Ericsson expects margin improvement
Swedish telecom gear maker updates on first quarter
By Emily Church, CBS.MarketWatch.com
Last Update: 3:32 AM ET April 1, 2004
LONDON (CBS.MW) - Ericsson shares surged Thursday after the Swedish telecoms equipment maker told investors production cost-cutting would lift margins in the first quarter
In a brief statement, Ericsson (ERICY: news, chart, profile) said it expects first quarter gross margins ahead of the 41.6 percent in the fourth quarter.
"The main reason for the improvement is better than anticipated benefits of cost of sales reduction activities," Ericsson said. In the first quarter of last year, Ericsson announced plans to cut 8 billion Swedish crowns (valued at around $1 billion today) out of production costs.
The group said still expects sales in the first quarter to decline from the fourth quarter, in line with seasonal trends, and to show "moderate growth year-over-year."
Shares in Sweden (SE:000010865: news, chart, profile) were last up 7.2 percent. Rival equipment Alcatel (ALA: news, chart, profile) was up 4.4 percent in Paris. See European Markets
Swedish telecom gear maker updates on first quarter
By Emily Church, CBS.MarketWatch.com
Last Update: 3:32 AM ET April 1, 2004
LONDON (CBS.MW) - Ericsson shares surged Thursday after the Swedish telecoms equipment maker told investors production cost-cutting would lift margins in the first quarter
In a brief statement, Ericsson (ERICY: news, chart, profile) said it expects first quarter gross margins ahead of the 41.6 percent in the fourth quarter.
"The main reason for the improvement is better than anticipated benefits of cost of sales reduction activities," Ericsson said. In the first quarter of last year, Ericsson announced plans to cut 8 billion Swedish crowns (valued at around $1 billion today) out of production costs.
The group said still expects sales in the first quarter to decline from the fourth quarter, in line with seasonal trends, and to show "moderate growth year-over-year."
Shares in Sweden (SE:000010865: news, chart, profile) were last up 7.2 percent. Rival equipment Alcatel (ALA: news, chart, profile) was up 4.4 percent in Paris. See European Markets