Sony (NYSE:SONY) Shares Gap Up – Here’s Why
by Doug Wharley · The Cerbat GemSony Corporation (NYSE:SONY – Get Free Report)’s stock price gapped up prior to trading on Friday . The stock had previously closed at $21.24, but opened at $22.84. Sony shares last traded at $21.9950, with a volume of 4,907,155 shares traded.
Key Headlines Impacting Sony
Here are the key news stories impacting Sony this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Sony reported a December‑quarter operating profit jump (~22%) that beat estimates and the company raised its full‑year outlook, supporting upside to earnings expectations. Sony third-quarter profit rises 22% (Reuters)
- Positive Sentiment: Management highlighted strong performance in sensors and music, which helped operating income jump despite headwinds in pictures. These segments provide higher-margin stability for the group. Sony profit up 11% on strong sensor and games sales (AP)
- Positive Sentiment: Sony’s gaming business is showing strong monetization: first‑party titles sold well and Sony has generated at least ~$4.2B from selling its first‑party games on PC and Xbox, adding recurring revenue outside console hardware. Sony has made at least $4.2B selling games on PC/Xbox (TweakTown)
- Positive Sentiment: Sony won a high‑visibility Super Bowl LX contract supplying 175+ cameras and Hawk‑Eye tracking/video systems — a commercial win that showcases the company’s broadcast and imaging tech. Super Bowl LX turns to Sony for cameras and tracking (AVNetwork)
- Neutral Sentiment: Sony is launching consumer products (WF‑1000XM6 earbuds launch teased for Feb. 12) and camera roadmap rumors (A7R VI) could reinforce its premium imaging/ audio positioning but are incremental near‑term catalysts. WF-1000XM6 slated to launch Feb 12 (Lowyat)
- Negative Sentiment: Memory component costs remain a headwind: Sony is stockpiling memory for the PS5 amid shortages, and management warned supply/cost issues could force higher PS5 pricing or margin pressure if costs don’t normalize. Sony stockpiling memory as PS5 outsells Switch 2 (Kotaku)
- Negative Sentiment: Sony Pictures revenue fell (~12%); entertainment content softness and geopolitical/market headwinds (e.g., China TV competition) add near‑term downside risk to parts of the business. Sony Pictures revenue dips 12% (Variety)
Analyst Ratings Changes
Several brokerages have recently weighed in on SONY. Wall Street Zen upgraded Sony to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, December 6th. Sanford C. Bernstein restated an “outperform” rating and set a $30.00 price target (down previously from $33.00) on shares of Sony in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. Cfra Research upgraded shares of Sony to a “moderate buy” rating in a report on Friday, October 10th. Nomura upgraded Sony from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 19th. Finally, Zacks Research downgraded Sony from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, January 12th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $31.50.
Check Out Our Latest Report on SONY
Sony Stock Performance
The stock has a market capitalization of $134.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.10, a P/E/G ratio of 8.39 and a beta of 0.97. The company has a quick ratio of 0.98, a current ratio of 1.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $25.20 and its 200 day simple moving average is $27.05.
Institutional Investors Weigh In On Sony
Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in SONY. Global Retirement Partners LLC lifted its position in Sony by 328.7% in the 4th quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 52,587 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,346,000 after acquiring an additional 40,321 shares in the last quarter. Rathbones Group PLC grew its position in shares of Sony by 31.0% during the 4th quarter. Rathbones Group PLC now owns 196,275 shares of the company’s stock valued at $5,025,000 after acquiring an additional 46,452 shares during the period. IFP Advisors Inc lifted its position in shares of Sony by 23.7% during the 4th quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 6,827 shares of the company’s stock valued at $175,000 after buying an additional 1,309 shares during the last quarter. Partners Group Holding AG purchased a new position in Sony in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $922,000. Finally, Intrust Bank NA lifted its holdings in Sony by 2.3% during the 4th quarter. Intrust Bank NA now owns 62,915 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,611,000 after purchasing an additional 1,407 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 14.05% of the company’s stock.
About Sony
Sony Group Corporation (NYSE: SONY) is a Japanese multinational conglomerate headquartered in Minato, Tokyo. Founded in 1946 by Masaru Ibuka and Akio Morita, Sony has grown from an electronics maker into a diversified global company with operations spanning consumer electronics, entertainment, gaming, semiconductors and financial services. The company’s shares trade in Japan and its American Depositary Receipts trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker SONY.
Sony’s primary businesses include Electronics Products & Solutions, which covers televisions, audio equipment, digital cameras and professional broadcast systems; Game & Network Services, anchored by the PlayStation platform, consoles, software and online services; Music and Pictures, through Sony Music Entertainment and Sony Pictures Entertainment, producing, distributing and licensing recorded music, film and television content; Imaging & Sensing Solutions, which develops CMOS image sensors and other semiconductor components; and Financial Services, offering life insurance, banking and other financial products in Japan.