• Net Sales: SEK61.8 billion, with organic sales flat.

• Gross Margin: 46.3%, up from 39.2% last year.

• EBITA: SEK7.8 billion, compared to SEK4.7 billion last year.

• Free Cash Flow: SEK12.9 billion before M&A.

• North America Sales Growth: 55% year-over-year.

• IPR Licensing Revenue: SEK3.5 billion, up from SEK2.8 billion last year.

• Enterprise Sales Decline: 3% decrease.

• Networks Adjusted Gross Margin: 48.7%.

• Cloud Software and Services Adjusted Gross Margin: 38.7%.

• Net Cash: Increased to SEK25.5 billion.

• Warning! GuruFocus has detected 6 Warning Sign with ERIC.

Release Date: October 15, 2024

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

• Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) reported a strong gross margin of 46.3% in Q3, up from 39.2% last year, driven by a favorable market mix and cost optimization efforts.

• The company saw a significant increase in EBITA to SEK7.8 billion from SEK4.7 billion last year, indicating improved profitability.

• Free cash flow was robust at SEK12.9 billion, reflecting strong operational performance and efficient inventory and supply chain management.

• North America sales grew by 55% year over year, supported by strong deliveries related to the AT&T contract and selective network investments by other large customers.

• Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) is making strategic moves in enterprise business, including a joint venture with global CSPs to aggregate and sell network APIs, which is expected to open new revenue streams.

Negative Points

• Organic sales declined by 1% in Q3, indicating a challenging market environment.

• Sales in Southeast Asia, Oceania, and India decreased by 43% due to normalization after a rapid 5G rollout in India last year.

• The enterprise segment faced near-term pressure with a sales decline of 3%, impacted by a focus on more profitable markets and products.

• The global RAN market remains challenged, with a slowdown in customer investments in Northeast Asia and the Middle East and Africa.

• Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) anticipates further pressure in the enterprise segment in the near term as it focuses on profitable segments.

Q & A Highlights

Q: Could you clarify why you gave a Q4 outlook for subseasonal quarterly networks revenue growth despite the strong AT&T contract ramp? How should we think about the effects of that contract on revenue seasonality in the next couple of quarters? A: The ramp-up in North America, particularly with AT&T, was quite intensive in Q3, impacting net sales. We expect this to normalize in Q4 and into next year. The ramp-up is closely tied to our ability and collaboration with the customer to achieve the right level for their needs.

Q: You've guided conservatively on gross margin in previous quarters. Is this due to visibility issues, or are there other factors at play? A: The improvements in cost-out activities, productivity, and supply chain have progressed faster than expected, contributing to better-than-anticipated margins. While product and market mix impacts exist, the underlying improvements have been significant.

Q: How do you see the potential of programmable networks impacting Ericsson? Will the main impact be from APIs or from operators investing more in networks? A: Programmable networks create a foundation for monetizing network capabilities. While network APIs need to be profitable on their own, they also stimulate demand for programmable networks. The shift towards enterprise connectivity offers new revenue opportunities, encouraging operators to invest in more capable networks.

Q: What is causing the slowdown in Enterprise Wireless Solutions, and what is needed for recovery? A: The slowdown is partly due to focusing on profitable markets and product segments. Growth in private networks hasn't fully taken off yet, but we expect new product launches, like EP 5G and neutral host solutions, to support future growth as they move into commercial scale deployments.

Q: Can you provide an update on the competitive environment in the RAN market? A: The competitive environment remains largely unchanged, with some footprint losses and gains. We maintain commercial discipline, focusing on thoughtful contract wins rather than chasing every opportunity. There's no significant change for better or worse in the market dynamics.

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.