Lenovo Q1 Revenue Jumps 20%, Beats Estimates as PC Market Recovers

An employee gestures next to a Lenovo logo at Lenovo Tech World in Beijing, China November 15, 2019. (Reuters)
An employee gestures next to a Lenovo logo at Lenovo Tech World in Beijing, China November 15, 2019. (Reuters)
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Lenovo Q1 Revenue Jumps 20%, Beats Estimates as PC Market Recovers

An employee gestures next to a Lenovo logo at Lenovo Tech World in Beijing, China November 15, 2019. (Reuters)
An employee gestures next to a Lenovo logo at Lenovo Tech World in Beijing, China November 15, 2019. (Reuters)

China's Lenovo Group reported a 20% rise in quarterly revenue on Thursday, as the global personal computer market showed signs of recovery after a two-year slump.

For the three months ending in June, the company's revenue rose to $15.4 billion, above the average estimate of $14.1 billion expected by analysts polled by LSEG.

This marks a third consecutive quarter of revenue growth for Lenovo after it suffered five straight quarters of revenue declines amid the post-COVID slowdown.

The global personal computer market has shown signs of recovery, with IDC data indicating a return to growth during the first quarter of this year after nearly two years of declines.

For the three months ended June, global PC shipments rose by 3% to 64.9 million units. Lenovo maintained its position as the market leader, holding a 23% market share, according to IDC.

Lenovo's shares down 0.99% in Thursday afternoon trading.

Lenovo has diversified beyond its core PC business, expanding into software and services in recent years.

The company's infrastructure solutions group, which includes servers and other hardware, grew 65% to $3 billion in revenue. Its solutions and services group grew 10% to $1.9 billion for the quarter.

Currently its non-PC business already made by 47% of its revenue mix and company chairman and CEO Yuanqing Yang told Reuters in an interview that this share will grow to 50% in the near future.

Yang said a resurgence in IT spending by businesses and AI-driven demand will boost the company's business lines across the board, including PCs, servers, and enterprise software.

The PC market is being fueled by the emerging trend of "AI PCs" - computers equipped with specialized chips optimized for AI software.

Lenovo, among the first to unveil AI PCs, launched two models in May. Yang projects 10% of Lenovo's shipped PCs will be AI PCs by year-end, potentially rising to 50-60% by 2026.

The AI boom coincides with rising China-US geopolitical tensions, including restrictions on advanced AI technology exports.

Yang said Lenovo was accustomed to such challenges and complies with regulations in all operating regions, enabling it to navigate these issues.

Lenovo's net income for the quarter was $243 million, above the average estimate of $222.94 million expected by analysts polled by LSEG.



Nokia, Swisscom to Deploy Drone Service Across Switzerland

FILE PHOTO: People walk next to the Nokia stand as they attend the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain February 27, 2024. REUTERS/Bruna Casas/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: People walk next to the Nokia stand as they attend the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain February 27, 2024. REUTERS/Bruna Casas/File Photo
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Nokia, Swisscom to Deploy Drone Service Across Switzerland

FILE PHOTO: People walk next to the Nokia stand as they attend the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain February 27, 2024. REUTERS/Bruna Casas/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: People walk next to the Nokia stand as they attend the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain February 27, 2024. REUTERS/Bruna Casas/File Photo

Nokia has partnered up with Swisscom to deploy a drones network across Switzerland to improve emergency responses and infrastructure inspection, they said in a joint statement on Thursday.
The Finnish telecom gear maker will supply 300 un-manned vehicles that mobile provider Swisscom will operate through a drones-as-a-service (DaaS) network across the country.
DaaS is a business model that allows clients to use drones on demand without having to buy or operate them.
Swiss public safety agencies such as police or firefighters will be able to request a drone flight from Swisscom Broadcast and access collected data.
The technology would also enable remote inspection of power lines, solar panels, or oil and gas infrastructure, Thomas Eder, Nokia's head of embedded wireless told Reuters.
"Wherever you don't need to send a person because it might be hazardous, you can start by sending or ordering a drone," Eder said.
Beyond military applications, drones are being increasingly tested in areas such as delivery of goods, inspecting infrastructure, or farming.
But concerns remain over surveillance, noise and safety, despite the introduction of more laws to regulate drone use.
Nokia and Swisscom said they would cooperate with aviation and spectrum regulators and comply with data protection laws.
"If there is a beach or swimming hall where video captures should be avoided, then no-fly zones can be defined," Eder said.