Nokia Q3 2018 financial results: Businesses return to growth. CEO’s statement

Nokia has today made its Q3 2018 Earnings report public. The Q3 2018 highlights are 3% year on year growth in Network business, with growth across all 5 of our Networks business groups, as well as strong growth in Nokia Technologies.

Nokia Technologies has seen 19% year-on-year growth in recurring licensing net sales. The decrease in net sales on a year-on-year basis was primarily due to the absence of approximately EUR 180 million of non-recurring catch-up licensing net sales, which benefited the year-ago period. Overall sales in Q3 2018 was EUR 5.5bn.

Here are the complete Nokia Q3 2018 results highlights,

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS:

• Reported net sales in Q3 2018 were EUR 5.5bn, compared to EUR 5.5bn in Q3 2017. On a constant currency basis, reported net sales grew by 1% year on year.
• Reported net sales in Q3 2018, excluding non-recurring catch-up licensing net sales which benefitted the year-ago period, grew by 3% year-on-year (4% on a constant currency basis). In Q3 2018, we achieved year-on-year growth across all five of our Networks business groups, as well as in Nokia Technologies.
• Reported diluted EPS in Q3 2018 was negative EUR 0.02, compared to negative EUR 0.03 in Q3 2017, primarily driven by lower restructuring and impairment charges, partially offset by the absence of non-recurring catch-up licensing net sales, which benefitted the year-ago period, our gross profit performance and income taxes.
• Non-IFRS diluted EPS in Q3 2018 was EUR 0.06, compared to EUR 0.09 in Q3 2017. Non-IFRS diluted EPS, excluding non-recurring catch-up licensing net sales, declined by EUR 0.01 year-on-year, as we were able to partially offset our gross profit performance with continued operating expense reductions, in line with our cost savings program.
• Net cash and current financial investments decreased by approximately EUR 270mn sequentially. In Q3 2018, we generated cash profits, which were more than offset by changes in net working capital, capital expenditures, payment of dividend withholding tax and restructuring and associated cash outflows. We expect to end 2018 with a strong financial position, based on strong seasonality in Q4.
• We reiterate 2018 non-IFRS diluted EPS guidance and remain on target to deliver EUR 1.2bn of recurring annual cost savings in full year 2018.

CEO’s statement:

Nokia’s third-quarter results validate our earlier view that conditions would improve in the second half of 2018. This was particularly evident in our excellent momentum in orders, growth across all five of our Networks business groups, and improved profitability compared to the first half of the year. Despite some risks related to short-term delays in project timing and product deliveries, we remain on track to deliver on our full-year guidance.

We are executing well on our strategy with particularly good progress in Nokia Software and expansion to select enterprise vertical markets. Separately today, we announced steps to accelerate that progress as well as sharpen our customer focus and maintain cost leadership. These are important steps that give us added confidence in our ability to deliver on our 2020 financial commitments.

Earnings Table:

NOKIA FINANCIAL RESULTS