Sony Group(US:SONY) 智通财经网·2025-08-07 07:13Core Viewpoint - Sony Group Corp. has raised its profit forecast due to accelerated growth in its entertainment division, alleviating investor concerns about potential tariffs on chip products from the U.S. government, leading to a significant increase in its stock price [1][4]. Financial Performance - Sony's operating profit for the first fiscal quarter surged by 36.5% to 340 billion yen, exceeding Wall Street's average estimate of approximately 288 billion yen [3][4]. - The company has raised its overall operating profit forecast for the fiscal year ending in March to 1.33 trillion yen (approximately 9 billion USD), a 4% increase from previous estimates [4]. Business Segments - The entertainment business, primarily driven by gaming and network services, music, and film, is a core pillar of Sony's "emotionally moving the world" strategy [3]. - The gaming segment saw a doubling of quarterly operating profit to 148 billion yen, supported by strong sales of the PlayStation 5 and increased active users [3][4]. Market Impact - Following the announcement of the profit forecast increase, Sony's stock price rose by 7.6% in the Japanese market, reversing earlier declines [4]. - The recent U.S.-Japan trade agreement, which set tariffs on Japanese goods at 15%, has positively impacted Sony's outlook, reducing the estimated tariff impact from 1 trillion yen to 700 billion yen [1][4]. Future Prospects - The growth in subscription users for PlayStation Plus and the success of popular anime and mobile games are expected to bolster the entertainment business further [5]. - Upcoming game releases, including the sequel to "Ghost of Tsushima" and the highly anticipated "GTA 6," are projected to significantly boost sales for Sony's gaming division [8].