where there’s smoke there’s fire

Nikkei just published a new article ahead of the Nikon’s yearly financial results announcement titled “Nikon sees 30% profit boost on demand for panel-producing gear, Camera maker’s cost-cutting and reforms show signs of working“:

“Nikon’s operating profit is expected to jump 30% to 70 billion yen ($640 million) in the current fiscal year ending March 2019, as its structural reforms bear fruit and capital investment in places like China lifts sales of its large display-making equipment.”

And also:

“Nikon will have a monopoly on next-generation equipment capable of making large flat-panel displays.” (pictured above)

Nikon’s sales are also expected to be up mainly because of its precision equipment business. Here is a quote from Nikkei on the camera business:

“Meanwhile, the market for Nikon’s mainstay single-lens reflex cameras is shrinking. But the company aims to offset the decline with structural reforms it began in fiscal 2016. Last fiscal year, it began using return on invested capital as a way to measure segment performance. Moving forward, Nikon will also streamline costs in its imaging products and precision equipment businesses, while holding down outlays in advertising and research and development.”

Nikon, of course, issued a statement that the official financial results are not announced yet (they will be released on Thursday), but based on previous reports, Nikkei reports are usually spot on:

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