承认存储涨价影响盈利能力，任天堂Switch 2价格走向成谜

Core Viewpoint - Nintendo's recent financial report fell short of market expectations, raising concerns about future profitability due to rising component costs and conservative sales forecasts [1][3]. Financial Performance - For the first three quarters of fiscal year 2026, Nintendo reported net sales of 1,905.8 billion yen, a year-on-year increase of 99.3%; operating profit was 300.3 billion yen, up 21.3%; and net profit reached 358.8 billion yen, a 51.3% increase. However, the net profit margin decreased by 6 percentage points to 18.8% [1]. - In the third quarter of fiscal year 2026, Nintendo achieved revenue of 806.3 billion yen, an 86% year-on-year increase, but below the market expectation of 847.7 billion yen. Operating profit was 155.2 billion yen, up 23.1%, also below the expected 180.7 billion yen [1]. Hardware and Software Sales - In the first three quarters, the Switch 2 console sold 17.37 million units, making it the fastest console to reach 15 million sales. However, sales of the original Switch console decreased by 66% to 3.25 million units. Software sales for Switch 2 reached 37.93 million copies, while sales for the original Switch declined by 12.1% to 109 million copies [2]. Future Outlook - Nintendo maintained its full-year forecast for fiscal year 2026, projecting Switch 2 sales of 19 million units, with nearly 17.4 million units sold by the end of December 2025. The company also expects a net profit of 350 billion yen for the fiscal year [3]. - Concerns about profit margins are heightened due to ongoing U.S. tariffs and rising storage chip prices, which could pressure future profitability [3]. Component Cost Impact - Nintendo's president stated that the recent rise in memory prices has not significantly impacted hardware profits for the first three quarters, but ongoing price increases could pose risks. The company is monitoring the situation closely [5]. - The global storage chip market is experiencing a "super cycle" driven by AI demand, leading to rising prices that could affect the profitability of consumer electronics [5]. Pricing Strategy - Analysts suggest that raising the price of the Switch 2 may be necessary to maintain profitability amid rising memory costs, with estimates indicating a potential price increase of about 15% [6]. - However, some analysts believe that concerns regarding the profitability of the Switch 2 may be overstated, as Nintendo traditionally adheres to a strategy of not selling hardware at a loss [7].