Analysts have said that Sony's forecast for a swing to profits in the current fiscal year is "optimistic", as the company's shares today fell by 7 percent to a 32 year low following record fiscal 2011 losses.
Sony this week posted record losses for the last fiscal year, due in part to its declining video game business, although it estimates that it will swing to profits during the current fiscal year.
This swing will be fueled in part by halved losses in its TV business, as well as improved sales for its PS Vita handheld, said the company. Sony estimates that it will sell 10 million PS Vitas during the current fiscal year.
However, speaking to Reuters, Goldman Sachs analysts said that weak demand for console and handheld games, as well as fierce competition from smartphone games, means that Sony's profit improvement plans for this year are misguided, even taking into account the planned loss narrowing in its TV business.
Deutsche Bank analyst Yasuo Nakane noted, "We see no catalyst that might spur a sustained (share) rally," while a trader at a U.S. bank added, "I didn't see anything positive in (Sony's results). There's really nothing in there that can justify buying the stock."
Sony's stock hasn't been this low since 1980, when its first Walkman portable cassette player launched. In 2012 alone, Sony's market value has tumbled by $3 billion.
I guess all the haters are dancing in the streets? Personally, I find it a little sad when a solid company with respect for its workers enters what looks like a death spiral.
Sony may become a target for corporate raiders/private equity firms. C'est la vie.
"Solid" isn't the word the comes to my mind when I think of Sony in the 21st century, I think more of things like the Super Audio CD, the Mini CD, the PS3 and the PS Vita. Products, developed and published in ignorance of the market.
What Fiore Iantosca said + Trying to always re-invent the wheel and come up with crazy standards... Look at the cell processor...
Wanna bet that PS4 won't have the same architecture as ps3?
@Christian, I meant solid in a 'we are in this for the long term, so lets spend on R&D, keep our workforce happy, and be honest in our dealings with other companies' kind of way. But I probably should have used a different word.
& I think the causes are Apple, Samsung, and Japanese corporate culture (in descending order of importance). Hindsight is always 20/20, and it's pretty easy to judge after the fact.
I still don't get the hate generated by the company /shrug/. I companies that deserve hate are ones like Union Carbide or Tepco, you know the ones that ruin lives through negligence etc.; not gadget makers.
@Harlan I agree no one should be dancing in the streets. What we should be doing is trying to understand what went wrong for a company with all the pieces to build success but somehow went astray. I believe we cannot blame Apple or any of its competitors perse; Sony had the pole position in all of these markets where it has dropped but (to oversimplify) "got out-innovated". While I agree with @Fiore that Sony "has no one to blame but themselves", I don't believe just "listening to the customers" is the solution in their case.
How did Nintendo outsell them this generation, on the heels of the most successful console ever (PS2)? It was not done by listening to their customers, since many of their customers were not yet "their customers".
To be clear, I am not saying "Sony should have put out the Move from the start", but that sometimes the path to success is not to go down the same staid lines of thinking, especially when there is any space for someone else to come and steal your candy.
"Even within their own company divisions fought with each other."
They still do. Every Sony division in the world thought the Vita should be a smartphone. Except Japan. Utterly arrogant failing not only to listen to their customers, but failing even to pay attention to the smart people within Sony who *did& have their ear to the ground. It's almost a negligent level of arrogance which == incompetence.
I have tremendous sympathy for the many smart people who work at Sony. Unfortunately that does not include anyone with real decision making authority (i.e., at the head office in Japan).
Sony got a bit bloated, and since the last 5 years they have cornered the market in making sub-par devices, stiffing the customers with increasingly more annoying products.
When I can watch Streaming Media in better quality on my phone, hooked up to a Pre 3G internet connection, then I can on a PS3. Sony TV. or Blu Ray player with wifi, then you know something's is wrong..
They had a winning formula that they simply neglected. All they had to do with PS3 was release a <= $400 system that had lots of software and was easy to develop for and they would have dominated based on PS2 success alone, they did the opposite. Their other division stayed stagnant with higher prices than the competition while other companies like Samsumg passed them by in quality and price. They need to focus on their core competencies and trim the fat, but with little investment and limited cash, it may be too late.
@Dario Not only smaller, but should consume much less energy. Trust me, turning off your console (via back switch) after you're done playing will save you a lot of $$$ in the long run. Hell, I saved $25 - $35 last month by doing that :|
"It should be noted the ps2 wasn't that easy to develop for but at least it wasn't anywhere as bad as the cell." I think more what people mean when they say this is that it is easy to make a profit on (eg cost to develop for equals revenue, or preferably revenue is higher for profit).
Here's an idea: Stop treating your customers like enemies. I know, radical idea, but what works for Bank of America may not work in this particular market.
Perhaps you could talk to Gabe. No pressure. Just... think about it.
They need to focus themselves and not treat the customer like a commodity. I don't even think for a second that Sony has or had a plan for all of those devices they continue to create other than the fact that they want to have something in a space they don't compete in to compete in that space. And for some unknown reason the company thinks or believes placing or connecting the PS brand to / on those devices will somehow reap magical rewards.
Sony may become a target for corporate raiders/private equity firms. C'est la vie.
They did not listen to their customers.
Even within their own company divisions fought with each other.
They did this to themselves and have no one to blame but themselves.
Wanna bet that PS4 won't have the same architecture as ps3?
& I think the causes are Apple, Samsung, and Japanese corporate culture (in descending order of importance). Hindsight is always 20/20, and it's pretty easy to judge after the fact.
I still don't get the hate generated by the company /shrug/. I companies that deserve hate are ones like Union Carbide or Tepco, you know the ones that ruin lives through negligence etc.; not gadget makers.
How did Nintendo outsell them this generation, on the heels of the most successful console ever (PS2)? It was not done by listening to their customers, since many of their customers were not yet "their customers".
To be clear, I am not saying "Sony should have put out the Move from the start", but that sometimes the path to success is not to go down the same staid lines of thinking, especially when there is any space for someone else to come and steal your candy.
They still do. Every Sony division in the world thought the Vita should be a smartphone. Except Japan. Utterly arrogant failing not only to listen to their customers, but failing even to pay attention to the smart people within Sony who *did& have their ear to the ground. It's almost a negligent level of arrogance which == incompetence.
I have tremendous sympathy for the many smart people who work at Sony. Unfortunately that does not include anyone with real decision making authority (i.e., at the head office in Japan).
When I can watch Streaming Media in better quality on my phone, hooked up to a Pre 3G internet connection, then I can on a PS3. Sony TV. or Blu Ray player with wifi, then you know something's is wrong..
Perhaps you could talk to Gabe. No pressure. Just... think about it.