Nokia has posted some strong Q3, 2014 results today. Net sales is up at EUR 3.3 billion (13.7% growth) as compared to Q3, 2013 (2.9 Billion EUR). Networks and HERE have registered double digit growth while Nokia Technologies is up by 9% Year-on-Year.
Highlights:
Net sales in Q3 2014 of EUR 3.3 billion (EUR 2.9 billion in Q3 2013)
Net operating profit up 33% YoY at EUR 457 million
Nokia ended Q3 2014 with a strong balance sheet and solid cash position with gross cash of EUR 7.6 billion and net cash of EUR 5.0 billion compared to EUR 9.0 billion and EUR 6.5 billion, respectively, at the end of Q2 2014.
Nokia Networks:
– Nokia Networks achieved 13% year-on-year growth in net sales, from EUR 2.6 billion in Q3 2013 to EUR 2.9 billion in Q3 2014.
– In Q3 2014, Nokia Networks achieved strong underlying operating profitability with non-IFRS operating profit of EUR 397 million, or 13.5% of net sales, compared to EUR 217 million, or 8.4% of net sales, in Q3 2013.
– The strong net sales and profitability improvement of Nokia Networks on a year-on-year basis was primarily due to major new LTE network deployments in North America and Greater China, which benefitted Mobile Broadband.
HERE:
– HERE achieved 12% year-on-year growth in net sales, from EUR 211 million in Q3 2013 to EUR 236 million in Q3 2014.
– In Q3 2014, HERE sold map data licenses for the embedded navigation systems of 3.2 million new vehicles globally, compared to 2.6 million vehicles in Q3 2013.
Nokia Technologies:
– Nokia Technologies achieved 9% year-on-year growth in net sales, from EUR 140 million in Q3 2013 to EUR 152 million in Q3 2014, primarily due to Microsoft becoming a more significant intellectual property licensee.
This is what CEO Rajeev Suri has to say about the performance,
Nokia’s third quarter results demonstrate our strong position in a world where technology is undergoing significant change. We saw growth in all three of our businesses; non-IFRS earnings per share was up 50%; and we moved forward with our capital structure optimization program, returning cash to shareholders.
Performance at Nokia Networks was particularly satisfying, with both growth and improved profitability. Progress was widespread, with four of our six regions increasing sales; Mobile Broadband sales and profitability were up sharply; Global Services delivered its sixth consecutive quarter of double digit profitability; and I was pleased to see a rebound in Europe driven by our robust deal momentum. That said, I also want to be clear that Networks benefited from some unique developments in the quarter, with a business mix weighted towards Mobile Broadband and regional mix that included strong gains in North America.
HERE also delivered a double digit sales increase in the quarter. We are sharpening HERE’s strategy in order to better balance growth and profitability while ensuring relentless focus on priority segments such as automotive. I am confident that this strategy, combined with a new focus on efficiency gains, positions HERE well for the future.Nokia Technologies continued to invest in the innovation and business infrastructure necessary to enable future growth and renewal of our strong patent portfolio. This work, as well as our current licensing activities, will take time to come to fruition, but I believe that we are moving rapidly in the right direction.
