Sony Lifts Profit Outlook After 36% Surge in First-Quarter Earnings

Sony Group posted April–June operating profit of ¥339.96 billion, a 36 percent increase from a year earlier and well above analysts’ expectations of roughly ¥290 billion. Revenue rose to ¥2.37 trillion, beating the consensus ¥2.12 trillion, while net income reached ¥236.91 billion. Robust engagement on the PlayStation platform and a string of hits in Sony’s anime and music businesses more than offset concerns about new U.S. chip tariffs, lifting profitability. Reflecting the momentum, management raised its full-year operating-profit outlook to ¥1.33 trillion from ¥1.28 trillion, although it trimmed revenue guidance to ¥11.70 trillion because of currency effects and softer electronics demand. The company kept its annual dividend forecast at ¥25 per share. Executives flagged the image-sensor segment as the area most exposed to the latest U.S. trade measures but said the overall tariff impact should be smaller than previously feared.