Garmin tops quarterly revenue estimates on growth in aviation, marine units

Kitco Media
By Reuters
Published:
Updated:
Reuters
May 3 (Reuters) - Smartwatch and navigation equipment maker Garmin Ltd topped first-quarter revenue estimates on Wednesday, boosted by strong growth in its businesses catering to the aviation and marine industries. Garmin's diversified business is helping the company navigate a downturn in spending from recession-wary consumers, which pushed down sales at its outdoor unit - the biggest and home to its adventure watches - by 27%.


"2023 is off to a good start with four of our five segments posting double-digit revenue growth, driven by new product introductions and solid demand trends," CEO Cliff Pemble said. Garmin launched the Forerunner 265 and Forerunner 965, its first running watches with a bright AMOLED display, in the first quarter to take on Apple Inc's Watch Ultra and Samsung Electronics' Galaxy Watch 5 Pro. The launch of the products helped its fitness business post an 11% rise in sales, while the aviation and marine units reported increases of 22% and 10%, respectively.


Total revenue for the quarter ended April 1 was $1.15 billion, compared with analysts' estimates of $1.08 billion, according to Refinitiv.


Adjusted profit of $1.02 per share, however, fell short of expectations of $1.06 as the company posted a 5% rise in total expenses.


Garmin maintained its full-year revenue and adjusted profit forecast.


Its shares were untraded before the bell. They have risen 5.3% so far in 2023, after declining by more than a third last year.



(Reporting by Samrhitha Arunasalam in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri)

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