Suzumo Machinery raised its operating profit forecast for the year ending March 2027 to ¥1.45bn from ¥1.0bn, a 45.0% increase on its previous forecast, not on last year's result. The sushi-robot maker's revised guidance put net profit at ¥1.0bn, against ¥630mn previously, and sales at ¥17.665bn, up only 0.5% on the earlier forecast.
Interim half beats plan
For the six months to September 2026, the company now expects operating profit of ¥621mn, against a previous forecast of ¥350mn and ¥79mn a year earlier. Sales are put at ¥8.487bn. Overseas sales drive the change: the interim forecast is ¥3.355bn, up from ¥3.115bn, while domestic sales are ¥5.131bn, slightly below the earlier ¥5.155bn.
Where demand is, and where it is not
Management said East Asia demand was strong as Japanese restaurant operators expanded, despite some investment delays tied to China's weak economy, and that it expects sales there to exceed its plan. It said it also expects Europe to exceed plan, after sales calls on large operators and support for distributors lifted demand. In North America, it said the supply system was not ready for a sharp rise in demand for specific products, leaving sales below expectations.
In Japan, management said the easing of rice prices, a prior worry, is restoring customers' appetite for equipment investment. It described sushi-robot sales as roughly on plan and sales of its Fuwarica rice-serving robot as slightly behind.
Full year
For the full year, Suzumo expects overseas sales of ¥6.965bn, up from ¥6.795bn, but domestic sales of ¥10.7bn, down from ¥10.785bn. It said it expects North America to come in below its original plan and overseas sales in the second half to run slightly below plan. It attributed the higher profit margin to stronger own-product sales and a partial effect from price revisions.
The annual dividend forecast is unchanged at ¥35 a share. The board separately confirmed an interim dividend of ¥15 a share, record date September 30, effective December 10, totalling ¥170mn.