SONY Q3 PROFIT RISES 11 PCT, RAISES FULL-YEAR OUTLOOK

TOKYO, Feb 5 (Bernama-dpa) -- Japanese conglomerate Sony on Thursday reported higher profit and sales for its third quarter and raised its full-year outlook, reported German news agency dpa.

Net income attributable to shareholders from continuing operations rose 11 per cent to 377.3 billion yen (US$2.4 billion) in the third quarter, up from 341.1 billion yen a year earlier.

Earnings per share grew to 62.82 yen from 56.42 yen last year.

Operating income climbed 22 per cent to 515 billion yen from 423 billion yen a year ago.

Sales grew 1 per cent to 3.71 trillion yen from 3.69 trillion yen a year earlier.

For the nine months ended December 31, net income attributable grew 12.4 per cent year-over-year to 947.78 billion yen, or 157.23 yen per share. Operating income grew 21 per cent to 1.28 trillion yen and total sales from continuing operations increased 2.3 per cent to 9.44 trillion yen.

Looking ahead to the fiscal year ending March 31, the company now expects net income attributable to stockholders to grow 5.9 per cent year-over-year to 1.13 trillion yen. 

Operating income is projected to rise 20.6 per cent year-over-year to 1.54 trillion yen and revenues are expected to rise 2.2 per cent from last year to 12.30 trillion yen.

The company previously expected net income attributable to stockholders to decline 1.6 per cent year-over-year to 1.05 trillion yen. 

Operating income was projected to rise 12 per cent to 1.43 trillion yen, while revenues were expected to edge down 0.3 per cent from last year to 12 trillion yen.

--BERNAMA-dpa