Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., better known as Foxconn (TWSE: 2354), reported worse-than-expected quarterly earnings while the company’s aggressive transition from its core business to manufacturing electric vehicles (EV) has accelerated.
Fundamental analysis: Worse-than-expected profit reported, a shift towards making EVs accelerated
Foxconn reported a net income decline of 3.7% in the quarter ended December to NT$46 billion ($1.6 billion), compared to the analysts’ expectations of NT$50.2 billion. Foxconn’s revenue in the quarter through December surged 15% to NT$2 trillion, thanks to iPhone 12 sales.
The company said it is keeping a close eye on component shortages that are likely to persist next year, but feels optimistic about the prospects of information and communications technology this year.
“The impact of shortages in the first two months of the quarter have not been too obvious, because our customers are major companies,” said Foxconn Chairman Young Liu. “Still we are seeing some gradual changes and are monitoring the situation cautiously. Our expectations are that there won’t be a big impact, under 10%.”
Most of the manufacturer’s earnings in the last three months came from sales of new Apple smartphones, Foxconn’s largest customer, as well as from the increased demand for computing equipment.
However, Foxconn was looking to expand into other sectors and stimulate growth and identified electric vehicles as its new key target, after a number of tech giants forayed into the auto industry, including Apple itself.
Technical analysis: EV shift driving stock price higher
Investors have been pushing the Foxconn stock higher in the past few months as they are positive about the company’s plans to develop EVs. Shares of the company are up about 40% since the
