Estimates are starting to trickle in for what Nokia’s (NOK) cut in forecast this morning actually translates into. Gleacher & Co.’s Stephen Patel and Brian Marshall estimate that Q2′s sales will now be $13.7 billion, down from last quarter’s $14.1 billion, yielding EPS of 3 cents. That’s down from a prior estimate of $14.6 billion in revenue and 16 cents EPS.
Patel and Marshall maintain a Neutral rating on NOK and a $6.50 price target.
Patel and Marshall cut their year outlook to $57 billion in revenue from a prior $61.7 billion, and to 37 cents in EPS from a prior 76 cents. They cut their 2012 outlook as well, to $58.5 billion from $62.5 billion previously estimated, and to 46 cents in EPS from 78 cents.
Certainly, at 37 cents this year, or 46 cents next year, Nokia shares look more expensive, even after the drop today, at 19 times or 15 times projected earnings, versus the 9 times they would be trading at using the prior estimates. However, that’s not including the cash per share Nokia holds.
The analysts express concern the Windows-based unit won’t be sufficient to lift the stock: “We remain concerned that [Windows Phone 7] industry sales remain below 2mil units/quarter and that NOK’s scale will not be enough to offset a faster than expected drop-off in Symbian phone sales, which are still about 50% of revenue and roughly 20mil units/quarter.”
With even cheaper shares to be had in Research in Motion (RIMM), and Motorola Mobility (MMI), there’s not much support for Nokia stock, in their view: “Competitors RIMM and MMI trade at around 6x and 7x CY12 EPS excluding cash, which would put NOK at ~$5.50/share based on 6.5x our CY12E EPS plus ~$2.40/share cash, though NOK has typically traded at a premium. Our $6.50 target is based on 8.5x CY12 EPS plus cash.”
Nokia shares are down $1.22, or 15%, at $6.97, perhaps having reached a level of support for the moment.
Update: Mark McKechnie of ThinkEquity reiterates a Hold rating this afternoon and a $7 price target. He cut his Q2 estimate to $13.4 billion in revenue and a penny in EPS, from a prior $14.2 billio and 13 cents in EPS. For the full year, he cut his revenue estimate to $56.5 billion and 28 cents EPS, from a prior $59.9 billion and 60 cents EPS.
Article courtesy of Tech Trader Daily
