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LG is a bit poorly

by on27 July 2017


Mobile losses climb

LG Electronics  - formerly known as Lucky Goldstar -said continued losses in its mobile unit limited growth in second-quarter profit to 13.6 percent, as the firm prepares to release a handset in the third quarter which will sort out the mess.

The South Korean firm said operating profit reached $597 million in April-June, in line with its estimate earlier in July. Revenue rose 3.9 percent also in line with its estimate.

A spokesLG said the company would  strengthen its market dominance through expanding its premium home appliance lineup in the third quarter.

LG's earnings will likely fall in the second half of 2017 compared with the first as its appliances business enters a traditional off-season, analysts said. On-year growth is still likely, however, as LG continues to boost sales of high-end home appliances and TV products with wider profit margins, they said.

But views are divided on whether the mobile division can narrow losses with a high-end handset debuting in late August.

The company's strategic model going against Apple iPhone 8 and Samsung Electronics' Galaxy Note 8 in the second half of 2017 is not likely to work making it difficult for mobile revenue growth.

The firm's mobile division reported  its ninth consecutive quarterly loss, hit by lackluster sales of its flagship G6 smartphone.

LG's appliance division did well thanks to brisk sales for high-end products such as washing machines and refrigerators, as well as lower costs of materials used commonly among its products, analysts said.

LG, the world's second-biggest television set maker behind Samsung Electronics, said its telly sector did well too as higher panel costs were offset by growing demand for up-market sets such as organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panel TVs that offer bigger margins.

Last modified on 27 July 2017
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