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Apple supplier Foxconn's fourth quarter profit slips, lags view

The Taiwanese firm counts technology giants such as Apple among its major clients
The Taiwanese firm counts technology giants such as Apple among its major clients

Foxconn, the world's largest contract electronics maker, has today posted a lower fourth-quarter profit that lagged expectations despite strong iPhone 12 sales and pandemic-led demand for telecommuting devices. 

The Taiwanese firm, which counts technology giants such as Apple among its major clients, booked a October-December net profit of T$45.97 billion ($1.61 billion). 

That represented a 4% decline from a year earlier, according to a company statement, and compared with the T$50.89 billion average of 11 analyst estimates compiled by Refinitiv.

Formally called Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd, Foxconn's fourth-quarter revenue rose 15% on the year. 

That was mainly driven by a more than 15% revenue increase on the year from consumer electronics including smartphones, which accounted for 63% of its business in the quarter, Foxconn said without elaborating. 

The company had previously forecast fourth-quarter revenue to be in a range of a decline of 3% and gain of 3% from a year earlier. 

Foxconn had also said it expected revenue to grow about 10% in 2021 thanks to "stronger than expected" sales for smartphones, including the new iPhone 12, as well as telecommuting devices amid a coronavirus-induced work-from-home trend. 

Shares of Foxconn have climbed almost 41% this year.