Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN) is scheduled to release its third-quarter earnings before the opening bell on Wednesday, November 2, 2011. Analysts, on average, expect the company to report earnings of 50 cents per share on revenue of $618.09 million. In the year ago quarter, the company reported earnings of 70 cents per share on revenue of $692.36 million.
Garmin Ltd. and its subsidiaries design, develop, manufacture, and market global positioning system (GPS)-enabled products and other navigation, communication, and information products worldwide. It operates in four segments: Automotive/Mobile, Outdoor/Fitness, Marine, and Aviation. Garmin has about 55 percent to 60 percent of the U.S. market for navigation devices. TomTom NV is its main U.S. competitor. The company, being the largest GPS manufacturer in the world, benefits from economies of scale. This lowers the average cost per unit through increased production since fixed costs are shared over an increased number of goods.
In the preceding second-quarter, the Camana Bay, Cayman Islands-based company's net income was $109.48 million, or 56 cents per share, compared to $134.82 million or $0.67 per share, in the year-ago quarter. On a pro forma basis, the company earned 63 cents per share in the second quarter. Revenue slipped 8 percent to $674.10 million from $728.77 million in the same quarter last year. Analysts, on average, expected the company to report earnings of 66 cents per share on revenue of $633.75 million.
At its last earnings call in February, Garmin lowered its fiscal 2011 earnings outlook to a range of $2.00 to $2.15 per share from the prior range of $2.25 to $2.50 per share. The company said the revised outlook is due primarily to the acceleration of net deferred revenues associated with its bundled product offerings. However, Garmin raised its full-year forecasts to $2.5 billion to $2.6 billion, from the prior range of $2.4 billion to $2.5 billion. The revised outlook primarily reflects the acquisitions of Navigon AG and Tri-Tronics Inc.
Personal navigation device makers like Garmin have been facing increased pressure from GPS-equipped smartphones. Cannibalization was always expected and Garmin too expected it. It therefore launched its own version of a smartphone, called Garminfone and nuviphone.However, the company abandoned the smartphone business after failing to find its way in the highly competitive sector. Instead, Garmin decided to go along in the footsteps of archrival TomTom. In line with this strategy, the company is now making apps for the smartphone market.
PNDs are also reaching a saturation point in the developed markets of North America and Europe. Garmin has now decided to pursue growth in the emerging markets of Asia and South America, where the chances of success with a premium-priced product will be limited.Garmin expects the North American personal navigation device market to decline 25 percent this year and the European market to shrink by a high single digit to 10 percent.
To offset the slumping demand, Garmin has been trying to reduce its reliance on personal navigation devices while turning itself from a one-product firm to a content and services franchise by offering live traffic and mapping services. In August, the company said that its efforts to revive waning sales of its once popular personal navigation devices will only bear fruit in the second half of next year
Among other developments, Garmin recently acquired the distributor of its automotive, recreation, fitness and marine products in southern Africa as well as Garmap Ltd., a South African mapping and mobile applications provider. Garmin said that the deal will strengthen its presence in a rapidly growing region.
Full Disclosure: None.
Garmin Ltd. and its subsidiaries design, develop, manufacture, and market global positioning system (GPS)-enabled products and other navigation, communication, and information products worldwide. It operates in four segments: Automotive/Mobile, Outdoor/Fitness, Marine, and Aviation. Garmin has about 55 percent to 60 percent of the U.S. market for navigation devices. TomTom NV is its main U.S. competitor. The company, being the largest GPS manufacturer in the world, benefits from economies of scale. This lowers the average cost per unit through increased production since fixed costs are shared over an increased number of goods.
In the preceding second-quarter, the Camana Bay, Cayman Islands-based company's net income was $109.48 million, or 56 cents per share, compared to $134.82 million or $0.67 per share, in the year-ago quarter. On a pro forma basis, the company earned 63 cents per share in the second quarter. Revenue slipped 8 percent to $674.10 million from $728.77 million in the same quarter last year. Analysts, on average, expected the company to report earnings of 66 cents per share on revenue of $633.75 million.
At its last earnings call in February, Garmin lowered its fiscal 2011 earnings outlook to a range of $2.00 to $2.15 per share from the prior range of $2.25 to $2.50 per share. The company said the revised outlook is due primarily to the acceleration of net deferred revenues associated with its bundled product offerings. However, Garmin raised its full-year forecasts to $2.5 billion to $2.6 billion, from the prior range of $2.4 billion to $2.5 billion. The revised outlook primarily reflects the acquisitions of Navigon AG and Tri-Tronics Inc.
Personal navigation device makers like Garmin have been facing increased pressure from GPS-equipped smartphones. Cannibalization was always expected and Garmin too expected it. It therefore launched its own version of a smartphone, called Garminfone and nuviphone.However, the company abandoned the smartphone business after failing to find its way in the highly competitive sector. Instead, Garmin decided to go along in the footsteps of archrival TomTom. In line with this strategy, the company is now making apps for the smartphone market.
PNDs are also reaching a saturation point in the developed markets of North America and Europe. Garmin has now decided to pursue growth in the emerging markets of Asia and South America, where the chances of success with a premium-priced product will be limited.Garmin expects the North American personal navigation device market to decline 25 percent this year and the European market to shrink by a high single digit to 10 percent.
To offset the slumping demand, Garmin has been trying to reduce its reliance on personal navigation devices while turning itself from a one-product firm to a content and services franchise by offering live traffic and mapping services. In August, the company said that its efforts to revive waning sales of its once popular personal navigation devices will only bear fruit in the second half of next year
Among other developments, Garmin recently acquired the distributor of its automotive, recreation, fitness and marine products in southern Africa as well as Garmap Ltd., a South African mapping and mobile applications provider. Garmin said that the deal will strengthen its presence in a rapidly growing region.
Full Disclosure: None.
