Canadian smartphone maker BlackBerry on Friday posted an
unexpected first quarter loss and disappointing sales figures for its new
phones, sending its share price tumbling in early trading.
The Waterloo, Ontario firm announced an $84 million loss in
the first quarter ended June 1, compared with a loss of $518 million in the
same period a year earlier.
Revenues topped $3.1 billion, up nine percent.
But analysts expected a seven cent per share profit instead
of a 13 cents per share loss.
The results come after the company rolled out new
smartphones based on the new BlackBerry 10 platform, seen as its best hope at
regaining traction after suffering staggering losses in market share in recent
years.
The group said it shipped 6.8 million smartphones in the
quarter, 13 percent more than in last quarter. This includes 2.7 million of its
new touch screen Z10 and Q10 with a small keyboard launched earlier this year,
missing analysts' targets.
Its stock price as a result slumped nearly 20 percent.
"I can't imagine anyone is happy with Blackberry
performance except maybe Blackberry competitors," said industry analyst
Jeff Kagan.
"Can Blackberry turn things around with their new Q10,
the keyboard device that just launched? Hopefully yes, but to tell you the
truth hopes are dimmed by this first quarter performance."
AFP
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