion. Moreover, it surpassed the consensus EPS estimates in all four trailing quarters and consensus revenue estimates in three of the trailing four quarters.

For the fiscal year 2024, the company’s EPS and revenue are expected to decrease 9.6% and increase 2,172.5% year-over-year to $5.04 and $81.88 billion, respectively. Analysts expect its EPS and revenue for the fiscal year 2025 to grow 12.1% and 2.2% from the previous year to $5.64 and $83.67 billion, respectively.

Bottom Line

SONY reported a nearly 31% decline in operating income in the fiscal 2024 first quarter as its life insurance and movies units dragged on its bottom line. Nevertheless, the company raised its full-year 2024 sales forecast due to an anticipated strength for its PlayStation gaming business.

While expecting strength in the PlayStation gaming business, SONY’s key image sensor business will likely get hit by the uncertainties associated with the smartphone market this year. Sony, last month, pushed back expectations for a smartphone market recovery to 2024 at the earliest following gauging worsening demand from China and the U.S.

After falling for most of this year due to smartphone market weakness, eroding gamer spending, and other macro headwinds, SONY’s stock rose its most in more than a month after the company hiked the price of its core gaming PlayStation Plus (PS Plus) subscription service by nearly a third, potentially boosting its bottom line.

While Sony already seems to be benefitting from the PS Plus price hike, some analysts warn that the increasing stock and revenue will only last for the short term as it may cause gamers to consider canceling their subscription, leading to declined sales in the long run.

Given this backdrop, waiting for a better entry point in this stock might be prudent. 

 

Master the Art of Safeguarding Your Investments From Currency Volatility With 5 Assets

Posted on by The INO.com Team

Jerome Powell and his team at the Federal Reserve have raised the benchmark borrowing cost to 5.25%-5.50%. While a 2.6% rise in inflation, down from a 4.1% rise in Q1 and well below the estimate for a gain of 3.2%, and an annualized increase of 2.4% in the gross domestic product in the second quarter, topping the 2% estimate, had raised hopes that the elusive “soft landing” could be within reach, recent developments have been less than encouraging.

As the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City’s annual gathering in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, gets underway, with a more-than-forecasted wage increase, there are increasing concerns that interest rates could stay higher for longer.

While a hawkish stance usually lends strength to the dollar, Fitch Ratings’ recent downgrade of the U.S. long-term rating to AA+ from AAA, citing the erosion of confidence in fiscal management, has weakened the global reserve currency.

Moreover, the slump in their market value and a consequent increase in their yields due to a selloff of long-duration fixed-income instruments, which led to Moody’s cutting ratings of 10 U.S. banks and putting some big names on downgrade watch, has not helped matters either.

With a material risk that an apparently resilient economy could find itself regressing into an economic slowdown, it is understandable why seasoned investors could look at international equities for diversification opportunities to manage tail risks.

However, the pandemic, armed conflict in Ukraine, shifting geopolitical inclinations in the Middle East, the recent expansion of the BRICS bloc of developing nations accompanied by calls to reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar, and the Bank of Japan’s policy tweak of loosening its yield curve are all indicating to a changing world order.

Hence, returns from international investments are as much a function of wild swings in currency exchange rates as they are of the performance of the securities of underlying businesses. To help investors reduce risk exposure to unfavorable impacts of the former, many currency-hedged mutual funds and ETFs focus on providing long (buy) and short (sell) exposures to many currencies.

In view of the above, these five exchange-traded funds could be worthy of consideration:

Xtrackers MSCI EAFE Hedged Equity ETF (DBEF)

DBEF is an exchange-traded fund launched and managed by DBX Advisors LLC. It offers currency-hedged exposure to developed equity markets outside the U.S., making it a suitable fixture in long-term buy-and-hold portfolios. DBEF uses short-term forward contracts to neutralize the impact of exchange rate fluctuations, thereby rendering the performance of the underlying stocks the sole driver of returns.

With $4.14 billion in AUM, DBEF’s top holding is Nestle S.A. (NSRGY), which has a 2.04% weighting in the fund. It is followed by  ASML Holding NV (ASML) at 1.72% and  Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) at 1.65%. The highly diversified fund has 1,000 holdings, with only 18.97% of its assets concentrated in the top 10 holdings.

DBEF has an expense ratio of 0.35%, lower than the category average of 0.46%. It currently pays $6.22 annually as dividends, and its payouts have grown at a 55.7% CAGR over the past five years. It saw a net inflow of $21.22 million over the past month and $255.64 million over the past three months. The ETF has a beta of 0.71.

iShares Currency Hedged MSCI EAFE ETF (HEFA)

As the name suggests, HEFA is a currency-hedged exchange-traded fund that is managed by BlackRock Fund Advisors. The fund invests in public equity markets globally, excluding the U.S./Canada region, through derivatives and through other funds in value stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors.

Almost all of HEFA’s $3.46 billion in AUM is allocated to iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (EFA), which has a 99.95% weighting in the fund, with USD comprising the remaining assets of HEFA.

EFA’s top holding is Nestle S.A. (NSRGY), which has a 2.13% weighting in the fund, followed by  ASML Holding NV (ASML) at 1.76% and  Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) at 1.68%. The highly diversified constituent fund has 1000 holdings, with only 17.08% of its assets concentrated in the top 10 holdings.

HEFA has an expense ratio of 0.35%, which is lower than the category average of 0.40%. It currently pays $6.56 annually as dividends, and its payouts have grown at a 49.1% CAGR over the past five years. It saw a net inflow of $74.06 million over the past month and $176.04 million over the past three months. The ETF has a beta of 0.7.

WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund ETF (DXJ)

DXJ is an exchange-traded fund co-managed by Mellon Investments Corporation and WisdomTree Asset Management, Inc. The fund offers broad-based exposure to the Japanese equity market while hedging out the effects of currency fluctuation. Hence, it is best suited for investors who are bullish on Japanese stocks but bearish on JPY’s value vis-à-vis that of USD.

With $2.72 billion in AUM, DXJ’s top holding is  Toyota Motor Corp. (TM), which has a 4.86% weighting in the fund, followed by Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. (MUFG) at 4.37%, and Mitsubishi Corporation (MSBHF) at 3.64%. The well-diversified fund has 435 holdings, with only 30.7% of its assets concentrated in the top 10 holdings.

DXJ has an expense ratio of 0.48%, which enables investors to benefit from hedging while incurring costs lower than what could be managed while doing it on their own. It currently pays $2.60 annually as dividends, and its payouts have grown at a 9.8% CAGR over the past five years.

DXJ’s net inflow came in at $23.56 million over the past month and $731.28 million over the past three months. It has a beta of 0.65.

WisdomTree Europe Hedged Equity Fund ETF (HEDJ)

HDJ is an exchange-traded fund co-managed by Mellon Investments Corporation and WisdomTree Asset Management, Inc. The fund offers broad-based exposure to the European equity market while hedging out the effects of currency fluctuation.

Hence, it is best suited for investors who are bullish on European stocks but wish to insulate themselves from the impact of fluctuation of the exchange rate of EUR with respect to USD.

With $1.40 billion in AUM, HEDJ’s top holding is Stellantis N.V. (STLA), which has a 6.91% weighting in the fund. It is followed by  ASML Holding NV (ASML) at 4.41% and  Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. (BBVA) at 4.37%. The fund has 127 holdings, with 41.83% of its assets concentrated in the top 10 holdings.

HEDJ has an expense ratio of 0.58% and currently pays $1.58 annually as dividends. The fund’s payouts have grown at a 9.8% CAGR over the past five years. DXJ’s net inflow came in at $28.25 million over the past three months. It has a beta of 0.88.

iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Japan ETF (HEWJ)

As the name suggests, HEWJ is a currency-hedged exchange-traded fund that is managed by BlackRock Fund Advisors. The fund invests in the public equity markets of Japan through derivatives and through other funds in value stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. Hence, it is best suited for investors who are bullish on Japanese stocks but bearish on JPY’s value vis-à-vis that of USD.

Almost all of HEWJ’s $213.9 million in AUM is allocated to iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ), which has a 99.95% weighting in the fund, with USD comprising the remaining assets of HEWJ.

EWJ’s top holding is  Toyota Motor Corp. (TM), which has a 5.16% weighting in the fund, followed by Sony Group Corporation (SONY) at 3.05% and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. (MUFG) at 2.59%. The well-diversified fund has 238 holdings, with 23.5% of its assets concentrated in the top 10 holdings.

HEWJ has an expense ratio of 0.50%. It currently pays $12.31 annually as dividends, and its payouts have grown at a 92.3% CAGR over the past five years. HEWJ’s net inflow came in at $45.01 million over the past month and $61.84 million over the past three months. It has a beta of 0.63.