Nokia(NOK) - 2025 Q3 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a 9% increase in net sales for Q3, with all business groups contributing to this growth [4][13] - Gross margin declined by 150 basis points year-on-year, primarily due to product mix issues in Network Infrastructure and Mobile Networks [13] - Operating margin was 9%, down 220 basis points from the previous year, largely due to a one-time benefit from a loss provision reversal in the prior year [13][14] - Free cash flow generated was EUR 429 million, with a net cash position of EUR 3 billion at the end of the quarter [14][18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Network Infrastructure saw an 11% growth, with Optical Networks leading at 19% sales growth [15] - Cloud and Network Services experienced a 13% increase in sales, with gross margin improving by 380 basis points [16] - Mobile Networks net sales increased by 4%, driven by growth in Vietnam and the Middle East & Africa, but gross margin declined by 370 basis points due to a lower software contribution [17] - Nokia Technologies reported a 14% increase in net sales, maintaining an annual run rate of approximately EUR 1.4 billion [18] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - In North America, strong growth was observed in Network Infrastructure and Cloud and Network Services, while Mobile Networks saw a slight decline [18] - APAC region, particularly India, showed growth in Network Infrastructure, while Mobile Networks returned to modest growth [18] - Europe remained stable, with no significant changes reported in Q3 [18] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on operational leverage through continuous productivity improvement and digital instrumentation, rather than large restructuring programs [15][40] - The integration of the Infinera acquisition is ahead of schedule, contributing positively to net sales and order intake growth [5][11] - The company aims to unlock the full potential of its portfolio and deliver ongoing growth and operating leverage, with a strategy to be shared at the upcoming Capital Markets Day [11][12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the demand environment, particularly in AI and cloud sectors, with a strong order intake and backlog coverage [4][5] - The company expects Q4 net sales to grow sequentially, slightly above historical seasonality of 22% [11] - Management highlighted the importance of focusing on innovation and technology leadership to improve returns in Mobile Networks [83] Other Important Information - The company is scaling down passive venture fund investments and will consider targeted direct minority investments to accelerate its strategy [10][11] - The AI supercycle is seen as a significant driver for demand in advanced connectivity solutions, positioning Nokia as a leader in this market [12] Q&A Session Summary Question: Progress on IP Networks and switching business - Management acknowledged positive design wins and emphasized that they are still a small player in the IP Networks space, with much work ahead [27] Question: Growth opportunities in AI and cloud - Management identified hyperscalers and sovereign clouds as significant growth opportunities, with current demand primarily driven by hyperscalers [29] Question: Insights on Scale Across for optics - Management noted that while Scale Across is not new, the increasing bandwidth demands from AI data centers create new opportunities for innovation [31][32] Question: Mobile Networks margins and future outlook - Management indicated that improving returns in Mobile Networks is a priority, focusing on customer engagement and innovation [83] Question: Demand in Europe and revenue decline - Management stated that demand in Europe is stabilizing, with potential upside if regulations address high-risk vendor status [77]