(Adds executive comment from conference call, analyst comment)
By Alastair Sharp and Allison Martell
TORONTO, June 23 (Reuters) - Smartphone pioneer BlackBerry
Ltd BB.TO BBRY.O broke even before charges and writedowns in
the first quarter, topping expectations, and forecast a
smaller-than-expected annual loss on Thursday.
Investors in its shares welcomed the more optimistic outlook
and cost-cutting that has lifted margins, helping to send its
stock up as much as 4.6 percent.
The Canadian company has shifted focus from its
once-dominant smartphones to software that companies and
governments need to manage their mobile devices.
"They have not put figures behind some of their forecasts in
quite some time, and hopefully that speaks to improved
visibility into the business," said Morningstar analyst Brian
Colello.
BlackBerry said it expects an adjusted annual loss of around
15 cents per share, compared with the average analyst estimate
of a loss of 33 cents for fiscal 2017.
Software and licensing revenue was $166 million in the
quarter ended May 31. The company had annual software revenue of
$527 million last fiscal year and is targeting 30 percent
organic growth.
Chief Executive Officer John Chen said better deals with
manufacturing partners struck in the quarter helped it to limit
exposure to excess inventory and to better manage cash.
"We're at a point where our business is extremely efficient
and we no longer really are making any hardware," Chen told
analysts on a conference call. "We are really a hardware design
house."
The company said it recognized revenue on some 500,000
handsets in the quarter at an average selling price around $290.
Chen said it plans to unveil two cheaper Android-based devices
in July.
Morningstar's Colello said a better-selling smartphone could
make the segment profitable.
Chen told investors that BlackBerry's top priority this year
is making its devices business profitable. He had said a
decision would be made by September on the unit's future.
Charter Equity Research analyst Edward Snyder said he does
not expect BlackBerry to find any buyer for the handset
business, and thinks it will eventually be wound down.
The company posted adjusted profit of $14 million, or nil
per share, on adjusted revenue of $424 million. Analysts, on
average, expected a loss of 8 cents a share on revenue of $470.9
million, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
It reported a net loss of $670 million, or $1.28 cents a
share, compared with a profit of $68 million, or 10 cents a
share, a year ago.
BlackBerry said that reflected a $501 million writedown on
the value of the handsets business and other charges.
The stock rose as high as $7.05, before easing to $6.87, up
2 percent.
(With additional reporting by Matt Scuffham in Toronto; Editing
by Jeffrey Benkoe)