Motorola Misses Expectations; Sales Down 20 Percent

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Motorola’s stock is down more than 12 percent today, after the company’s quarterly results fell short of expectations. The company said its fourth quarter revenue dropped 20 percent to $5.7 billion, while earnings per share came in at 6 cents a share. Analysts on average had expected revenue of $5.94 billion and EPS of 8 cents — and there had been an expectation that Motorola (NYSE: MOT) — which is under intense pressure to turn around its businesses — would turn in a decent quarter partly on the strength of the Droid.

All three of the company’s business units once again posted declines in sales. Revenues at the company’s mobile devices segment dropped 22 percent to $1.8 billion, compared to the same period a year ago (That was an improvement, however, on the 46 percent plunge it reported last quarter and the company did manage to cut its operating losses to $132 million from $595 million). The company’s enterprise mobility solutions unit, meanwhile, posted a 12 percent drop in sales and a 21 percent decline in operating earnings. Sales at Motorola’s home and networks mobility segment were down 24 percent and operating earnings were off 65 percent.

During the earnings call, co-CEO Sanjay Jha did say that the company expected to finally see improvements in its financial performance by the second half of the year and added that he expected the mobile devices unit to be profitable during the fourth quarter, according to Dow Jones Newswires. He also said that the company would continue its smartphone push and expects to launch 20 new smartphones this year.

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