Ericsson reports third quarter results 2016

THIRD QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS

• Reported sales and sales adjusted for comparable units and currency decreased by -14% YoY, mainly driven by segment Networks where reported sales declined by -19%.
• The negative industry trends from the first half of 2016 have further accelerated. The main reason is weaker demand for mobile broadband, especially in markets with a weak macro-economic environment.
• Gross margin declined to 28.3% (33.9%) YoY following lower mobile broadband capacity sales, a higher share of services sales and lower sales in segment Networks.
• Operating margin decreased to 0.7% (8.6%) YoY, due to lower gross margin and lower sales, partly offset by lower operating expenses.
• The current industry trends indicate a somewhat weaker than normal seasonal sales growth between the third and fourth quarters. In addition, a renewed managed services contract in North America, with reduced scope, will impact sales negatively. Current business mix of coverage and capacity sales in mobile broadband is anticipated to prevail in the short term.
• The cost and efficiency program is tracking towards target. Further short-term actions, mainly to reduce cost of sales, are being implemented in order to adapt operations to weaker mobile broadband demand.
• Cash flow from operating activities was SEK -2.3 (1.6) b. Operational and structural actions are being taken to improve cash flow in the short and long term.

Non-IFRS financial measures are reconciled to the most directly reconcilable line items in the financial statements at the end of this report.

Comments from Jan Frykhammar, President and CEO of Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC)

The negative industry trends from the first half of 2016 have further accelerated, impacting Q3 sales, primarily relating to mobile broadband. The decline, in both mobile broadband coverage and capacity sales, was particularly strong in markets with a weak macro-economic environment. In addition, capacity sales in Europe were lower than a year ago. Gross margin declined YoY, following lower mobile broadband capacity sales, a higher share of services sales and lower sales in segment Networks.

Business

In the first half of 2016, a number of important markets, in regions such as Latin America, Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa, were impacted by a weak macro-economic environment. This negative development accelerated in the third quarter and had a negative effect on both mobile broadband coverage and capacity sales in these markets. In addition, capacity sales in Europe were lower than a year ago. Combined, this led to a significant deviation from what the company expected and communicated in conjunction with the Q2 report, and resulted in early announcement of preliminary sales and margins for the third quarter on October 12, 2016.

Both reported sales and sales adjusted for comparable units and currency declined by -14% YoY and sales were particularly weak at the end of the quarter. This shows an acceleration of the negative sales trends compared with the second quarter when the decline in sales, adjusted for comparable units and currency, was -7% YoY. The decline was driven by segment Networks where the reported sales decline worsened from -14% in Q2 to -19% in Q3.

As anticipated, sales in North America declined, mainly due to lower sales in Professional Services. In addition, one customer continued to reduce their investments in mobile broadband. Sales in Mainland China declined by -7% YoY mainly due to lower 3G sales, while 4G deployments continued on a high level.  In India the delayed spectrum auctions led to another slow quarter. The transition from 3G to 4G continued to contribute to sales growth in region South East Asia and Oceania.

Sales in the targeted growth areas showed resilience and grew by 3% YoY, driven by Cloud, IP and services related to OSS and BSS. In total, the targeted growth areas now account for 21% of group sales. The strategic partnership with Cisco has to date generated more than 60 deals.

The current industry trends indicate a somewhat weaker than normal seasonal sales growth between the third and fourth quarters. In addition a renewed managed services contract in North America, with reduced scope, will impact sales negatively. The current business mix of coverage and capacity sales in mobile broadband is anticipated to prevail in the short term.

Profitability

Operating income declined to SEK 0.3 (5.1) b. following lower sales in segment Networks and a lower gross margin. The positive effect of the cost and efficiency program did not offset the sharp decline in gross income.

Gross margin declined to 28% (34%) following lower mobile broadband capacity sales, a higher share of services sales and lower sales in segment Networks.

IPR licensing revenues declined YoY and declined slightly QoQ. The IPR revenues in the quarter represent the current licensing contract portfolio.

Cost reductions to secure resilience and competitiveness

The cost and efficiency program was first initiated in November 2014 and then expanded in the second quarter of 2016. We are taking action in all dimensions of the program. Actions in the quarter included headcount reduction activities which were announced and initiated in Sweden, the US, Finland, Spain and the UK. We are tracking towards our target to reduce the annual run rate of operating expenses, excluding restructuring charges, to SEK 53 b. in the second half of 2017.   

We will implement further short-term actions mainly to reduce cost of sales, in order to adapt our operations to weaker mobile broadband demand.

Cash flow

Cash flow from operating activities was SEK -2.3 b. in the quarter, mainly due to lower trade payables following lower demand. As cash flow is volatile between quarters it should be viewed on a full-year basis. We are taking operational and structural actions to improve cash flow both in the short and long term. Net cash at the end of quarter was SEK 16.3 b.

Strategy execution

Ericsson is in the middle of a significant company transformation. In addition, the rapid technology development, different and new customer requirements, as well as the convergence of IT, Media and Telecom, are posing both challenges and opportunities. Focus is on speed and fine-tuning of execution, supported by the new company structure which is designed for efficiency and effectiveness.

In short, the strategy builds on three key elements; efficiency and scale of our core business, investments in new revenue base and strong cash flow generation. Combined this will enable us to secure leadership also in the emerging broader 5G market - from technology to new business models and services - enabling us to be a strong business partner to existing and new customers.

NOTES TO EDITORS

You find the complete report with tables in the attached PDF or by following this link https://www.ericsson.com/res/investors/docs/q-reports/2016/09month16-en.pdf or on www.ericsson.com/investors

Ericsson invites media, investors and analysts to a briefing at the Ericsson Studio, Grönlandsgatan 8, Stockholm, at 09.00 (CET), October 21, 2016.
A conference call for analysts, investors and media will begin at 14.00 (CET).

Live webcast of the briefing and conference call details, as well as supporting slides, will be available at www.ericsson.com/press and www.ericsson.com/investors

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT

Contact person

Peter Nyquist, Head of Investor Relations
Phone: +46 10 714 64 49
E-mail: peter.nyquist@ericsson.com

Additional contacts

Helena Norrman, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Communications
Phone: +46 10 719 34 72
E-mail: media.relations@ericsson.com

Investors

Åsa Konnbjer, Director, Investor Relations
Phone: +46 10 713 39 28
E-mail: asa.konnbjer@ericsson.com

Stefan Jelvin, Director, Investor Relations
Phone: +46 10 714 20 39
E-mail: stefan.jelvin@ericsson.com

Rikard Tunedal, Director, Investor Relations
Phone: +46 10 714 54 00
E-mail: rikard.tunedal@ericsson.com

Media

Ola Rembe, Vice President, Head of External Communications
Phone: +46 10 719 97 27
E-mail: media.relations@ericsson.com

Corporate Communications
Phone: +46 10 719 69 92
E-mail: media.relations@ericsson.com

This information is information that Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, at 07:30 CET on October 21, 2016.