Sony continues its string of red ink.
A version of this article originally appeared on our US site, Fool.com.
Some things get better with time. Fine wine comes to mind as a classic example. Unfortunately, electronics giant Sony (NYSE: SNE.US) isn't on that list, despite being around for 66 years.
The tech powerhouse has just put up third-quarter results, and red continues to be the primary colour. Revenue declined to $23.4 billion, generating an operating loss of $1.2 billion and a net loss of more than $2 billion. The company attributed the shrinking top line to the floods in Thailand last year, deterioration in market conditions in developed countries and pesky foreign exchange rates.
When people think Sony, they think consumer products and services. While that segment brings in the most revenue, $12.8 billion in the quarter, it also bleeds the most. The division generated an operating loss of $1.1 billion, the vast majority of the $1.2 billion consolidated operating loss. Its best-performing segment? Financial services.
Sony Financial Services includes its life insurance and bank subsidiaries, among others, and generated $418 million operating income, or a 15% operating margin. That tops its next-best music segment's $196 million in operating income, or 12% operating margin.
Sony expects to generate a $2.9 billion net loss for the fiscal year that ends next month, more than twice what it projected just three months ago. Sony has tapped a new CEO, insider Kazuo Hirai, to replace Howard Stringer in April. Hirai is known for jumpstarting Sony's PlayStation division through cost-cutting.
Although Microsoft's (NASDAQ: MSFT.US ) Xbox 360 pounded both the PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii's US sales in November, selling 1.7 million consoles, compared with the PS3's 900,000 and the Wii's 860,000 that won't stop Sony from releasing its doomed PlayStation Vita stateside this month. Nor will the fact that Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL.US) iOS and Google (NASDAQ: GOOG.US) Android are decimating the dedicated handheld-gaming world. Apple's upcoming TV may even take a shot at consoles.
Steve Jobs had always said he drew much inspiration from Sony in his younger days. The tables have turned, and Sony is now looking at an Apple-esque approach to seamlessly integrate its hardware and content together. Hirai said Sony needs to focus more on the "user experience" and that it "can't just continue to be a great purveyor of hardware products".
Sony is a classic example of a once-innovative company that has failed to adapt, and its results are starting to show their age.
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> Evan owns shares in Apple. The Motley Fool owns shares in Google.
