Xiaomi Q4 Profit More Than Triples, Despite Slowing Home Market

Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi said on Tuesday its fourth-quarter net profit more than tripled to CNY 1.85 billion ($275.59 million or roughly Rs. 1,900 crores), on stronger revenue.

That profit exceeded the CNY 1.7 billion (roughly Rs. 1,746 crores) average estimate of 10 analysts, according to Refinitiv data.

Revenue for the period increased 27 percent to CNY 44.4 billion (roughly Rs. 45,608 crores), lower than the CNY 47.4 billion (roughly Rs. 48,700 crores) average estimate of 13 analysts, according to Refinitiv data.

The results show Xiaomi is weathering fairly well a slowing Chinese smartphone market, the world's biggest, by increasing its focus on markets such as India and Europe.

For the full 2018 calendar year, Xiaomi brought in revenue of CNY 174.9 billion (roughly Rs. 1,79,660 crores) and made a net profit of CNY 8.6 billion (roughly Rs. 8,833 crores).

This marks the third set of financial results for the company since its IPO in Hong Kong. Xiaomi shares have rallied nearly 30 percent since their 2019 lows in January, though they remain well below their July listing price.

To compensate for its slowing home market, the company has aggressively expanded in Europe. After broadly rolling out in the continent in early 2018, the company now ranks as the region's fourth-largest phone vendor.

Speaking on a call with reporters, Xiaomi CFO Shou Zi Chew said that sales from outside of China made up 40 percent of the company's revenue in the fourth quarter of 2018, adding that global expansion would be a priority for 2019.

"We will continue to explore the global markets and replicate the success in India in other key markets such as Indonesia and Western Europe," he said. "We will also expand into more new international markets in 2019."

Xiaomi has also revamped its smartphone lineup, paving the way to sell more expensive devices that can raise profit margins. In China, the average selling price of the company's phones increased 17 percent, while overseas they increased 10 percent, according to the company's earnings report.

In February, upon the launch of Xiaomi's new flagship Mi 9 phone, founder Lei Jun said the device would be the company's last such handset priced at under CNY 3,000 ($446.99 or roughly Rs. 30,800).

Sales from smartphones made up 65.1 percent of Xiaomi's overall revenue in the fourth quarter. Money from other hardware made up 25.1 percent while internet services made up 9.1 percent.

The latter segment was pivotal to Xiaomi's pitch to investors in the run-up to its IPO. The company touted its so-called "triathlon business model", wherein consumers who purchase smartphones go on to use apps and services that generate revenue via advertisements or micropayments.

© Thomson Reuters 2019