Fujifilm Holdings

Fujifilm introduced the Instax Pal 2, a compact digital camera featuring a 10-megapixel 1/3.06-inch sensor, f/2.2 28mm lens, autofocus with face detection, optical viewfinder and a 1.3-inch top LCD for framing and reviewing shots. The Pal 2 supports Bluetooth and slide-out USB-C transfer to phones or instant printers, offers adjustable ISO, shutter speed and exposure compensation, and includes flash, tripod mount, self-timer and a rechargeable battery claimed to last up to three hours. It will launch in the US later this month priced at $169.95. » More on theverge.com

Fujifilm reported a 32% drop in operating profit for Q1 to ¥51.2 billion and net income attributable to shareholders of ¥37.4 billion (-30.4%), while revenue rose 10.3% to ¥826.5 billion thanks to electronics, imaging and medical systems. The decline was attributed to higher fixed costs in the bio-CDMO business, one-off charges to strengthen the Business Innovation division and rising raw material costs; Business Innovation posted an operating loss of ¥1.4 billion. Fujifilm is examining a partial spin-off of Business Innovation (about 35% of group sales), in which the company would retain less than 20% and distribute the remaining shares to shareholders, with a possible Tokyo listing in two to three years. Despite the weak quarter, Fujifilm raised its full-year revenue forecast to ¥3.56 trillion but left the operating profit forecast unchanged at ¥365 billion. » More on de.investing.com

Fujifilm CFO Higuchi calls demand for semiconductor materials "extremely strong" and reports a rapid rise in demand for magnetic tape for data centers. The company expects this segment to be roughly twice as large year-on-year in the fiscal year through March 2027. For fiscal 2027, the original forecast is an operating profit of ¥365 billion and free cash flow of ¥90–100 billion; Fujifilm plans to keep investments restrained if the debt-to-EBITDA ratio exceeds two times. Citi analysts see a lower probability of earnings decline for April–June due to the strong demand than they had expected one to two months ago. » More on de.investing.com