Neil Hughes
Samsung on Tuesday provided investors with a new forecast for its March quarter sales, indicating that earnings declined yet again, likely falling 30 percent from the same period a year ago.
Despite continued losses, Samsung's projected earnings are actually an improvement from the last two quarters, when sales fell 36 percent in the fourth quarter of 2014, and a whopping 60 percent in the quarter before that.
Still, the March frame will represent the sixth consecutive quarter that Samsung sees declining sales, as noted by The New York Times. Samsung has been squeezed at the low-end by cheap Chinese smartphones, while Apple's premium 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus have attacked the South Korean electronics maker from the high end.
But the preliminary March quarter results are also better than analysts had expected, leading the market to believe that Samsung could be turning things around. In particular, the March results represent the three-month period before the launch of the new flagship Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge.
Despite criticisms comparing the Galaxy S6 design to Apple's iPhone, and a new "bendgate" controversy aimed at Samsung, initial reviews for the Galaxy S6 have been generally positive, with tech journalists saying the new device is the best Android handset available on the market.
Samsung's expected decline in the March quarter will contrast with Apple's own earnings, due to be reported on April 27. It's generally believed that it will be another record quarter for Apple, riding high on continued strong sales of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.
Recent data suggests Apple was on track to sell at least 54 million iPhones in the just-concluded March quarter, while more bullish estimates go as high as 58 million units. In the same quarter a year ago, Apple sold a then-record 43.7 million iPhones.
AppleInsider Staff
Malcolm Owen
Oliver Haslam
Andrew O'Hara
Wesley Hilliard
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
66 Comments
That's a funny headline "but declines are slowing".
:)
Wait a minute! This 30% decline is Samsung 6th consecutive quarter of declining sales. So the year ago quarter that it was compared to, was the second quarter of declining sales. And we're suppose to believe that somehow Samsung sales is improving because it's not declining as much as the last quarter. Which was compared to the first quarter of declining sales a year ago. But suppose last year second quarter of decline was a lot worse than the first quarter of decline. Then a 30% decline this quarter could be worse than the 36% decline last quarter. I'm pretty sure that when the coming quarter that gets compared to year ago quarter, that took the 60% nose dive, that even a 10% decline would not be good news.
Yeah ... declines are slowing .... because ... well ... look at the BEST android phone available ... it's iPhone with f***ng Samsung name on it!
Is this just for mobile or does it include their other divisions. Do like their TV's and refrigerators. Not in love with their monitors or phones.