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Ericsson Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year Results 2018STOCKHOLM, Jan. 25, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Fourth quarter highlights
Full-year highlights
[1] EPS diluted, excl. amortizations and write-downs of acquired intangible assets, and excluding restructuring charges. Potential ordinary shares are not considered when their conversion to ordinary shares would increase earnings per share. 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 Börje Ekholm, President and CEO of Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) Our focused strategy has yielded clear results. Ericsson is today a stronger company. Increased investments in R&D for future growth, managed services contract reviews, combined with efficient cost control have proven to be successful, with improved competitiveness and profitability as a result. As the industry moves to 5G and IoT, we will now take the next step, focusing on profitable growth in a selective and disciplined way. Sales have gradually improved during 2018, resulting in full-year organic sales growth[1] for the first time since 2013. This is partly due to an improved market, but also driven by market share gains in Networks as a result of a more competitive radio product portfolio. In parallel, gross margins[2] have improved across all segments, with full-year gross margin[2] of 35% (26%) and operating margin[2] of 4% (-13%). Segment Networks had another strong quarter with high business activity across multiple regions. Networks organic sales[1] increased by 6% YoY, positively impacted by a recovering RAN market as well as strong performance in the product portfolio. Growth was partly due to a higher than anticipated activity level in North America driven by increased 5G demand among the US operators. Networks gross margin[2] improved to 41% (35%) YoY, mainly due to improved hardware margins driven by the successful shift to Ericsson Radio System (ERS). Strategic contracts and 5G field trials had a negative impact on operating margin in the quarter. R&D investments continued to grow in the quarter, but are now expected to flatten out. In Managed Services, gross margin[2] improved to 12% (-5%) YoY, supported by efficiency gains and customer contract reviews. We have now addressed all 42 targeted contracts, resulting in an annualized profit improvement of SEK 0.9 b. During the year, we have increased our investments in automation, analytics and AI. We continue to execute on our plan to turn the Digital Services business around. Focus has been on stabilizing top line, modernizing the portfolio and taking costs out. In Digital Services there has been solid progress in most portfolio areas. Underlying operating expenses[3] in 2018 were SEK 2.6 b. lower than in 2017. However, the Business Support Systems (BSS) area has not shown satisfactory progress and we are now in the process of reshaping the business. To speed up restructuring of the BSS business, additional measures were communicated on January 10, 2019. These measures include provisions and restructuring charges of SEK -6.1 b., which were taken in Q4. The reshaped strategy will set Digital Services on a stronger path to achieve the 2020 financial targets. Organic sales[1] in Digital Services grew by 5% YoY, driven by Cloud Core and OSS. Gross margin[2], adjusted for above mentioned provisions, improved to 38%. Operating income, excluding restructuring charges and other costs related to revised BSS strategy, was SEK -0.6 b. in the quarter. In segment Emerging Business and Other, we invest in initiatives that aim to scale and help create future business for Ericsson. We manage Emerging Business initiatives for growth case by case, based on positive net present value (NPV), within 2022 Group targets. Organic segment sales[1] grew by 1% YoY and operating income[2] was SEK -1.5 (-7.6) b. Sales growth and operating income[2] in the segment, excluding the media business, was 60% and SEK -0.9 (-0.8) b. respectively. Free cash flow excluding M&A in 2018 was lower than in 2017, primarily due to the return to growth and strong sales development at the end of the fourth quarter. In addition, sale of trade receivables was further reduced. The Board will propose a dividend of SEK 1.00 (1.00) per share to the AGM. As previously disclosed, we are voluntarily cooperating with an investigation into Ericsson's compliance with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). The discussions with US authorities continue and we will provide updates as appropriate. Our R&D investments over the past two years have secured a highly competitive and industry-leading offering. We will continue to invest in 5G, automation and AI to create both customer and shareholder value. Even though costs related to strategic contracts and 5G field trials will impact margins short term, they will help reaching our targets for 2020 and 2022 as well as strengthen our business in the long term. Börje Ekholm [1] Organic sales growth: Sales adjusted for comparable units and currency Planning assumptions going forward Market related
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NOTES TO EDITORS You find the complete report with tables in the attached PDF or by following this link https://www.ericsson.com/assets/local/investors/documents/financial-reports-and-filings/interim-reports-archive/2018/12month18-en.pdf or on www.ericsson.com/investors The company will hold two identical conference calls for journalists, financial analysts and investors. President and CEO Börje Ekholm and CFO Carl Mellander will comment on the report and take questions. The first conference call will begin at 09:00 CET (08:00 GMT in London, 03:00 EST in New York and 17:00 JST in Tokyo), and the second at 14:00 CET (13:00 GMT in London, 08:00 EST in New York and 22:00 JST in Tokyo). To join the conference call, please phone one of the following numbers: Sweden: +46 (0) 8 5664 2651 (Toll-free Sweden: 0200 883685) International/UK: +44 (0) 3333 000 804 (Toll-free UK: 0800 358 9473) US: +1 631 913 1422 (Toll-free US: +1 8558 570 686) PIN code: For 09:00 CET call, 62109373# and for 14:00 CET call, 66603189# Please call in at least 15 minutes before the conference calls begin. As there is usually a large number of callers, it may take some time before you are connected. A live audio webcast of the conference call will be available at www.ericsson.com/investors and www.ericsson.com/press Replay: Replay of the conference calls will be available from about one hour after each has ended until February 1, 2019. Sweden replay number: +46 (0) 8 519 993 85 International replay number: +44 (0) 333 300 0819 For 09:00 CET call, 301274817# and for 14:00 CET call, 301274827# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT Contact person Peter Nyquist, Head of Investor Relations Additional contacts Helena Norrman, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Communications Investors Åsa Konnbjer, Director, Investor Relations Stefan Jelvin, Director, Investor Relations Rikard Tunedal, Director, Investor Relations Media Ola Rembe, Vice President, Head of External Communications Corporate Communications 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 January 25, 2019. This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com The following files are available for download:
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