Nikon reports higher overall sales but imaging business dragged

Nikon Corp. reported higher overall revenue for the first quarter ended June 30, but its Imaging Products Business posted lower sales and profit compared with the same period last year. Nikon reported consolidated revenue of ¥164.2 billion, up 3.8% from ¥158.1 billion a year earlier. The company recorded an operating loss of ¥997 million, slightly improved from the ¥1.19 billion operating loss in the prior-year quarter. Profit attributable to owners of the parent fell sharply to ¥1.29 billion from ¥9.47 billion.

Imaging Products generated ¥72.97 billion in external revenue during the quarter. Nikon also transferred subsidiary Nikon Vision Co. Ltd. into the Imaging Products Business beginning this fiscal year. Imaging revenue declined 8.8% from ¥80.05 billion in the same quarter last year. Segment operating profit fell to ¥8.10 billion from ¥11.17 billion, a decline of about 27%. Despite the drop, Imaging was by far Nikon’s most profitable operating segment, generating ¥3.01 billion in segment profit, while Healthcare earned ¥1.05 billion. Precision Equipment and Digital Manufacturing posted losses of ¥2.63 billion and ¥2.20 billion, respectively.

Companywide, Nikon’s gross profit declined to ¥64.56 billion from ¥67.21 billion despite the increase in revenue, with the gross margin falling to 39.3% from 42.5%. Nikon nevertheless reduced selling, general and administrative expenses and narrowed its consolidated operating loss.

Nikon revised its full-year outlook and now forecasts fiscal 2027 revenue of ¥732 billion, an 8.1% increase, with operating profit of ¥11 billion and profit attributable to owners of ¥10 billion.