(LEAD) LG sees gradual recovery in home appliance biz after downbeat Q2 earnings

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By Joo Kyung-don

SEOUL, July 30 (Yonhap) -- LG Electronics Inc. on Thursday reported weak second-quarter earnings due to the fallout from the novel coronavirus, but the company said it expects a gradual recovery in its home appliance business during the current quarter.

South Korea's No. 2 electronics company said its net profit stood at 65.6 billion won (US$54.9 million) in the April-June period, down 38.1 percent from a year earlier.

Its operating profit plunged 24.1 percent on-year to 495.4 billion won in the second quarter, while sales dropped 17.9 percent on-year to 12.8 trillion won over the cited period.

Compared with the first quarter, its operating income slid 54.6 percent and sales declined 12.9 percent.

The figures were in line with the earnings guidance announced earlier this month that beat the market consensus.

LG said its third-quarter performance is likely to be better than the second quarter with a recovery in demand, although global uncertainties over the COVID-19 crisis and a renewed trade dispute between the United States and China will remain.

The company said its third-quarter performance is expected to be similar to last year's level when it racked up 15.7 trillion won in sales and 781.5 billion won in operating profit.

In the second quarter, all of LG's five business divisions saw a decline in their earnings.

Its Home Appliance & Air Solution (H&A) unit posted revenue of 5.16 trillion won in the second quarter, down 15.5 percent from a year earlier. Operating income declined 12.5 percent on-year to 628 billion won over the period.

However, LG said the operating margin of its home appliance business reached a record high of 12.2 percent for the second quarter.

LG's Home Entertainment division, which manages the TV business, saw its sales fall 24.4 percent on-year to 2.26 trillion won and its operating profit drop 25.9 percent on-year to 112.8 billion won.

The company blamed closures of retail stores and delays of major sports events amid the pandemic.

LG's mobile and vehicle component businesses continued to stay in the red.

LG's Mobile Communications division extended its operating loss to 21 consecutive quarters, although it managed to narrow down the deficit to 206.5 billion won from 313 billion won a year ago. Sales declined 18.9 percent on-year to 1.31 trillion won.

Due to a slump in the automobile industry, LG's Vehicle Component Solutions unit saw its second-quarter sales fall 35.9 percent on-year to 912.2 billion won, with its operating loss widening from 55.7 billion won to 202.5 billion won over the cited period.

With demand recovery expected in the third quarter, its TV business unit will try to expand the sales of premium products, such as OLED TVs, and strengthen online retail channels, according to LG.

For its mobile business, the company said it will release its mass-market premium phone, the Velvet, in more countries, while increasing sales of budget phone models.

Shares in LG rose 0.14 percent to 72,100 won on the Seoul bourse, slightly underperforming the broader KOSPI's 0.17 percent increase. Its earnings results were released before the stock market opened.

kdon@yna.co.kr
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