Sony expects that by March 2026, US duties will cause financial losses of ¥100 billion, equivalent to about $700 million. At the same time, operating profit will remain at ¥1.28 trillion ($8.2 billion), which will not meet analysts’ expectations. Bloomberg writes about it.
Financial plans
Sony plans to buy back shares worth up to ¥250 billion ($1.6 billion) and partially separate the financial division, which will go public on September 29, 2025, and become a non-core asset.
Company results
For the first quarter of 2025, Sony’s operating profit amounted to ¥203.7 billion ($1.31 billion). PS5 sales for the year reached 18.5 million units, down from 20.8 million in the previous year.
Impact on the market
Despite the disappointing forecast, Sony shares rose by 4.5% as investors became interested in buying back shares, a popular practice among Japanese companies.
Challenges for the new CEO
The new CEO Hiroki Totoki has to solve problems related to US duties that affect the main PlayStation market – the console is mainly produced in China.
Price changes
Last month, Sony already raised the price of PS5 in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. If the US duties do not change, the console may also rise in price in the US market.