Aristotle Capital Management LLC decreased its position in shares of Sony Corporation (NYSE:SONY – Free Report) by 2.6% in the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 43,937,137 shares of the company’s stock after selling 1,153,022 shares during the period. Sony accounts for 1.9% of Aristotle Capital Management LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 18th biggest position. Aristotle Capital Management LLC owned 0.74% of Sony worth $909,500,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.
Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. WCM Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in Sony by 337.6% in the 1st quarter. WCM Investment Management LLC now owns 1,949,592 shares of the company’s stock worth $38,836,000 after purchasing an additional 1,504,035 shares in the last quarter. Ferguson Wellman Capital Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Sony during the first quarter valued at $23,933,000. Brighton Jones LLC grew its holdings in shares of Sony by 422.0% during the fourth quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 19,908 shares of the company’s stock valued at $421,000 after buying an additional 16,094 shares during the last quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Sony by 28.0% in the 4th quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. now owns 973,178 shares of the company’s stock valued at $24,913,000 after acquiring an additional 212,971 shares during the period. Finally, Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd raised its stake in Sony by 338.7% in the 1st quarter. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd now owns 295,454 shares of the company’s stock worth $6,116,000 after acquiring an additional 228,108 shares during the last quarter. 14.05% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
Trending Headlines about Sony Here are the key news stories impacting Sony this week:
Positive Sentiment: Sony Pictures reportedly secured or expanded distribution ties for new films including Ramayana and Los Hilos del Miedo, which could support future content revenue and reinforce Sony’s role in global film distribution. Ramayana Movie Lands at Sony Positive Sentiment: Sony is said to be reopening Hollywood’s Cinerama Dome and ArcLight Cinemas, a move that could boost theater operations and signal confidence in a rebound in moviegoing demand. Sony to reopen Hollywood’s Cinerama Dome and ArcLight Cinemas Positive Sentiment: Sony launched or highlighted a new FX5 cinema camera with 5K open-gate recording, internal RAW support, and AI features, reinforcing its premium imaging franchise and product pipeline. Sony’s new cinema camera offers 5K recording, built-in AI processing Positive Sentiment: Sony’s new high-end “The Collexion” headphones are getting favorable attention, and cheaper XM5 pricing may help stimulate demand in consumer audio. Sony’s ‘The Collexion’ Headphones Set New Standard for Audio Engineering and Sound Design Neutral Sentiment: Several reports about Sony’s cinema camera FX5 emphasized technical upgrades, but they are more of a product refresh than a clear near-term earnings catalyst. Sony FX5 Launches With a New Sensor Open Gate Recording and Internal RAW Support Negative Sentiment: One report warned that Sony’s push to end physical discs could hurt the $7.2 billion used-games market, raising concerns about pushback from gamers and the broader gaming ecosystem. Sony’s decision to end physical discs could destroy the $7.2 Billion second-hand games market, per analysis Insider Activity In other news, insider Toshimoto Mitomo sold 25,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $21.02, for a total value of $525,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 115,700 shares in the company, valued at $2,432,014. This represents a 17.77% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, Director Kenichiro Yoshida sold 400,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $22.61, for a total value of $9,044,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 661,615 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $14,959,115.15. This represents a 37.68% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold a total of 771,838 shares of company stock valued at $16,866,580 in the last ninety days. 7.00% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.
Sony Stock Up 1.6% Shares of NYSE SONY opened at $21.01 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $124.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -105.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.64 and a beta of 0.94. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $21.14 and its 200-day simple moving average is $21.65. The company has a quick ratio of 0.94, a current ratio of 1.18 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.10. Sony Corporation has a 52-week low of $19.32 and a 52-week high of $30.34.
Sony (NYSE:SONY – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, May 8th. The company reported $0.09 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.22 by ($0.13). Sony had a positive return on equity of 12.20% and a negative net margin of 2.61%.The firm had revenue of $19.15 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $18.43 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $32.86 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 8.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts predict that Sony Corporation will post 1.28 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on SONY shares. Weiss Ratings reissued a “sell (d+)” rating on shares of Sony in a report on Wednesday, May 20th. Benchmark reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Sony in a research report on Monday, May 11th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $22.00.
Read Our Latest Stock Report on SONY
About Sony (Free Report)
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.
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Jamie Stevens is stepping down as EVP of Worldwide Consumer Products at Sony Pictures after a decade leading the studio’s worldwide consumer products organization across film and television.
Stevens’ last day will be Sept. 4 with her replacement to be announced at a later date.
Since joining Sony Pictures in 2016, Stevens has expanded the global reach of the studio’s intellectual property portfolio and transformed the consumer product organization, building a high-performing global team while driving commercial growth across licensing, e-commerce and direct-to-consumer initiatives.
Most recently, Stevens spearheaded innovative partnerships and franchise strategies for some of Sony Pictures’ most iconic brands, including Ghostbusters, Hotel Transylvania, Jumanji, The Boys and Cobra Kai.
Prior to joining Sony, Stevens served as EVP of Global Retail Marketing and Development at Universal Pictures and held senior roles at other leading organizations in entertainment and sports, including Disney, The National Football League, Hasbro and Reebok.
“Jamie has been a huge part of the success of our consumer products business and has helped bring even more impact to many of our most beloved franchises. We’ve been incredibly lucky to have Jamie as a partner over the past ten years and are so grateful for everything that’s gone into building such a talented team. Jamie’s talent, expertise and leadership will be greatly missed,” said Danielle Misher, Head of Global Theatrical Marketing.
Stevens is said to be stepping down to spend more time with family and pursue passion projects.
In the latest close session, Sony (SONY - Free Report) was up +1.4% at $20.98. The stock exceeded the S&P 500, which registered a gain of 0.05% for the day. At the same time, the Dow added 0.46%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq lost 0.64%.
The electronics and media company's shares have seen an increase of 7.09% over the last month, surpassing the Consumer Discretionary sector's loss of 2.45% and the S&P 500's gain of 0.61%.
The investment community will be closely monitoring the performance of Sony in its forthcoming earnings report. It is anticipated that the company will report an EPS of $0.33, marking a 10% rise compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Meanwhile, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenue is projecting net sales of $16.67 billion, down 8.14% from the year-ago period.
Regarding the entire year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates forecast earnings of $1.28 per share and revenue of $78.16 billion, indicating changes of +12.28% and -5.72%, respectively, compared to the previous year.
Investors should also pay attention to any latest changes in analyst estimates for Sony. These revisions typically reflect the latest short-term business trends, which can change frequently. Consequently, upward revisions in estimates express analysts' positivity towards the business operations and its ability to generate profits.
Our research reveals that these estimate alterations are directly linked with the stock price performance in the near future. To capitalize on this, we've crafted the Zacks Rank, a unique model that incorporates these estimate changes and offers a practical rating system.
The Zacks Rank system, running from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), holds an admirable track record of superior performance, independently audited, with #1 stocks contributing an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Within the past 30 days, our consensus EPS projection has moved 0.19% lower. Sony is currently a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
From a valuation perspective, Sony is currently exchanging hands at a Forward P/E ratio of 16.13. This indicates a premium in contrast to its industry's Forward P/E of 12.59.
Meanwhile, SONY's PEG ratio is currently 1.64. The PEG ratio is similar to the widely-used P/E ratio, but this metric also takes the company's expected earnings growth rate into account. As of the close of trade yesterday, the Audio Video Production industry held an average PEG ratio of 1.64.
The Audio Video Production industry is part of the Consumer Discretionary sector. With its current Zacks Industry Rank of 95, this industry ranks in the top 39% of all industries, numbering over 250.
The strength of our individual industry groups is measured by the Zacks Industry Rank, which is calculated based on the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within these groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
You can find more information on all of these metrics, and much more, on Zacks.com.
TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (“Mitsubishi Electric”) and Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation (“Sony”) have entered into a definitive agreement on a strategic partnership aimed at accelerating the automation and advancement of manufacturing equipment and manual operations in the manufacturing industry. Under the partnership, the two companies will establish a newly formed joint venture (“JV”), Advanced Vision Solutions Co., Ltd., which is scheduled to begin operat.
In June 2013, Sony's PlayStation put out a short video demonstrating how easy it was to share games on PlayStation.
Then-Sony executive Shuhei Yoshida handed a disc to colleague Adam Boyes, and that was it. But it was viewed as more than just a simple instruction, it was seen as a dig at rival Microsoft Xbox's strict game-sharing policies.
"Trade in the game at retail. Sell it to another person. Lend it to a friend, or keep it forever," then-President and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America Jack Tretton said at a conference that same year. "When a gamer buys a PS4 disc, they have the rights to use that copy of the game."
The line sparked a standing ovation and helped intensify the backlash that led Xbox to roll back its restrictive policies.
Now, in the eyes of some, Sony is becoming the very villain it mocked.
PlayStation has announced it will end physical disc production for new games released on its consoles starting in January 2028, making new releases digital-only.
Boxed retail versions, if they are sold, will contain a download code rather than a disc.
One of the first games that will use this model is reportedly Take-Two Interactive's highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6, published by Rockstar Games and slated for release this year.
The economics are in Sony's favor. By selling more games digitally, the company has less need to manufacture physical boxes, and physical discs are eliminated completely, improving profit margins.
Michael Pachter, managing director of strategic planning at Wedbush Securities, told CNBC that the move will save Sony a bit of money, but "there can be no question that the consumer pays the tax in terms of less optionality."
A disc can be resold, traded in, lent to a friend, given as a gift, kept on a shelf, or preserved after a storefront shuts down. A download code cannot do any of that.
Without physical discs, gamers lose the ability to buy cheaper used games or recoup money from games they have finished. The change will give Sony a tighter grip on where games are sold, when they are discounted and how long consumers can access them.
"This is a truly ironic turn of events," Kazunori Ito, director of equity research at Morningstar, told CNBC. Sony won goodwill in 2013 by presenting physical discs as the "simple, consumer-friendly option," he said.
On YouTube, gamers resurfaced Sony's old clips with bitter comments: "This is like watching the wedding video after the divorce," one wrote. "Oh, how the mighty have fallen," wrote another.
Existing physical games, and titles released on disc before the cutoff, will not be affected.
"This is an extremely anti-consumer decision that has no legitimate justification and communicates a disdain for players in their ecosystem," Michael Futter, founder of video game industry consultancy F-Squared, told CNBC.
For Futter, the issue is that consoles are closed ecosystems, controlled by the platform holder. On PC, players can buy games through other marketplaces like Steam or the Epic Games Store.
"Sony would love for us to believe that the PC market's shift to digital is the exact same thing as consoles going down that path. It simply isn't," Futter said.
"There is an important difference between players accepting that shift because they see value in it, and having it effectively forced on them by taking away the alternative."
Kazunori Ito
Director of Equity Research, Morningstar
Sony and Playstation did not respond to CNBC's queries for comment.
Resale market declineSony's move has direct implications for the second-hand gaming economy. Dataintelo estimates the global second-hand game platform market, including pre-owned games, consoles, accessories and peripherals, was worth $7.2 billion in 2025 and will reach $13.8 billion by 2034.
"Realistically, at least 1/3 of games have been sold historically as used, and the games that were sold used also provided currency to the gamer who traded them in as cash to pay for new games," Wedbush's Patcher said. "Brick and mortar game retail is doomed."
While older games can still circulate even after disc production ceases, that's not possible with digital ones.
Morningstar's Ito expects the second-hand market for games to "keep shrinking and eventually disappear."
Developers will have less flexibility over discounting than PC platforms, where games can be sold across Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG and other stores, according to Futter.
However, Sony's defenders might argue that the market has changed since 2013. Sony's results for full-year 2025 showed that revenue from PlayStation 4 and 5 physical games is almost 10 times less than the revenue from digital downloads of full games.
Sony said in its announcement that the decision was a "natural direction for Sony Interactive Entertainment to adapt to consumer trends as the general preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical discs."
Separately, over 500 previously purchased movies will be removed from users' PlayStation libraries because of licensing agreements, with Sony's notice making no mention of compensation.
Still, some were wary of what this step could lead to eventually.
"What's to stop PlayStation from taking the same actions with games we've purchased?" Futter posited.
Ito expressed concern also.
"There is an important difference between players accepting that shift because they see value in it, and having it effectively forced on them by taking away the alternative," he said.
"Most would prefer to make that transition in their own way and at their own pace, rather than having it driven by the end of physical discs," he added.
Sony (SONY - Free Report) ended the recent trading session at $21.12, demonstrating a -1.26% change from the preceding day's closing price. The stock trailed the S&P 500, which registered a daily loss of 1.01%. On the other hand, the Dow registered a loss of 0.77%, and the technology-centric Nasdaq decreased by 1.4%.
Shares of the electronics and media company have appreciated by 5.21% over the course of the past month, outperforming the Consumer Discretionary sector's gain of 1.27%, and the S&P 500's gain of 0.32%.
Analysts and investors alike will be keeping a close eye on the performance of Sony in its upcoming earnings disclosure. The company is expected to report EPS of $0.33, up 10% from the prior-year quarter. Our most recent consensus estimate is calling for quarterly revenue of $16.67 billion, down 8.14% from the year-ago period.
For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates project earnings of $1.28 per share and a revenue of $78.16 billion, demonstrating changes of +12.28% and -5.72%, respectively, from the preceding year.
Additionally, investors should keep an eye on any recent revisions to analyst forecasts for Sony. These recent revisions tend to reflect the evolving nature of short-term business trends. With this in mind, we can consider positive estimate revisions a sign of optimism about the business outlook.
Our research shows that these estimate changes are directly correlated with near-term stock prices. To exploit this, we've formed the Zacks Rank, a quantitative model that includes these estimate changes and presents a viable rating system.
The Zacks Rank system, which varies between #1 (Strong Buy) and #5 (Strong Sell), carries an impressive track record of exceeding expectations, confirmed by external audits, with stocks at #1 delivering an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has witnessed an unchanged state. Sony is currently a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Valuation is also important, so investors should note that Sony has a Forward P/E ratio of 16.68 right now. Its industry sports an average Forward P/E of 12.41, so one might conclude that Sony is trading at a premium comparatively.
We can also see that SONY currently has a PEG ratio of 1.7. The PEG ratio is similar to the widely-used P/E ratio, but this metric also takes the company's expected earnings growth rate into account. The average PEG ratio for the Audio Video Production industry stood at 1.7 at the close of the market yesterday.
The Audio Video Production industry is part of the Consumer Discretionary sector. This industry currently has a Zacks Industry Rank of 102, which puts it in the top 42% of all 250+ industries.
The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
To follow SONY in the coming trading sessions, be sure to utilize Zacks.com.
Key Takeaways Sony says entertainment, IP and creation technology now generate 67% of consolidated sales.SONY's PlayStation tops 125M monthly active users as Crunchyroll exceeds 21M paid subscribers.Sony says AI supports creators by improving workflows, production efficiency and user experiences. Sony Group Corporation (SONY - Free Report) continues to strengthen its long-term growth strategy by expanding its entertainment ecosystem, enhancing intellectual property (IP) value and investing in technologies that support creators. The company stated that its creative entertainment vision remains central to its long-term strategy, combining technology with creativity to deliver new experiences across digital and physical environments while maximizing the value of its IP portfolio. Entertainment, IP and creation technology now account for 67% of Sony's consolidated sales, reflecting the company's ongoing portfolio transformation.
SONY highlighted the strength of its entertainment businesses across gaming, music, pictures and anime. The PlayStation platform now has more than 125 million monthly active users worldwide, supported by continued engagement and a broad portfolio of content. The music business continues to benefit from relationships with artists, digital streaming platforms and global audiences, while the pictures business remains focused on producing films and television content and expanding collaborations through adaptations of gaming IP. Sony also emphasized that anime remains an important growth area, supported by collaboration across its businesses in production, marketing, fan engagement and worldwide distribution.
Crunchyroll continues to expand its global presence with more than 21 million paid subscribers and a library exceeding 50,000 episodes available in multiple languages. Sony is also strengthening its position in anime through strategic investments and partnerships while continuing to invest in music IP through acquisitions and collaborations.
AI is another key element of Sony's long-term entertainment strategy. The company stated that AI is intended to enhance human creativity rather than replace creators. Across PlayStation, Sony Pictures and Sony Music, AI is being deployed to improve production efficiency, accelerate workflows, support content creation and enhance user experiences while maintaining creative control. Sony believes these technologies will enable more diverse content, increase productivity and help creators pursue projects that were previously limited by cost or production timelines.
Management stated that the combination of entertainment assets, strong IP, creator-focused technology and continued investment across gaming, music, anime and film positions Sony to pursue future growth opportunities while adapting to changes across the global entertainment industry.
Taking a Look at SONY’s CompetitorsDolby Laboratories, Inc. (DLB - Free Report) is gaining from solid licensing performance. The company’s licensing engine remains tied to expanding adoption of Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision across streaming platforms, TVs, mobile devices and autos, with Dolby Vision 2 setting up an upgrade cycle as sets begin shipping later in fiscal 2026. Momentum in automotive and sports-focused streaming, plus early monetization from the video distribution program and Dolby OptiView, supports the long-term opportunity. For fiscal 2026, management continues to expect Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision and imaging patents to grow about 15% and represent nearly half of licensing revenue.
Sonos, Inc. (SONO - Free Report) is returning to revenue growth as its core system proposition improves and newer products broaden entry points into the ecosystem. Demand for key speakers and home theater products has supported its second-quarter fiscal 2026 results, with faster growth in EMEA and APAC helping offset a mixed U.S. backdrop. Management is pairing the product cycle with tighter operating discipline, share repurchases and a focus on direct customer relationships and the installer channel. For the third quarter of fiscal 2026, SONO expects revenues in the range of $355 million to $375 million, indicating year-over-year growth of 3% to 9%, with 6% growth at the midpoint.
SONY’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of SONY have lost 15.1% in the past year compared with the Zacks Audio Video Production industry’s decline of 15.4%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
SONY seems overvalued, as suggested by the Value Score of A. In terms of the forward 12-month Price/Sales ratio, SONY is trading at 1.56, slightly higher than the industry’s multiple of 1.55.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
For SONY, earnings estimates for the current year have been revised downward in the past 60 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
SONY currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Sony Bank has received conditional approval to launch a U.S.-based stablecoin bank.
The Japan-based financial institution this week announced it had a tentative green light from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to establish a national trust bank.
The new business, known as Connectia Trust, National Association, will be capitalized with $40 million, with Sony Bank owning 100% of the subsidiary, the announcement said.
Sony said the bank is being established “in preparation for the commercialization of businesses related to the issuance and management of U.S. dollar‑denominated stablecoins in the United States.”
“The establishment of this trust subsidiary is intended to contribute to the development of a medium to long‑term business foundation for the Sony Financial Group’s digital asset businesses,” the announcement added.
The news follows a report last year by Japan’s Nikkei that Sony had applied to the OCC for a U.S. banking license.
That report said the company expected its U.S. customers who play its video games and consume its other content will use stablecoins to pay for subscriptions, giving Sony a way to offset the fees paid to credit card companies.
In other news from the intersection of stablecoins and banking, PYMNTS wrote earlier this week about a pair of legal developments which “underscore that when it comes to crypto, stablecoins and blockchain finance, trust is being reinserted at the points where assets become bankable.”
First is New York’s UCC Revision Act, which went into effect last month and establishes a clearer commercial law framework for digital assets by introducing controllable electronic records and equating “control” and possession for certain digital collateral.
“Before the change, lenders taking crypto or other digital assets as collateral faced uncertainty over perfection, priority and enforceability,” the report said. “The new Article 12 introduces controllable electronic records, while amended Article 9 adds categories such as controllable accounts and controllable payment intangibles to reduce ambiguity for lenders.”
Also in June, FinCEN and federal banking regulators proposed customer identification program rules (KYC and KYB) for permitted payment stablecoin issuers under the GENIUS Act which would place formal CIP (Customer Identification Program) obligations on nonbank issuers.
“For banks, FinTechs, payment firms and stablecoin issuers, the new question is not whether crypto can operate outside the banking system,” PYMNTS wrote. “It is whether digital assets can become bankable enough to move through it.”
Investors often turn to recommendations made by Wall Street analysts before making a Buy, Sell, or Hold decision about a stock. While media reports about rating changes by these brokerage-firm employed (or sell-side) analysts often affect a stock's price, do they really matter?
Let's take a look at what these Wall Street heavyweights have to say about Sony (SONY - Free Report) before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage.
Sony currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.42, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 12 brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.42 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.
Of the 12 recommendations that derive the current ABR, nine are Strong Buy and one is Buy. Strong Buy and Buy respectively account for 75% and 8.3% of all recommendations.
Brokerage Recommendation Trends for SONY
Check price target & stock forecast for Sony here>>>
The ABR suggests buying Sony, but making an investment decision solely on the basis of this information might not be a good idea. According to several studies, brokerage recommendations have little to no success guiding investors to choose stocks with the most potential for price appreciation.
Are you wondering why? The vested interest of brokerage firms in a stock they cover often results in a strong positive bias of their analysts in rating it. Our research shows that for every "Strong Sell" recommendation, brokerage firms assign five "Strong Buy" recommendations.
In other words, their interests aren't always aligned with retail investors, rarely indicating where the price of a stock could actually be heading. Therefore, the best use of this information could be validating your own research or an indicator that has proven to be highly successful in predicting a stock's price movement.
With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, which classifies stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), is a reliable indicator of a stock's near-term price performance. So, validating the Zacks Rank with ABR could go a long way in making a profitable investment decision.
ABR Should Not Be Confused With Zacks RankIn spite of the fact that Zacks Rank and ABR both appear on a scale from 1 to 5, they are two completely different measures.
The ABR is calculated solely based on brokerage recommendations and is typically displayed with decimals (example: 1.28). In contrast, the Zacks Rank is a quantitative model allowing investors to harness the power of earnings estimate revisions. It is displayed in whole numbers -- 1 to 5.
Analysts employed by brokerage firms have been and continue to be overly optimistic with their recommendations. Since the ratings issued by these analysts are more favorable than their research would support because of the vested interest of their employers, they mislead investors far more often than they guide.
On the other hand, earnings estimate revisions are at the core of the Zacks Rank. And empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
Furthermore, the different grades of the Zacks Rank are applied proportionately across all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide earnings estimates for the current year. In other words, at all times, this tool maintains a balance among the five ranks it assigns.
Another key difference between the ABR and Zacks Rank is freshness. The ABR is not necessarily up-to-date when you look at it. But, since brokerage analysts keep revising their earnings estimates to account for a company's changing business trends, and their actions get reflected in the Zacks Rank quickly enough, it is always timely in indicating future price movements.
Is SONY Worth Investing In?In terms of earnings estimate revisions for Sony, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has remained unchanged over the past month at $1.28.
Analysts' steady views regarding the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by an unchanged consensus estimate, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Sony. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>
It may therefore be prudent to be a little cautious with the Buy-equivalent ABR for Sony.
This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.
52-Week Range$19.32▼
$30.34Dividend Yield0.53%
Price Target$22.00
Sony Corp. NYSE: SONY announced plans to discontinue its physical gaming discs starting in 2028. According to the company, the move is being made to coincide with consumer preferences. That sentiment is backed up by Take-Two Interactive NASDAQ: TTWO , which announced that its latest version of Grand Theft Auto will be available exclusively in a digital format.
SONY hasn’t moved much since the announcement, and for good reason. The issue of physical discs doesn’t address the larger threat that’s facing the gaming industry as a whole.
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For updates on that front, investors will have to wait for the company’s earnings report, which is due in early August.
Memory Costs Remain Sony's Biggest Gaming HeadwindThe short-term reaction to the phase-out news was predictable. The decision will lead to cost savings, which investors love. It also has the potential to improve margins.
But it does nothing to address the memory issue, which will still be front and center for Sony and other gaming companies, such as Microsoft NASDAQ: MSFT. Microsoft has recently announced company-wide layoffs of up to 4,800 workers. However, most of those displaced will come from its gaming division, which is struggling with higher memory costs for its Xbox.
Sony faces those issues with its PlayStation console, but on a much greater scale. Sony's PlayStation 5 currently dominates in market share with an estimated 75 million active units globally. That’s a stark contrast to the 30 million units sold across the Xbox Series ecosystem.
That means the company faces a memory issue that’s literally twice as large as that of Microsoft and even more so than that of Take-Two.
Sony's Move Away From Discs Raises Ownership ConcernsSony’s decision, on top of Take-Two's move, is a shot across the bow at a company like GameStop NYSE: GME, which still generates a significant share of its revenue from physical gaming hardware, including discs. But that’s been a known issue for years. GameStop has closed over 1,300 stores in the last two fiscal years due to dwindling demand for physical games.
The real backlash is coming from collectors and physical media loyalists who have now lost the ability to resell, lend, or buy used games. Eliminating discs ties ownership more tightly to platform accounts/servers. The argument is that the absence of physical discs eliminates the second-hand market and gives consumers no alternative to the PlayStation Store. That means after 2028, Sony will be the only arbiter over what a game costs and how long users can use it.
On one level, the concerns hold some merit. If Sony decides to delist a title, gamers who don’t own the physical disc could lose access entirely. Even if they have a physical disc, the functionality will be limited to that version.
Those concerns are coming to a head in a lawsuit by a Dutch law firm, which is seeking $457 billion dollars in damages. The “Fair PlayStation” campaign addresses the “Sony tax,” which refers to the 30% commission that Sony levies on all products sold through its stores.
Plus, the announcement comes shortly after Sony raised the price of its disc-edition PlayStation to $649.99 from $549.99—a not-so-subtle way to nudge consumers to higher-margin digital sales. It may be a coincidence, but the optics give the critics some validity.
However, the real erosion of consumer ownership rights is mostly an argument dressed in nostalgia's clothing. No privacy rights are being lost, and Sony’s larger point is correct. More gamers are simply choosing to download the updated version of a game.
SONY Stock Analysis: Technical Signals Point to Limited UpsideSONY is down about 17% in 2026. The good news is that it looks like it’s formed a bottom at just under $20 per share. The concern is that the upside may be limited without better momentum.
The Sony analyst forecasts on MarketBeat show a consensus price target of $22, which leaves less than 4% by way of upside. Assuming earnings growth of around 10% in the next 12 months, the company’s annual dividend looks safe and may increase. But the yield of 0.5% may not be enough to keep investors interested.
The daily chart supports a case for cautious optimism, but with a big asterisk. Shares have climbed off their recent low to about $21, and the MACD line has crossed above its signal line, a bullish signal that often precedes further near-term gains. That said, the stock remains well below its 200-day simple moving average of $24.05, a level SONY hasn't reclaimed since December 2025.
That gap between improving short-term momentum and a still-declining long-term trend line is exactly why the upside looks capped. A bounce off support isn't the same as a confirmed reversal, and bulls likely need a close above the 200-day average before the broader downtrend is truly broken.
Should You Invest $1,000 in Sony Right Now?Before you consider Sony, you'll want to hear this.
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Sony (SONY - Free Report) closed at $21.15 in the latest trading session, marking a -1.17% move from the prior day. This move lagged the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.28%. Elsewhere, the Dow saw a downswing of 1.09%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq appreciated by 0.2%.
Heading into today, shares of the electronics and media company had gained 0.42% over the past month, lagging the Consumer Discretionary sector's gain of 1.44% and the S&P 500's gain of 1.64%.
Analysts and investors alike will be keeping a close eye on the performance of Sony in its upcoming earnings disclosure. In that report, analysts expect Sony to post earnings of $0.33 per share. This would mark year-over-year growth of 10%. Meanwhile, our latest consensus estimate is calling for revenue of $16.67 billion, down 8.14% from the prior-year quarter.
For the annual period, the Zacks Consensus Estimates anticipate earnings of $1.28 per share and a revenue of $78.16 billion, signifying shifts of +12.28% and -5.72%, respectively, from the last year.
Any recent changes to analyst estimates for Sony should also be noted by investors. These recent revisions tend to reflect the evolving nature of short-term business trends. With this in mind, we can consider positive estimate revisions a sign of optimism about the business outlook.
Our research reveals that these estimate alterations are directly linked with the stock price performance in the near future. We developed the Zacks Rank to capitalize on this phenomenon. Our system takes these estimate changes into account and delivers a clear, actionable rating model.
The Zacks Rank system, running from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), holds an admirable track record of superior performance, independently audited, with #1 stocks contributing an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Within the past 30 days, our consensus EPS projection remained stagnant. Sony is holding a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold) right now.
Looking at valuation, Sony is presently trading at a Forward P/E ratio of 16.69. This represents a premium compared to its industry average Forward P/E of 12.26.
Investors should also note that SONY has a PEG ratio of 1.7 right now. The PEG ratio is similar to the widely-used P/E ratio, but this metric also takes the company's expected earnings growth rate into account. The Audio Video Production was holding an average PEG ratio of 1.7 at yesterday's closing price.
The Audio Video Production industry is part of the Consumer Discretionary sector. Currently, this industry holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 73, positioning it in the top 30% of all 250+ industries.
The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
Ensure to harness Zacks.com to stay updated with all these stock-shifting metrics, among others, in the next trading sessions.
Sony said it's moving to digital-only games. Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images The furor over Sony's decision to stop producing physical PlayStation discs starting in 2028 is not slowing down.
The gaming giant said earlier this month that it would cease making discs for new games on its consoles due to consumer preferences shifting toward digital releases.
A post from Sony last week announcing the news on X has racked up 145 million views and 90,000 replies as of Monday morning. Many of the top responses have been negative. Some replies have pointed out that the physical media market has kept prices competitive, while others said they have only purchased digital games for some time.
Other responses highlighted the risks of going digital-only, citing Sony's recent announcement that users would lose access to more than 500 StudioCanal titles — that they had already purchased — due to licensing agreements. Owning a physical copy of the game can prevent similar situations.
The PlayStation X account, which typically posts at least once per day, hasn't posted anything since the July 1 announcement.
The post has also been consistently tagged with community notes by X users.
Game developer Hideo Kojima, who created the iconic "Metal Gear" game franchise and worked closely with Sony over many years, said he was saddened by the end of PlayStation discs.
Speaking this month at Italy's Il Cinema in Piazza festival, Kojima warned that digital-only distribution could mean people one day losing access to content they had purchased.
Sony did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Sony's announcement to cease disc production came shortly after Rockstar announced its highly anticipated "Grand Theft Auto 6" would only be available in digital format when it launches in November.
Other brands, never ones to knowingly miss an opportunity to throw shade or capitalize on a big social media moment, have been dishing out the trolling.
Gaming chair maker Respawn posted a mock statement that it would cease production of physical chairs and shift to "digital chairs only." KFC España jokingly said it would begin offering its fried chicken via downloadable PNG format.
We heard you. And we agree.
In light of recent developments in physical media, GitHub is proud to announce that you can now obtain your public repo on CD-ROM.
Keep it. Lend it to friends. Pass it on to your children.
Your code is physically yours, forever. Until you lose it,… pic.twitter.com/p1qxqjmnfa
— GitHub (@github) July 2, 2026 GitHub, the developer platform owned by Microsoft, said on July 2 — a day after Sony's announcement — that users could have their coding repositories put on a CD-ROM.
"Your code is physically yours, forever. Until you lose it, let's be real," the company wrote on X.
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Hugh Langley You're currently following this author! Want to unfollow? Unsubscribe via the link in your email.
Grand Theft Auto 6 is the most anticipated game of the year (and perhaps of the decade, given the agonizing wait since the franchise’s last entry in 2013). But earlier this week, rumors started swirling that Rockstar Games would release the title via digital download only, with physical copies of Grand Theft Auto 6 being reduced to a box with a download code inside rather than a game disc.
Then, on July 1, Sony dealt an even more devastating blow to lovers of physical media: Starting in 2028, new games on PlayStation consoles will only be released digitally, with all physical disc production being discontinued.
Rockstar’s and Sony’s decisions suggest that game lovers are no longer interested in physical discs—but the swift backlash on social media tells a different story.
“A natural direction”: Why Sony nixed the discIn a post on the official PlayStation blog, Sony explained why it’s doing away with discs.
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“This is a natural direction for Sony Interactive Entertainment to adapt to consumer trends as the general preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical discs,” reads the post. “This transition will enable us to align more closely with how most of our community prefers to access and play games today.”
In the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025, Sony reported that 85% of full-game software sales on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 were digital downloads, with just 15% of sales being physical copies.
“We’ll continue to prioritize our resources to drive innovation in how players can access games and provide choices as to where players prefer to purchase new games, whether that’s at retailers or PlayStation Store,” the blog post continues. “We remain committed to delivering a world-class gaming experience to our fans, and we thank you for your continued support.”
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Sony's announcement of its planned shift to digital-only PlayStation games sparked a frenzy on the internet. RICHARD A. BROOKS/AFP via Getty Images Sony's decision to stop making physical discs for its PlayStation games starting in 2028 has opened the floodgates for brands eager to score points online.
Within hours of the announcement, companies ranging from creators of privacy software to fried chicken chains piled on, using the PlayStation's all-digital future as fodder for jokes.
Sony said the shift reflects the fact that the general preference for digital media significantly outpaces that for physical discs, Business Insider reported Thursday.
The posts tapped into a broader backlash from fans who have expressed worry about ownership, media preservation, and what happens when everything lives behind a download.
Those anxieties have been building for months as the gaming industry steadily shifts away from physical media. Grand Theft Auto VI — one of the most anticipated games of the decade — is being sold in stores with a download code rather than a game disc. The decision, announced by creator Rockstar Games last month, sparked a similar debate.
Gaming accessory maker GameSir quipped on X following Sony's announcement that it would stop making physical controllers and shift to downloadable ones, allowing gamers to control their devices "via quantum entanglement and pure imagination."
"True pro-gamers don't need a controller in their hands; they need the controller in their souls," GameSir's post read, calling the decision a pivot toward a "beautifully empty-handed future."
KFC España also took a swipe at Sony, saying it would begin offering its fried chicken only via downloadable PNG format, while Domino's UK compared Sony's all-digital move to replacing its pizzas with a download code so diners could enjoy them in "an entirely virtual sense."
Privacy-focused Proton joked that it would begin offering physical versions of its digital services in light of Sony's decision.
"Proton Mail becomes encrypted letters hand-delivered by our team, Pass becomes someone who follows you around and remembers your passwords for you, VPN flies you to one of 90+ locations so you can browse like a local, Drive ships every user a folder (additional folders available upon request), and Lumo AI sends a smart employee to your location to answer questions, help with work, and draw things."
In the meantime, pizzas, passwords, and fried chicken remain stubbornly physical — for now.
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Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert is a senior reporter on Business Insider's West Coast team. When she's not writing about trending business and tech news, from the latest supply chain snarls or advancements in AI, she covers the food and restaurant industries, specifically companies such as Starbucks and McDonald's.Some of her prior areas of focus have included coverage of the Supreme Court and emerging technologies such as quantum computing.Katherine has worked on award-nominated projects and has appeared on Good Morning America, NBC, CNN, and other outlets to discuss her reporting.Prior to joining Business Insider, she covered retail, hospitality, and nonprofits at the San Fernando Valley Business Journal and received a master's degree in investigative reporting from the University of Southern California.Reach outDo you have feedback or a story tip? Contact Katherine on Signal at byktl.50, or email her at [email protected] her on Twitter and Instagram @scrawlgirl.Some of her recent scoops, exclusives, and original stories include: Starbucks set up a new office. It's a 5-minute drive from the CEO's California home.Inside Starbucks' crackdown on cup notesEndless Shrimp was Red Lobster's rock bottom. Now it's clawing back.Chipotle's new PAC signals a change in how the company engages in politicsKFC lost its footing in the Chicken Wars. Now it's gunning for a 'Kentucky Fried Comeback.'A few other highlights include: Clarence Thomas raised him 'as a son.' Now he's facing 25-plus years on weapons and drug charges.Call her Ivanka Kushner'Maybe I'll just resign:' Federal workers react to DOGE productivity emailSpaceX launches cause late-night booms that rattle windows, set off car alarms, and may damage property. Locals are pushing back.The US-China tech race is moving from chips to the raw materials they're made of
Sony said on Wednesday that it would stop releasing new video games for the PlayStation console on disc in January 2028 following a shift in consumer preferences.
“Following this date, new games will be available on PlayStation Store and at retailers in digital formats only,” the company said on its official PlayStation blog.
In practice, that means gamers will have to download directly from Sony’s PlayStation store or obtain a download code when purchasing a title from a retailer.
The announcement comes as the upcoming exclusively digital release of Grand Theft Auto VI, which is predicted to become one of the biggest-selling cultural products of all time, has caused some consternation among gamers.
There was grumbling on social media that the lack of a physical disc would eliminate any secondhand market for the title. Sony said the upcoming shift “has no impact on games that already released, or will be releasing, prior to January 2028 in disc format”.
Sony began its move towards digital downloads in 2020 with the release of the latest console, PlayStation 5, which had a version without a disk drive.
“This is a natural direction for Sony Interactive Entertainment to adapt to consumer trends as the general preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical discs,” the company said. “We remain committed to delivering a world-class gaming experience to our fans.”
Piers Harding-Rolls at Ampere Analysis said: “The purchasing trends of gamers are clear.” In 2013, when the PS4 launched, only 13% of game sales were digital, but had risen to nearly 80% in 2025, he noted.
That didn’t stop gamers from complaining, however. “It’s a catastrophe,” said gamer and content creator Conkerax on YouTube.
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“Inevitably there will be concerns from PlayStation gamers around various aspects of this announcement including choice, accessing older physical games on new consoles, the ability to collect physical games and game preservation,” said Ampere’s Harding-Rolls.
He noted that the shift towards digital would have a negative impact on specialist games retailers, and would also hit the secondhand market.
The announcement renewed speculation about the next-generation PlayStation 6 console. Sony’s announcement “pretty much confirms PS6 will be digital only”, said Daniel Ahmad at Niko Partners, a video game market research firm.
Sony PlayStation said Wednesday it plans to end production of new video game discs – a feature of the media and entertainment landscape for three-plus decades – by January 2028.
The decision, laid out in a company blog post, follows a recent announcement from Take-Two Interactive’s Rockstar Games that its long-awaited title, “Grand Theft Auto 6,” will be digital-only.
Steady declines in physical game disc sales mirror the patterns in the home entertainment and music businesses. Vinyl records have been a bright spot, however, staging a big comeback for music labels and topping $1 billion in sales last year for the first time since 1983. Netflix wound down its DVD-by-mail business in 2023.
“This is a natural direction for Sony Interactive Entertainment to adapt to consumer trends as the general preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical discs,” the blog post said. “This transition will enable us to align more closely with how most of our community prefers to access and play games today.
“We’ll continue to prioritize our resources to drive innovation in how players can access games and provide choices as to where players prefer to purchase new games, whether that’s at retailers or PlayStation Store.”
The change has “no impact” on titles due to come out prior to January 2028, the post noted.
Overall consumer spending on video games in the U.S. ticked up 1% in 2025 from prior-year levels to hit $60.7 billion, according to data from the Entertainment Software Association, Circana and Sensor Tower. Subscription services revenue jumped 20%, while mobile games now account for nearly half the total, at $26.7 billion in revenue.
Sony said Wednesday it will stop producing physical discs for all new games released on PlayStation consoles from January 2028, marking a full shift to digital distribution as consumer purchases continue to move online.
Digital downloads accounted for about 80% of Sony’s full-game software sales in fiscal 2025, according to the company, reflecting a years-long shift toward digital game purchases.
The Japanese entertainment and technology company said new PlayStation titles released from January 2028 will be sold through the PlayStation Store and by retailers in digital formats only.
PlayStation titles released from January 2028 will be sold through the PlayStation Store and by retailers in digital formats only. REUTERS The change will not apply to games released, or already scheduled for disc release, before that date.
Separately, Sony said it would begin shutting down the PlayStation Store on its legacy PS3 and PS Vita devices, starting with select markets this year and expanding globally in 2027.
The 15- to 20-year-old consoles can no longer support the secure payment systems used by the modern PlayStation Network, the company said.
Once the stores close, users will no longer be able to purchase new content, although previously purchased games and content will remain available for download for the foreseeable future.
Digital downloads accounted for about 80% of Sony’s full-game software sales in fiscal 2025, according to the company, reflecting a years-long shift toward digital game purchases. The PlayStation 5 console, above. EPA The PS3 store will close in Mexico, Honduras and Nicaragua from August, followed by additional Latin American and Middle Eastern markets later in the year.
The PS3 and PS Vita stores will close in all remaining markets in July 2027.
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Sony says discs are done for. Kiyoshi Ota/Bloomberg via Getty Images The dustbin of history is about to get a lot shinier.
Sony said Wednesday it plans to stop releasing physical disc copies of PlayStation games starting in 2028.
"New games will be available on PlayStation Store and at retailers in digital formats only," the company said.
Sony said the change is a response to evolving industry and consumer trends and won't affect any titles scheduled for release before 2028.
Sony's PS5 is sold in two formats — one all-digital and one with a disc drive — with the disc drive model costing $50 more. Both offer nearly identical performance.
Last week, game studio Rockstar Games told the Hollywood Reporter that its hotly anticipated "Grand Theft Auto VI" will not include physical media and will only be available as a digital download.
The company earlier sparked confusion when it referred to a physical version of the game, which it said in a press release last week would be a download code sold in a box.
Physical media for some other games, including various Xbox and Nintendo titles, increasingly require users to download additional data to play. In other cases, the disc serves little more than as a download code for online content.
Big box retailers like Best Buy, Target, and Walmart have also devoted less sales floor space to physical copies of gaming and entertainment titles as streaming and downloadable options have become more common.
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Dominick Reuter You're currently following this author! Want to unfollow? Unsubscribe via the link in your email.
Dominick Reuter is a senior retail reporter for Business Insider, primarily covering Walmart, Target, and Costco. His stories tend to focus on issues and trends that affect employees and customers.Prior to joining BI in 2019, Dominick worked for more than a decade as an independent photojournalist covering a wide range of stories for global wire services and newspapers, including Reuters, the Wall Street Journal, and Agence France-Presse.Dominick studied photojournalism at Boston University and later earned a Masters in business and economics journalism from Columbia University.If you're an employee or customer with a story to share, please contact me via email or text/call/Signal at 646-768-4750.
ToplinePlayStation manufacturer Sony announced the company would no longer release new games on physical discs starting in January 2028, shifting all sales to digital platforms in an effort to “adapt to consumer trends,” marking the end of a physical media era for one of the bestselling game console manufacturers.
The company said this change would not impact games that were already released.
Future Publishing via Getty Images
Key FactsIn a blog post published on Wednesday, Sony’s senior director Sid Shuman said the move will “align more closely with how most of our community prefers to access and play games today.”
Physical sales of new games have been falling in recent years—physical software made up only 3% of Sony’s revenue in 2024, according to the company’s 2025 corporate report.
The news comes days after Rockstar began preorders for their highly anticipated “Grand Theft Auto VI,” which is currently slated for release in November without a physical disc inside its physical release.
Sony said the shift to digital sales will not impact older games already released, or upcoming games being released before January 2028.
Analysts Predict ‘Watershed Moment’ For Games IndustryPiers Harding-Rolls, an analyst at Ampere Analysis, called Sony’s announcement a “watershed moment” for the industry in a post on social media. According to Ampere’s data, Sony’s sales of digital games have replaced their sales for physical games. In 2013, digital sales made up only 13% of the company’s full game sales. But 12 years later this trend was reversed—digital sales made up 80% of all full games Sony sold last year, according to the firm’s data. Harding-Rolls later predicted Sony’s upcoming PlayStation 6 console, which does not have an official release date yet, will not include a physical disc drive on its standard version. In response to the news, Mat Piscatella, a games industry analyst at Circana, said in a Bluesky post “physical video games will last only as long as the console manufacturers allow them to.” Piscatella linked to data from his own firm that found consumers spent $1.6 billion on new physical games in the last 12-month period ending in May—down from a peak of $11.5 billion in 2009.
TangentThe news did not immediately impact GameStop stock price after markets opened on Wednesday morning. In March, GameStop reported a 14% revenue drop in its most recent fourth quarter as consumers migrated to digital downloads for games.
PlayStation will soon end physical disc production for all new games released on its consoles, the company announced Wednesday morning.
Starting January 2028, new games released on the Sony-owned legacy console will be sold either through the PlayStation Store or through retailers in digital formats, a move that comes as consumers deepen their pivot to digital media to access games, stream music and more.
The move was a "natural direction" to adapt as consumers' digital game preference "significantly outpaces physical discs," the company wrote in a blog post, adding that the decision wouldn't have an impact on disc games coming out before 2028.
"This transition will enable us to align more closely with how most of our community prefers to access and play games today," the post read.
Read more CNBC tech newsAnthropic says Trump admin has lifted export controls on Claude Fable 5 and Mythos 5OpenAI, Anthropic backer MGX raises one of the biggest AI funds ever as it closes at $49 billionEmployers who laid off workers citing AI are already starting to regret itRecord chip rally adds $2 trillion in combined value to Micron, Intel and AMD in second quarterAs leading console makers contend with the pull towards digital, skyrocketing memory prices fueled by the artificial intelligence buildout have led to price hikes on consoles.
Sony raised prices on its flagship line of PlayStation 5 consoles in April, hiking its disc edition from $549.99 to $649.99.
Microsoft's Xbox will also increase prices starting on Aug. 1, with Series S consoles containing 512GB of storage set to go up by about $100 to about $500. Nintendo's Switch 2 will get $50 pricier in the U.S. starting Sept. 1.
CNBC has reached out to PlayStation for additional comment.
PS5 games by PlayStation are seen for sale at a GameStop in Manhattan, New York, U.S., December 7, 2021. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
July 1 (Reuters) - Sony (6758.T), opens new tab said on Wednesday it will stop producing physical discs for all new games released on PlayStation consoles from January 2028, marking a full shift to digital distribution as consumer purchases continue to move online.
Digital downloads accounted for about 80% of Sony's full-game software sales in fiscal 2025, according to the company, reflecting a years-long shift toward digital game purchases.
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The Japanese entertainment and technology company said new PlayStation titles released from January 2028 will be sold through the PlayStation Store and by retailers in digital formats only.
The change will not apply to games released, or already scheduled for disc release, before that date.
Separately, Sony said it would begin shutting down the PlayStation Store on its legacy PS3 and PS Vita devices, starting with select markets this year and expanding globally in 2027.
The 15- to 20-year-old consoles can no longer support the secure payment systems used by the modern PlayStation Network, the company said.
Once the stores close, users will no longer be able to purchase new content, although previously purchased games and content will remain available for download for the foreseeable future.
The PS3 store will close in Mexico, Honduras and Nicaragua from August, followed by additional Latin American and Middle Eastern markets later in the year. The PS3 and PS Vita stores will close in all remaining markets in July 2027.
Reporting by Anzar Mehraj in Bengaluru: Editing by Tasim Zahid
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab
Tom Rothman, Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Pictures Group, discusses the future of Hollywood and how studios can create cultural pressure to keep theater seats filled. He joins Romaine Bostick and Katie Greifeld on set.
In the latest trading session, Sony (SONY - Free Report) closed at $19.71, marking a +2.02% move from the previous day. This move outpaced the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.05%. Elsewhere, the Dow saw a downswing of 0.09%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq depreciated by 0.24%.
The stock of electronics and media company has fallen by 11.05% in the past month, lagging the Consumer Discretionary sector's loss of 2.34% and the S&P 500's loss of 1.42%.
Analysts and investors alike will be keeping a close eye on the performance of Sony in its upcoming earnings disclosure. The company is predicted to post an EPS of $0.13, indicating a 38.1% decline compared to the equivalent quarter last year. Our most recent consensus estimate is calling for quarterly revenue of $17.99 billion, up 4.29% from the year-ago period.
For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates project earnings of $1.29 per share and a revenue of $78.98 billion, demonstrating changes of +13.16% and -4.73%, respectively, from the preceding year.
Investors might also notice recent changes to analyst estimates for Sony. Such recent modifications usually signify the changing landscape of near-term business trends. As a result, we can interpret positive estimate revisions as a good sign for the business outlook.
Research indicates that these estimate revisions are directly correlated with near-term share price momentum. To capitalize on this, we've crafted the Zacks Rank, a unique model that incorporates these estimate changes and offers a practical rating system.
The Zacks Rank system, spanning from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), boasts an impressive track record of outperformance, audited externally, with #1 ranked stocks yielding an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has remained steady. Right now, Sony possesses a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
In terms of valuation, Sony is presently being traded at a Forward P/E ratio of 15.03. This valuation marks a premium compared to its industry average Forward P/E of 12.17.
It is also worth noting that SONY currently has a PEG ratio of 1.53. The PEG ratio is akin to the commonly utilized P/E ratio, but this measure also incorporates the company's anticipated earnings growth rate. The Audio Video Production was holding an average PEG ratio of 1.53 at yesterday's closing price.
The Audio Video Production industry is part of the Consumer Discretionary sector. Currently, this industry holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 177, positioning it in the bottom 28% of all 250+ industries.
The Zacks Industry Rank assesses the strength of our separate industry groups by calculating the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks contained within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
Keep in mind to rely on Zacks.com to watch all these stock-impacting metrics, and more, in the succeeding trading sessions.
Ravi Ahuja, Chairman and CEO at Sony Pictures Entertainment speaks during the Milken Institute Global Conference 2026 in Beverly Hills, California, U.S., May, 5, 2026. REUTERS/Mike Blake Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
June 24 (Reuters) - Sony Pictures Entertainment announced a $100 million strategic investment in immersive technology firm Cosm on Wednesday, marking a push by the Hollywood studio to extend its film and television properties into a growing network of dome-shaped venues across the United States.
Los Angeles-based Cosm operates dome venues using its "Shared Reality" technology, which projects live sports, concerts and other events onto massive, wraparound curved LED screens.
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As the lead investor in Cosm's Series C financing round, Sony Pictures will acquire a minority ownership stake in the company, it said in a statement.
The investment advances Sony Pictures' focus on experiential entertainment, fandom and technology, and would allow the studio to explore new ways to extend its intellectual property through immersive experiences.
Sony Pictures CEO Ravi Ahuja will join Cosm's board of directors.
"We will use this capital to fuel Cosm's growth as we expand our venue network and advance our technology initiatives across both Sports and Entertainment," Cosm CEO Jeb Terry said.
Cosm has opened three domes in Los Angeles, Dallas and Atlanta, with venues planned for Detroit in September and Cleveland next year. Additional U.S. and international locations will be announced soon, the company said.
In July 2024, Cosm announced it had raised $250 million in a funding round, achieving a valuation of over $1 billion.
Reporting by Juby Babu in Mexico City; Editing by Joyjeet Das
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab
Sony (SONY - Free Report) is one of the stocks most watched by Zacks.com visitors lately. So, it might be a good idea to review some of the factors that might affect the near-term performance of the stock.
Shares of this electronics and media company have returned -11.4% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -1.3% change. The Zacks Audio Video Production industry, to which Sony belongs, has lost 11.1% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?
While media releases or rumors about a substantial change in a company's business prospects usually make its stock 'trending' and lead to an immediate price change, there are always some fundamental facts that eventually dominate the buy-and-hold decision-making.
Earnings Estimate RevisionsRather than focusing on anything else, we at Zacks prioritize evaluating the change in a company's earnings projection. This is because we believe the fair value for its stock is determined by the present value of its future stream of earnings.
We essentially look at how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to reflect the impact of the latest business trends. And if earnings estimates go up for a company, the fair value for its stock goes up. A higher fair value than the current market price drives investors' interest in buying the stock, leading to its price moving higher. This is why empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
For the current quarter, Sony is expected to post earnings of $0.13 per share, indicating a change of -38.1% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged over the last 30 days.
The consensus earnings estimate of $1.29 for the current fiscal year indicates a year-over-year change of +13.2%. This estimate has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.
For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $1.4 indicates a change of +9.1% from what Sony is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed +0.7%.
With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is a more conclusive indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Sony.
The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:
12 Month EPS
Revenue Growth ForecastWhile earnings growth is arguably the most superior indicator of a company's financial health, nothing happens as such if a business isn't able to grow its revenues. After all, it's nearly impossible for a company to increase its earnings for an extended period without increasing its revenues. So, it's important to know a company's potential revenue growth.
For Sony, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $17.99 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +4.3%. For the current and next fiscal years, $78.98 billion and $79.22 billion estimates indicate -4.7% and +0.3% changes, respectively.
Last Reported Results and Surprise HistorySony reported revenues of $24.11 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -16.7%. EPS of $0.41 for the same period compares with $0.41 a year ago.
Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $23.88 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +0.98%. The EPS surprise was +24.24%.
The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The company topped consensus revenue estimates two times over this period.
ValuationWithout considering a stock's valuation, no investment decision can be efficient. In predicting a stock's future price performance, it's crucial to determine whether its current price correctly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects.
While comparing the current values of a company's valuation multiples, such as price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), with its own historical values helps determine whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of the reasonability of the stock's price.
As part of the Zacks Style Scores system, the Zacks Value Style Score (which evaluates both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics) organizes stocks into five groups ranging from A to F (A is better than B; B is better than C; and so on), making it helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.
Sony is graded A on this front, indicating that it is trading at a discount to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.
ConclusionThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Sony. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
The Company's Honors Celebrate Top Collaborators Demonstrating Excellence in Pro AV Integration, Distribution, and Consulting
, /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Electronics' Professional Display Solutions of America team named the 2026 winners of its annual Sony AV Partner Awards. The awards, which launched last year, honor exceptional achievements among integrators, distributors, consultants, and channel partners. Winners were selected by a panel of Sony judges who analyzed professional display sales, field collaboration, and business growth. Statues were distributed during InfoComm 2026 to acknowledge the honor.
"We are fortunate to collaborate with some of the most committed and highest-performing companies in the pro AV industry," said Rich Ventura, Vice President, Professional Display Solutions, Sony Electronics. "Together, we're working to elevate one another's businesses for the benefit of our end users. Recognizing the partners who have contributed most to our success is an honor because our efforts are a direct reflection of their focused dedication and support."
Categories and winners for 2026's Sony AV Partner Awards include:
Distributor of the Year: Almo Pro AV Integrator of the Year - North America: CTI Integrator of the Year – U.S.: FORTÉ Integrator of the Year - Canada: Matrix Video Communications Integrator of the Year – National Sales Partners: CDW Top Growth Integrator of the Year: Solutionz, Inc. Emerging Partner of the Year: Inter Technologies Corporation Alliance Partner of the Year: Peerless-AV Digital Signage Partner of the Year: VITEC Technology Partner of the Year: Crestron Electronics Consultant of the Year: NV5 For more information about Sony's presence at InfoComm 2026, please visit: https://pro.sony/infocomm or schedule a meeting with Sony at https://pro.sony/ue_US/infocomm-2026-registration-form. Follow the company on social media: LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
About Sony Electronics Inc.
Sony Electronics is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America and an affiliate of Sony Group Corporation, one of the most comprehensive entertainment companies in the world, with a portfolio that encompasses electronics, music, motion pictures, mobile, gaming, robotics and financial services. Headquartered in San Diego, California, Sony Electronics is a leader in electronics for the consumer and professional markets. Operations include research and development, engineering, sales, marketing, distribution and customer service. Sony Electronics creates products that innovate and inspire generations, such as the award-winning Alpha Interchangeable Lens Cameras and revolutionary high-resolution audio products. Sony is also a leading manufacturer of end-to-end solutions from 4K professional broadcast and A/V equipment to industry leading 4K and 8K Ultra HD TVs. Visit http://www.sony.com/news for more information.
For the first time ever, "Shot for SCREENX" captures filmmaker Destin Daniel Cretton's creative vision, in collaboration with Sony Pictures Entertainment, presenting a unique version of the film specifically designed for panoramic SCREENX auditoriums
, /PRNewswire/ -- CJ 4DPLEX, the world's leading producer of premium cinema formats and immersive theater experiences, announced today that Sony Pictures' highly anticipated Spider-Man: Brand New Day, directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, has been "Shot for SCREENX" as the company rolls out a brand new initiative for the company's immersive 270-degree panoramic cinema format.
CJ 4DPLEX ANNOUNCES SONY PICTURES' 'SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY' SHOT FOR SCREENX Sony Pictures' Spider-Man: Brand New Day marks the first time CJ 4DPLEX collaborated with the filmmakers of a Spider-Man film from on-set production through theatrical exhibition, providing them with a new creative canvas. Designed specifically for SCREENX, the experience is an authentic extension of the filmmakers' vision that further brings fans into the world of Spider-Man™, surrounding audiences in ways uniquely possible in SCREENX auditoriums.
"CJ 4DPLEX and their team came to the set of Spider-Man: Brand New Day to shoot footage that you will experience specifically for SCREENX auditoriums," said Destin Daniel Cretton. "This is something truly unique."
"Shot for SCREENX represents an exciting evolution for our format," said Jun Bang, CEO, CJ 4DPLEX. "By working closely with Sony Pictures and Destin Daniel Cretton, and by utilizing our proprietary SCREENX production tools and presentation technology, we are able to expand the film's visual canvas while preserving the director's creative vision. Our goal is to create a more encompassing experience that brings audiences closer to the story, the action, and the world of Spider-Man."
"Sony Pictures and filmmaker Destin Daniel Cretton have been exceptional partners to CJ 4DPLEX, and Spider-Man represents the kind of event franchise that demonstrates the power of premium theatrical formats," said Don Savant, CEO & President, Americas, CJ 4DPLEX. "We're proud to continue our collaboration on Sony Pictures' Spider-Man: Brand New Day with a SCREENX presentation that celebrates the scale, energy and emotional depth of this beloved character in a way uniquely suited for the theatrical environment."
Advance tickets for Sony Pictures' Spider-Man: Brand New Day in SCREENX are now on sale at participating theater circuit websites and ticketing platforms including SCREENXtickets.com. Fans are encouraged to buy tickets early for the enhanced presentation, available for a limited theatrical run in select SCREENX auditoriums nationwide and internationally.
SCREENX is the world's first multi-projection cinema format, expanding select scenes of a film beyond the traditional frame and onto the side walls of the theater to create a 270-degree panoramic viewing environment. By surrounding audiences with imagery curated specifically for the format, SCREENX places moviegoers at the center of the story and delivers a theatrical experience that cannot be replicated at home.
Together, CJ 4DPLEX and Sony Pictures continue to advance the premium moviegoing experience, offering audiences innovative ways to experience major blockbuster films on the big screen.
About CJ 4DPLEX
CJ 4DPLEX is a proud subsidiary of CJ Group, Korea's leading lifestyle and culture company. Headquartered in Sangam, Seoul, we design and develop immersive cinema technologies that inspire audiences worldwide. Guided by creativity, technology, and cultural vision, we are committed to redefining the future of cinema starting right here in Korea.
CJ 4DPLEX is redefining the moviegoing experience across many countries worldwide, working with the world's top exhibitors to deliver SCREENX, 4DX and ULTRA 4DX to audiences everywhere. From the United States to Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, our global presence keeps growing driven by our mission to make immersive storytelling the standard in cinema. Innovation drives us to connect people beyond language and borders through shared experiences.
About SCREENX
SCREENX is the world's most immersive platform, breaking free from the boundaries of a single screen to place audiences at the heart of the story.
With visuals flowing seamlessly across the walls, SCREENX connects film and space, creating moments of true natural immersion. Every sequence is curated to reflect the director's vision, turning each film into a journey only SCREENX can deliver.
CJ 4DPLEX can be found at www.cj4dplex.com.
About Sony Pictures' Spider-Man: Brand New Day
It's a BRAND NEW DAY for Peter Parker. Fighting crime full-time as Spider-Man in a world that doesn't remember him—and the pressure of seeing his old friends move on without him—sparks a change in Peter he may not have the power to control. But that transformation might also be the only thing that can stop a shocking new threat to the city and those he loves - a powerful villain no one can even see.
The world may have forgotten Peter Parker, but he hasn't forgotten them.
Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, the film is written by Chris McKenna & Erik Sommers and Justin Kuritzkes. Based on the MARVEL Comic Book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, Kevin Feige, p.g.a., Amy Pascal, p.g.a., Avi Arad and Rachel O'Connor, p.g.a. produced the film. Executive Producers are Louis D'Esposito and David Cain. The film stars Tom Holland, Zendaya, Sadie Sink, Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal, Tramell Tillman, Michael Mando and Mark Ruffalo. Credits not final.
On June 22, 2026, Sony Group Corp SONY shares fell 4.0% today, closing at $19.51. This decline comes as the stock has seen considerable volatility, with a 52-week range of $19.47 to $30.34.
GF Value™ verdict: Current price of $19.51 is 6.3% below the GF Value™ of $20.82.GF Score™: 79/100, indicating above-average potential based on GuruFocus' proprietary metrics.Most notable signal: Insider activity shows that insiders sold $10.5M of shares in the last 3 months with no buying reported. Is SONY Overvalued or Undervalued? Currently, Sony Group Corp SONY is trading at $19.51, which is below the GF Value™ of $20.82, indicating that the stock is 6.3% undervalued. This presents a margin of safety for potential investors, as the stock price is anticipated to rise closer to its intrinsic value. The GF Valuation label categorizes the stock as fairly valued, suggesting that while there is an opportunity, caution is warranted due to the current downward momentum observed in the stock's price action.
GF Value™ is GuruFocus' proprietary measure of intrinsic value, calculated from historical trading multiples, past business growth, and future performance estimates. As such, while the undervaluation indicates potential upside, the recent price drop may reflect underlying issues that investors should consider before making decisions.
How Does SONY's Valuation Compare to Its History? Metric Current Historical P/E (TTM) 14.7x 16.4x Currently, Sony's forward P/E of 14.7x is below its 5-year median P/E of 16.4x, indicating that the stock is trading below its historical valuation levels. This analysis agrees with the GF Value™ verdict of undervaluation, suggesting that the current price presents a favorable entry point relative to the company's historical earnings metrics.
What Does SONY's GF Score™ Tell Us? Metric Rating GF Score™ 79/100 Financial Strength 8/10 Profitability 8/10 Growth 7/10 Valuation 9/10 Momentum 2/10 The GF Score™ of 79/100 indicates that Sony is in a solid position overall, especially in terms of Financial Strength (8/10) and Profitability (8/10). The Valuation score of 9/10 further emphasizes that the stock is undervalued based on its fundamentals. However, the Momentum rank of 2/10 highlights potential concerns about the stock's recent performance, suggesting that while the fundamentals are strong, the current market conditions may present challenges.
What Are Insiders Doing with SONY Stock? Insider activity at Sony Group Corp has shown a notable trend, with insiders selling $10.5 million worth of shares over the last three months without any reported buying. This pattern may suggest a lack of confidence among insiders regarding the near-term performance of the stock, which could be a red flag for potential investors. Such selling could indicate that insiders believe the stock may not rebound significantly in the short term.
What This Means for Investors Based on the analysis, Sony Group Corp SONY is currently undervalued according to GF Value™, presenting a potential opportunity for investors who are willing to consider the associated risks, including recent momentum concerns and insider selling trends.
For the complete analysis, visit the Sony Group Corp SONY stock page. You can also explore the GF Value™ page for detailed valuation methodology, or use the GuruFocus Stock Screener to find similar opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions What is SONY's GF Score™?
SONY's GF Score™ is 79/100, indicating that the stock has above-average potential based on key metrics assessed by GuruFocus.
Is SONY overvalued or undervalued?
SONY is currently undervalued, trading at $19.51, which is 6.3% below the GF Value™ of $20.82.
What is SONY's P/E ratio?
SONY's forward P/E ratio is 14.7x, which is lower than its 5-year median P/E of 16.4x, suggesting it is trading below its historical valuation levels.
This stock alert was generated using automated technology and GuruFocus financial data to provide readers with timely and accurate market reporting. This content was reviewed by GuruFocus editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].
Sony (SONY - Free Report) closed the most recent trading day at $19.51, moving -4.03% from the previous trading session. This change lagged the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.37%. Elsewhere, the Dow gained 0.29%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq lost 1.33%.
The stock of electronics and media company has fallen by 8.18% in the past month, lagging the Consumer Discretionary sector's gain of 1.15% and the S&P 500's gain of 2.02%.
Market participants will be closely following the financial results of Sony in its upcoming release. The company's earnings per share (EPS) are projected to be $0.13, reflecting a 38.1% decrease from the same quarter last year. In the meantime, our current consensus estimate forecasts the revenue to be $17.99 billion, indicating a 4.29% growth compared to the corresponding quarter of the prior year.
For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of $1.28 per share and revenue of $78.5 billion, which would represent changes of +12.28% and -5.31%, respectively, from the prior year.
Investors should also take note of any recent adjustments to analyst estimates for Sony. These revisions help to show the ever-changing nature of near-term business trends. Consequently, upward revisions in estimates express analysts' positivity towards the business operations and its ability to generate profits.
Based on our research, we believe these estimate revisions are directly related to near-term stock moves. Investors can capitalize on this by using the Zacks Rank. This model considers these estimate changes and provides a simple, actionable rating system.
The Zacks Rank system, stretching from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), has a noteworthy track record of outperforming, validated by third-party audits, with stocks rated #1 producing an average annual return of +25% since the year 1988. Within the past 30 days, our consensus EPS projection has moved 0.19% lower. At present, Sony boasts a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
From a valuation perspective, Sony is currently exchanging hands at a Forward P/E ratio of 15.85. This denotes a premium relative to the industry average Forward P/E of 12.67.
One should further note that SONY currently holds a PEG ratio of 1.62. The PEG ratio is similar to the widely-used P/E ratio, but this metric also takes the company's expected earnings growth rate into account. Audio Video Production stocks are, on average, holding a PEG ratio of 1.62 based on yesterday's closing prices.
The Audio Video Production industry is part of the Consumer Discretionary sector. This group has a Zacks Industry Rank of 184, putting it in the bottom 25% of all 250+ industries.
The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
To follow SONY in the coming trading sessions, be sure to utilize Zacks.com.
The recommendations of Wall Street analysts are often relied on by investors when deciding whether to buy, sell, or hold a stock. Media reports about these brokerage-firm-employed (or sell-side) analysts changing their ratings often affect a stock's price. Do they really matter, though?
Before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage, let's see what these Wall Street heavyweights think about Sony (SONY - Free Report) .
Sony currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.42, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 12 brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.42 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.
Of the 12 recommendations that derive the current ABR, nine are Strong Buy and one is Buy. Strong Buy and Buy respectively account for 75% and 8.3% of all recommendations.
Brokerage Recommendation Trends for SONY
Check price target & stock forecast for Sony here>>>
While the ABR calls for buying Sony, it may not be wise to make an investment decision solely based on this information. Several studies have shown limited to no success of brokerage recommendations in guiding investors to pick stocks with the best price increase potential.
Do you wonder why? As a result of the vested interest of brokerage firms in a stock they cover, their analysts tend to rate it with a strong positive bias. According to our research, brokerage firms assign five "Strong Buy" recommendations for every "Strong Sell" recommendation.
In other words, their interests aren't always aligned with retail investors, rarely indicating where the price of a stock could actually be heading. Therefore, the best use of this information could be validating your own research or an indicator that has proven to be highly successful in predicting a stock's price movement.
Zacks Rank, our proprietary stock rating tool with an impressive externally audited track record, categorizes stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), and is an effective indicator of a stock's price performance in the near future. Therefore, using the ABR to validate the Zacks Rank could be an efficient way of making a profitable investment decision.
Zacks Rank Should Not Be Confused With ABRIn spite of the fact that Zacks Rank and ABR both appear on a scale from 1 to 5, they are two completely different measures.
The ABR is calculated solely based on brokerage recommendations and is typically displayed with decimals (example: 1.28). In contrast, the Zacks Rank is a quantitative model allowing investors to harness the power of earnings estimate revisions. It is displayed in whole numbers -- 1 to 5.
Analysts employed by brokerage firms have been and continue to be overly optimistic with their recommendations. Since the ratings issued by these analysts are more favorable than their research would support because of the vested interest of their employers, they mislead investors far more often than they guide.
In contrast, the Zacks Rank is driven by earnings estimate revisions. And near-term stock price movements are strongly correlated with trends in earnings estimate revisions, according to empirical research.
In addition, the different Zacks Rank grades are applied proportionately to all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide current-year earnings estimates. In other words, this tool always maintains a balance among its five ranks.
Another key difference between the ABR and Zacks Rank is freshness. The ABR is not necessarily up-to-date when you look at it. But, since brokerage analysts keep revising their earnings estimates to account for a company's changing business trends, and their actions get reflected in the Zacks Rank quickly enough, it is always timely in indicating future price movements.
Is SONY Worth Investing In?Looking at the earnings estimate revisions for Sony, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has remained unchanged over the past month at $1.29.
Analysts' steady views regarding the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by an unchanged consensus estimate, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Sony. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>
It may therefore be prudent to be a little cautious with the Buy-equivalent ABR for Sony.
Sony's music and image sensor businesses are becoming increasingly important drivers of profitability, reducing reliance on cyclical consumer electronics revenue. SONY delivered record operating income in FY2025, supported by margin expansion and strong performance across Music and Imaging & Sensing Solutions. Management views memory costs and AI-related concerns as manageable risks already incorporated into planning assumptions through FY2027.
BRIDGEWATER, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- #ConsumerElectronics--The MIPI Alliance announced Sony Semiconductor Solutions was approved as its newest Promoter member. Hiroo Takahashi joins the board of directors.
Sony (SONY - Free Report) closed at $20.53 in the latest trading session, marking a -2.93% move from the prior day. This move lagged the S&P 500's daily gain of 0.5%. Elsewhere, the Dow saw an upswing of 0.7%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq appreciated by 0.31%.
Prior to today's trading, shares of the electronics and media company had lost 4.39% lagged the Consumer Discretionary sector's gain of 1.82% and the S&P 500's loss of 0.23%.
The investment community will be paying close attention to the earnings performance of Sony in its upcoming release. The company is expected to report EPS of $0.13, down 38.1% from the prior-year quarter. At the same time, our most recent consensus estimate is projecting a revenue of $17.99 billion, reflecting a 4.29% rise from the equivalent quarter last year.
Looking at the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates suggest analysts are expecting earnings of $1.28 per share and revenue of $78.5 billion. These totals would mark changes of +12.28% and -5.31%, respectively, from last year.
Any recent changes to analyst estimates for Sony should also be noted by investors. These latest adjustments often mirror the shifting dynamics of short-term business patterns. As such, positive estimate revisions reflect analyst optimism about the business and profitability.
Our research demonstrates that these adjustments in estimates directly associate with imminent stock price performance. Investors can capitalize on this by using the Zacks Rank. This model considers these estimate changes and provides a simple, actionable rating system.
The Zacks Rank system, which ranges from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. The Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 0.58% lower within the past month. Sony presently features a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
In the context of valuation, Sony is at present trading with a Forward P/E ratio of 16.49. This represents a premium compared to its industry average Forward P/E of 12.86.
Meanwhile, SONY's PEG ratio is currently 1.68. The PEG ratio bears resemblance to the frequently used P/E ratio, but this parameter also includes the company's expected earnings growth trajectory. The Audio Video Production was holding an average PEG ratio of 1.68 at yesterday's closing price.
The Audio Video Production industry is part of the Consumer Discretionary sector. At present, this industry carries a Zacks Industry Rank of 176, placing it within the bottom 28% of over 250 industries.
The Zacks Industry Rank assesses the vigor of our specific industry groups by computing the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks incorporated in the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
Make sure to utilize Zacks.com to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and more, in the coming trading sessions.
Taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for new and old investors, and Zacks Premium offers many different ways to do both.
The popular research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor, giving you access to daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens.
Zacks Premium includes access to the Zacks Style Scores as well.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F. The better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform; an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreFor value investors, it's all about finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value before the broader market catches on. The Value Style Score utilizes ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to help pick out the most attractive and discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreWhile good value is important, growth investors are more focused on a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score takes projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow into account to uncover stocks that will see long-term, sustainable growth.
Momentum ScoreMomentum investors, who live by the saying "the trend is your friend," are most interested in taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Utilizing one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, among other factors, the Momentum Style Score can help determine favorable times to buy high-momentum stocks.
VGM ScoreWhat if you like to use all three types of investing? The VGM Score is a combination of all Style Scores, making it one of the most comprehensive indicators to use with the Zacks Rank. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, which helps narrow down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors build a successful portfolio.
#1 (Strong Buy) stocks have produced an unmatched +23.7% average annual return since 1988, which is more than double the S&P 500's performance over the same time frame. However, the Zacks Rank examines a ton of stocks, and there can be more than 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, and another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
But it can feel overwhelming to pick the right stocks for you and your investing goals with over 800 top-rated stocks to choose from.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
To have the best chance of big returns, you'll want to always consider stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B, which will give you the highest probability of success. If you're looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, it's important they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
As mentioned above, the Scores are designed to work with the Zacks Rank, so any change to a company's earnings outlook should be a deciding factor when picking which stocks to buy.
Here's an example: a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one with Style Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings outlook, and a bigger chance its share price will decrease too.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Sony (SONY - Free Report) Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Sony Group Corporation designs, manufactures and sells several consumer and industrial electronic equipment. The company’s product roster comprises audio and video equipment, televisions, network services, game hardware and software, mobile phones and image sensors. Additionally, Sony is active in the production, acquisition and distribution of recorded music and the management and licensing of the words and music for songs.
SONY is a #2 (Buy) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.
Momentum investors should take note of this Consumer Discretionary stock. SONY has a Momentum Style Score of B, and shares are up 1.1% over the past four weeks.
For fiscal 2027, two analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.05 to $1.34 per share. SONY boasts an average earnings surprise of +32.6%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, SONY should be on investors' short list.
Sony (SONY - Free Report) closed the last trading session at $21.29, gaining 1.1% over the past four weeks, but there could be plenty of upside left in the stock if short-term price targets set by Wall Street analysts are any guide. The mean price target of $29.75 indicates a 39.7% upside potential.
The mean estimate comprises four short-term price targets with a standard deviation of $5.68. While the lowest estimate of $22.00 indicates a 3.3% increase from the current price level, the most optimistic analyst expects the stock to surge 59.7% to reach $34.00. It's very important to note the standard deviation here, as it helps understand the variability of the estimates. The smaller the standard deviation, the greater the agreement among analysts.
While the consensus price target is highly sought after by investors, the ability and unbiasedness of analysts in setting price targets have long been questionable. And investors making investment decisions solely based on this tool would arguably do themselves a disservice.
However, an impressive consensus price target is not the only factor that indicates a potential upside in SONY. This view is strengthened by the agreement among analysts that the company will report better earnings than what they estimated earlier. Though a positive trend in earnings estimate revisions doesn't give any idea as to how much the stock could surge, it has proven effective in predicting an upside.
Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Here's What You Should Know About Analysts' Price TargetsAccording to researchers at several universities across the globe, a price target is one of many pieces of information about a stock that misleads investors far more often than it guides. In fact, empirical research shows that price targets set by several analysts, irrespective of the extent of agreement, rarely indicate where the price of a stock could actually be heading.
While Wall Street analysts have deep knowledge of a company's fundamentals and the sensitivity of its business to economic and industry issues, many of them tend to set overly optimistic price targets. Are you wondering why?
They usually do that to drum up interest in shares of companies that their firms either have existing business relationships with or are looking to be associated with. In other words, business incentives of firms covering a stock often result in inflated price targets set by analysts.
However, a tight clustering of price targets, which is represented by a low standard deviation, indicates that analysts have a high degree of agreement about the direction and magnitude of a stock's price movement. While that doesn't necessarily mean the stock will hit the average price target, it could be a good starting point for further research aimed at identifying the potential fundamental driving forces.
That said, while investors should not entirely ignore price targets, making an investment decision solely based on them could lead to disappointing ROI. So, price targets should always be treated with a high degree of skepticism.
Here's Why There Could be Plenty of Upside Left in SONYThere has been increasing optimism among analysts lately about the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by strong agreement among them in revising EPS estimates higher. And that could be a legitimate reason to expect an upside in the stock. After all, empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
For the current year, two estimates have moved higher over the last 30 days compared to no negative revision. As a result, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased 3.5%.
Moreover, SONY currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), which means it is in the top 20% of more than 4,000 stocks that we rank based on four factors related to earnings estimates. Given an impressive externally-audited track record, this is a more conclusive indication of the stock's potential upside in the near term. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
Therefore, while the consensus price target may not be a reliable indicator of how much SONY could gain, the direction of price movement it implies does appear to be a good guide.
66.8-megapixel full-frame mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera offering the highest resolution and
continuous shooting performance in the Alpha™ series[1]
, /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Electronics introduces the Alpha 7R VI, the sixth generation of its celebrated Alpha 7R series. Built on the series' legacy of leading resolution, this full-frame mirrorless camera pairs an approximately 66.8 effective megapixel back-illuminated fully-stacked Exmor RS™ CMOS sensor with the new BIONZ XR2™ engine. The result: exceptional resolution, accurate color, and reliable performance across subjects ranging from people in motion to wildlife to expansive landscapes.
Sony Electronics Accelerates High-Resolution Photography with the Alpha 7R VI Sony also introduces the XLR-A4 XLR adaptor to expand on-camera audio capabilities for professional productions, including 32-bit float recording [2].
"The Alpha 7R series stands for image quality you can trust on screen, in print, and in the most demanding conditions. The Alpha 7R VI takes that further with the speed, intelligence, battery life, and viewfinder quality our creators have been asking for. Every decision strengthens what this series does best and makes it work harder for the people who rely on it," said Yang Cheng, Vice President of Imaging Solutions, Sony Electronics Inc.
Alpha 7R VI (ILCE-7RM6), mirrorless interchangeable-lens digital camera; Release date: June 2026; Price: $4,499.99 USD, $5,999.99 CAD XLR-A4, XLR adaptor, Release date: June 2026; Price: $779.99 USD, $1089.99 CAD Alpha 7R VI Product Feature video: https://youtu.be/iDhbKSdqqb8
Alpha 7R VI Key Features
Expanded High-Resolution Shooting
66.8 MP (approximate, effective) full-frame fully-stacked Exmor RS sensor with up to 16 stops[3]of dynamic range and reduced noise in the mid-sensitivity range Precise 5-axis optical image stabilization delivering up to 8.5 stops at the center and 7.0 stops at the periphery[4] Auto White Balance powered by visible light and infrared (IR) sensor and deep-learning illumination estimation, for stable natural color in shaded or indoor scenes Intelligence in Every Frame with High-Speed, High-Precision Continuous Shooting
BIONZ XR2 engine with integrated AI processing unit and approximately 5.6x faster sensor readout than the previous model [5], enabling blackout-free continuous shooting at up to approximately 30 fps[6] delivering up to 60 AF/AE calculations per second with AF/AE tracking Real-time Recognition AF+ (Plus) with skeletal-based human pose estimation and tracking, for reliable focus on fast-moving subjects including athletes and dynamic scenes Built for Professional Demands
New NP-SA100 high-capacity battery (2670 mAh) supports up to 710 still images via LCD monitor or 600 via viewfinder (CIPA standard), reducing battery changes during extended shoots[7] Approximately 9.44M dot OLED viewfinder with a DCI-P3 equivalent color gamut and 10-bit HDR—maximum brightness is approximately three times higher than conventional models [5] for clear visibility in bright environments Effective heat management allows uninterrupted 8K movie recording up to 120 min[8] Dual USB Type-C🄬 ports for simultaneous charging and data transfer; illuminated rear buttons for low-light operation Magnesium alloy for a lightweight and durable body; 4-axis multi-angle LCD monitor for flexible shooting angles; mode-dial "Memory Recall" links shooting setups to customizable buttons [9] Supports Sony's Camera Authenticity Solution, including the C2PA standard, enabling verification that still images and videos were captured with a camera (not AI-generated) Professional Video
8K 30p recording with 8.2K oversampling[10] and full frame 4K 60p and 120p recording without crop[11] Dual Gain Shooting, a first in the Alpha series[12], optimizes sensor performance to reduce noise losing shadow detail for smooth gradation and wide latitude Redesigned in-camera stabilization expands the roll-direction compensation range by 2x[5]; Dynamic active Mode[13] delivers smooth and steady handheld 32-bit float audio internal recording in camera when paired with the XLR-A4 XLR adaptor, eliminating the need for fine adjustment on location[14] Key Features of the XLR-A4 XLR Adaptor
Supports in-camera digital audio recording with up to 4-channel; XLR microphones, such as the ECM-778 (up to 2ch), and connects 3.5 mm stereo mini jack microphones (2ch stereo) via the Multi Interface (MI) Shoe Dual AD converters digitize microphone signals across a wide dynamic range, capturing quiet ambience through loud action with clarity[2] Records digital audio at up to 96kHz 32-bit float 4ch on compatible cameras[2], fully leveraging high-end XLR microphone quality. The 32-bit float format eliminates the need for fine gain adjustment on location, significantly reducing the risk of audio distortion[14] Lower profile height design and a reinforced chassis structure compared to the XLR-K3M, supporting stable shooting across on-location scenarios Supplied shoe audio extension cable allows placement up to approximately 60 cm from the camera; side routing minimizes interference with rigs and accessories USB Audio Class 2.0 compatible; functions as a 96 kHz 24-bit 2ch audio interface when connected to a PC for on-site audio monitoring and editing Optional accessories for Alpha 7R VI (sold separately)
Rechargeable Battery Pack NP-SA100- High-capacity battery with InfoLITHIUM functionality, delivering approximately 1.3x the power capacity of the NP-FZ100 Z-series battery. Integrates with camera power management to optimize endurance and thermal behavior. Includes an in-camera battery deterioration indicator. Available June 2026 Price: $119.99 USD, $169.99 CAD Vertical Grip VG-C6- Ergonomic grip for comfortable vertical or horizontal shooting, housing up to two high-capacity SA-series batteries. Dust- and moisture-resistant construction, equivalent to the camera body. Available: June 2026 Price: $459.99 USD, $649.99 CAD Battery Charger BC-SAD1- Dedicated charger for the SA-type battery NP-SA100. With a USB Power Delivery source of 45 W or higher[15], charges two batteries simultaneously in approximately 115 minutes or one battery to 80% in approximately 55 minutes and full charge in approximately 85 minutes. Displays battery pack deterioration status during charging. Available: June 2026 Price: $139.99 USD, $199.99 CAD DC Coupler DC-C2- Provides stable continuous power via an external USB Power Delivery source of 100 W or higher a USB-C® to USB-C cable.[15] Available: June 2026 Price: $149.99 USD, $209.99 CAD For main specifications and details, please visit the product websites:
Exclusive stories and exciting new content shot with the new Alpha 7R VI, XLR-A4 and Sony's other imaging products can be found at www.alphauniverse.com, a site created to inform, educate, and inspire content creators.
Learn more about the Alpha 7R VI from the newly released in-depth course on AlphaCameraAcademy.com, a free education site for beginner creators.
About Sony Electronics Inc.
Sony Electronics is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America and an affiliate of Sony Group Corporation, one of the most comprehensive entertainment companies in the world, with a portfolio that encompasses electronics, music, motion pictures, mobile, gaming, robotics, and financial services. Headquartered in San Diego, California, Sony Electronics is a leader in electronics for the consumer and professional markets. Operations include research and development, engineering, sales, marketing, distribution, and customer service. Sony Electronics creates products that innovate and inspire generations, such as the award-winning Alpha Interchangeable Lens Cameras and revolutionary high-resolution audio products. Sony is also a leading manufacturer of end-to-end solutions from 4K professional broadcast and A/V equipment to industry-leading 4K and 8K Ultra HD TVs. Visit http://www.sony.com/news for more information.
Notes
[1] As of the announcement in May 2026.
[2] Internal recording in camera. Compatible with Alpha 7R VI. Alpha 7 V will be supported via a software update in or after May.
[3] Approximate. Sony tests. Still images at low sensitivities. Mechanical shutter.
[4] CIPA 2024 standards. Pitch/Yaw/Roll compensation. FE 50mm F1.2 GM lens. Long exposure NR off.
[5] Compared to Alpha 7R V. Sony internal measurement.
[6] [Hi+] continuous shooting mode, electronic shutter. Continuous shooting speed may be lower in some conditions. See Sony's support web page for lens compatibility information: https://www.sony.net/tutorial_ilc_2620/continuousshooting/
[7] Actual performance varies based on settings, environmental conditions, and usage. Battery capacity decreases over time and use.
[8] XAVC HS 8K, 30p 200M 4:2:0 10bit, Temp. setting [High], with monitor open. This is when temperature is 25℃.
[9] By setting the mode dial to [⚹], users are able to change the shooting mode or recall up to 10 settings via the menu and the "Memory Recall function" can be used from the menu screen or custom buttons.
[10] When recording in 8K 30p, the angle of view becomes narrower.
[11] Crop-free full-frame 4K 120p recording is available when [4K angle of View Priority] is set to [On].
[12] Available when recording in 4K at 30p or lower.
[13] Angle of view is reduced more than in Active Mode. Clear Image Zoom is not available when using Dynamic active Mode. 8K and 120 fps or higher
[14] If audio clipping has already occurred at the microphone input stage, it cannot be restored even if the volume is adjusted in post-production.
[15] A USB Power Delivery (PD)-compatible external power supply and USB cable are not included.
Sony's $4 Billion Bet on Rock & Roll RoyaltiesSony NYSE: SONY reported record annual sales and operating profit for fiscal 2025 while outlining a corporate strategy centered on entertainment, intellectual property, creation technology and artificial intelligence.
Hiroki Totoki, Sony Group Corporation’s president and CEO, said the company had an “exceptional year” as it entered the final year of its current Mid-Range Plan. He said Sony is continuing to evolve its business portfolio around its “creative entertainment vision,” which aims to use technology to empower creators, expand experiences across physical and digital spaces and maximize the value of intellectual property.
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Nintendo Stock Falls 20%—But the Rebound Case Is GrowingChief Financial Officer Lin Tao said sales from continuing operations rose 4% year over year to JPY 12,479.6 billion in fiscal 2025. Operating income increased 13% to JPY 1,447.5 billion, with both figures reaching record highs. Net income declined 3% to JPY 1,030.9 billion, which Tao attributed mainly to the absence of a prior-year decrease in tax expense related to the dissolution of a subsidiary.
For fiscal 2026, Sony forecast sales of JPY 12,300 billion, operating income of JPY 1,600 billion and net income of JPY 1,160 billion. The company also expects operating cash flow of JPY 1,500 billion.
Entertainment and IP Remain Central to Strategy $14B Japanese Facility Signals TSMC's Bold AI StrategyTotoki said entertainment, IP and creation technology now represent 67% of Sony’s consolidated sales. He pointed to PlayStation, music, pictures, electronics and imaging sensors as businesses that support the company’s broader entertainment strategy.
In games, Totoki said the PlayStation platform now has more than 125 million active users globally. Tao later said monthly active users across the PlayStation platform in March rose 1% from a year earlier to a record 125 million accounts, while cumulative PlayStation 5 sales exceeded 93 million units at the end of March.
Sony also highlighted anime as an important growth area. Totoki said Crunchyroll now has more than 21 million paid subscribers globally and a library of more than 50,000 episodes, with content subtitled and dubbed in 13 languages. He cited the global success of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Infinity Castle, produced by Aniplex and partners, as evidence of anime’s growth worldwide.
The company has also continued to invest in music and character IP. Totoki noted Sony’s recent agreement with WildBrain to acquire its stake in Peanuts Holdings, increasing Sony’s ownership to 80%. He also cited major music catalog deals involving Pink Floyd and Queen, as well as a recently announced partnership between Sony Music Group and Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC to further build music IP investments.
AI Positioned as Creator Tool, Not Replacement Totoki said artificial intelligence is one of Sony’s most important themes for future growth, particularly in entertainment. He stressed that Sony views AI as a tool to amplify human creativity rather than replace artists or creators.
“Human creativity must remain at the center,” Totoki said. He said AI can help creators pursue more ambitious projects by reducing cost and time constraints, while also supporting production workflows.
At Sony Pictures, Totoki said the company has invested more than $50 million to date in AI capabilities across areas including production planning, content protection, enterprise productivity, data analytics, innovation and 3D conversion. In music, he said Sony Music is pursuing industry-wide standards to label AI content for transparency and is encouraged by companies that recognize the need to respect intellectual property rights.
Hideaki Nishino, president and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, said AI is already being used to support game development and the PlayStation platform. He cited tools such as Mockingbird, which can quickly animate 3D facial models based on performance capture, and another tool that converts videos of hairstyles into 3D hair models. Nishino said these tools are intended to reduce manual work while allowing creators to focus on richer gameplay and worlds.
Nishino also said AI-powered routing of transactions over payment networks generated more than JPY 700 million of incremental revenue over the past three years. He said AI will help PlayStation improve recommendations, personalization and image clarity, including through PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution on the PS5 Pro.
Segment Results Show Strength in Games, Music and Sensors In the Game & Network Services segment, fiscal 2025 sales were essentially flat at JPY 4,685.7 billion as lower PS5 hardware sales were offset by foreign exchange effects and higher revenue from network services and third-party software. Operating income rose 12% to a record JPY 463.3 billion. Tao said operating income would have increased 45% excluding JPY 138.4 billion in one-time items, including impairment charges at Bungie.
For fiscal 2026, Sony forecast Game & Network Services sales of JPY 4,420 billion and operating income of JPY 600 billion. Tao said the forecast includes increased investment in the next-generation platform, while the current business is expected to generate steady double-digit profit growth excluding that factor.
Music sales rose 15% to JPY 2,120.1 billion, and operating income increased 25% to JPY 447 billion. Tao said the segment benefited from higher sales and a revaluation gain related to the acquisition of an additional equity interest in Peanuts Holdings. For fiscal 2026, Sony expects music sales of JPY 2,140 billion and operating income of JPY 400 billion.
Pictures sales were essentially flat at JPY 1,499.3 billion, while operating income fell 11% to JPY 104.9 billion after impairment losses and shutdown costs related to Pixomondo, Sony’s visual effects and virtual production business. Excluding those items, Tao said operating income rose about 13%. Sony forecast fiscal 2026 pictures sales of JPY 1,630 billion and operating income of JPY 145 billion.
In Imaging & Sensing Solutions, sales increased 20% to JPY 2,151.5 billion and operating income rose 37% to a record JPY 357.3 billion, driven by higher average selling prices and higher unit sales of mobile sensors. Sony forecast fiscal 2026 sales of JPY 2,070 billion and operating income of JPY 400 billion.
TSMC Partnership, Memory Costs and Mobility Shift Draw Questions Sony announced a non-binding memorandum of understanding with TSMC to pursue a strategic partnership for next-generation image sensors. Totoki said the proposed joint venture, with Sony as majority and controlling shareholder, would be part of a “fab-lite” strategy intended to reduce capital expenditure burdens and improve profitability while strengthening sensor technology and scale.
In the Q&A session, Totoki said the partnership is not connected to speculation about spinning out the Imaging & Sensing Solutions business. He said the company had not publicly discussed such a spinout and that the TSMC agreement aligns with prior comments about reducing capital intensity.
Sony also addressed rising memory costs driven by AI infrastructure demand. Totoki said Sony Interactive Entertainment expects to contain the negative impact of higher memory costs in the current fiscal year and is negotiating with suppliers for demand beyond the year. Tao said PS5 hardware sales in fiscal 2026 will be based on the volume of memory Sony can procure at reasonable prices, and hardware profitability is expected to be essentially the same as fiscal 2025.
The company also recorded losses tied to Sony Honda Mobility after discontinuing development and production of AFEELA models. Tao said Sony recorded an additional JPY 44.9 billion loss in the fourth quarter under the equity method and incorporated JPY 30 billion of additional losses into its fiscal 2026 forecast.
Sony said it expects to exceed its current Mid-Range Plan targets, with projected average annual operating income growth of 16% and a three-year cumulative operating income margin of 11.7%. The company also announced plans for a JPY 500 billion share repurchase facility in fiscal 2026 and said it intends to raise the annual dividend by JPY 10 to JPY 35.
About Sony NYSE: SONYSony 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.
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Artificial intelligence has notoriously struggled with creating images, writing out gibberish on signs, or adding extra fingers to people. But it doesn’t seem to be much help for photography either—and the internet is having a field day over it.
The official X account for the Sony Xperia smartphone shared examples from its new “AI Camera Assistant” tool, which offers lens, exposure, and color suggestions for users.
While it’s a decent idea in theory, the images shared by the post revealed otherwise.
The X post included a series of before-and-after examples, with the tool appearing to create a comedically overexposed effect.
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In one of the images, a picture of a person in a field is turned from one with depth and contrast into an overly bright photograph.
Another before-and-after combo featured a close-up of a sandwich, with the “after” version reducing the contrast to the point that the image appears to be without depth.
[Screenshot: via X]But while someone clearly thought the images were good enough to post online, the X post quickly backfired, turning its comment section into a flurry of criticisms and mockery, with many posting their own satirical before-and-afters.
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What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores is a unique set of guidelines that rates stocks based on three popular investing types, and were developed as complementary indicators for the Zacks Rank. This combination helps investors choose securities with the highest chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Each stock is given an alphabetic rating of A, B, C, D or F based on their value, growth, and momentum qualities. With this system, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on, meaning the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreValue investors love finding good stocks at good prices, especially before the broader market catches on to a stock's true value. Utilizing ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and many other multiples, the Value Style Score identifies the most attractive and most discounted stocks.
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VGM ScoreWhat if you like to use all three types of investing? The VGM Score is a combination of all Style Scores, making it one of the most comprehensive indicators to use with the Zacks Rank. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, which helps narrow down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank, which is a proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to make building a winning portfolio easier.
Investors can count on the Zacks Rank's success, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.7% average annual return since 1988, more than double the S&P 500's performance. But the model rates a large number of stocks, and there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
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Stock to Watch: Sony (SONY - Free Report) Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Sony Group Corporation designs, manufactures and sells several consumer and industrial electronic equipment. The company’s product roster comprises audio and video equipment, televisions, network services, game hardware and software, mobile phones and image sensors. Additionally, Sony is active in the production, acquisition and distribution of recorded music and the management and licensing of the words and music for songs.
SONY is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.
It also boasts a Value Style Score of B thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 17.06; value investors should take notice.
One analyst revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2027. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.02 to $1.31 per share. SONY boasts an average earnings surprise of +32.6%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, SONY should be on investors' short list.
It’s getting harder to find value within the AI scene these days, especially after the latest spike in the semiconductor stocks. With the iShares Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:SOXX) soaring more than 6% in a single day on Tuesday, it feels like the overheated names are just getting bubblier and bubblier. Of course, there’s still relative value in the semis. But, for the most part, you’re paying historic premiums, and if there’s any hint of a turning of the cycle, investors might be quick to take profits.
Just because AI demand is through the roof doesn’t mean the semis can keep going like this forever. In any case, it’s becoming harder to just keep watching historic gainers in the semi space from the sidelines. Micron (NASDAQ:MU) joining the $1 trillion market cap club was certainly not on the bingo cards of many going into the year.
Sony might be one of the last of the cheap AI plays — a long-term horizon might be needed, though Just because semis are running too hot, potentially fanning bubble fears, though, does not mean there isn’t anything worthy to buy out there in some of the less-obvious corners of the market. Sony (NYSE:SONY | SONY Price Prediction) stands out as more of a hidden gem of an AI beneficiary, while investors ditch the stock over a handful of notable operating stumbles.
Whether we’re talking about the big losses from its Bungie acquisition (active development on its former cash cow Destiny 2 franchise has finally ended) or slowing PlayStation 5 unit sales amid rising component costs due to AI, it feels like Sony is on the wrong side of the AI revolution. Indeed, Sony is feeling the heat as the “memory tax” caused by the rise of AI really takes a bite out of margins.
Still, much of that negativity seems mostly priced into the stock at this point. At the time of this writing, shares of Sony go 16.89 times forward price-to-earnings (P/E). And while price hikes on PlayStation Plus might not be the way around higher DRAM prices or the write-downs over at Bungie, I do think that Sony has more than one way to shift to the right side of the AI boom in the coming years.
Apart from AI’s ability to reduce production timelines and boost productivity in the entertainment segment (Sony is already using “powerful” AI tools to help augment creators), the company could also find itself in the midst of the “physical AI” revolution as robotics takes off, paving the way for greater demand for sensory hardware.
The Taiwan Semiconductor deal could be big Sony is in a rather unique spot, with fab kingpin Taiwan Semiconductor (NYSE:TSM) recently inking an AI sensor deal with Sony. Given Taiwan Semiconductor’s pretty much the chokepoint of the global chip scene, I’d argue that such a move demands investor attention, especially as investors crowd into the obvious trades instead of taking a hint from industry titans as to where the puck could be headed next. Undoubtedly, it’s too soon in the game to think that image sensors are the next DRAM.
As a leader in the space, though, Sony will be ready when the demand wave comes. Given the timing of the Taiwan Semiconductor deal along with Elon Musk’s ambitious Optimus manufacturing timeline, I’d argue that a robotics boom might not be all too far around the corner. The only question is whether there will be enough image sensors to go around.
Of course, Sony has become quite a messy story with the gaming business dragging it down of late. However, in due time, I do expect Sony to be lifted by AI across its segments, from entertainment to image sensors, rather than dragged down by it via the inflation in memory prices. The stock’s down over 26% from its high, but it might be all too long before investors get past that in-line quarter and AI turns from a headwind to a tailwind.
We got an early look at Sony's new True RGB technology during a private briefing in New York, and it could be the biggest advancement in display technology since OLED. By using independently controlled red, green, and blue LEDs in the backlight, Sony claims it can deliver OLED-level contrast and viewing angles with the brightness advantages of Mini LED.
On June 02, 2026, we present a DCF analysis for Sony Group Corp SONY, a company that has experienced a mixed performance in the market recently. Over the past week, the stock has risen by 1.9%, and in the last month, it has gained 14.1%. However, year-to-date, the stock is down by 11.5%, and over the past year, it has also declined by 11.0%. Here are some key points from our analysis:
DCF Earnings-based intrinsic value of $33.48 vs current price of $22.57 (margin of safety: 44.5%) DCF FCF-based intrinsic value of $21.64 vs current price (second opinion indicates fair valued) GF Score™ of 78/100 suggests a reliable DCF input assessment What Is SONY Worth? DCF Earnings-Based Model To determine the intrinsic value of Sony Group Corp, we utilized a two-stage DCF model. The first stage considers a growth phase lasting ten years, during which we expect earnings per share (EPS) to grow at a rate of 19.1% annually. The second stage accounts for a terminal growth phase, where we anticipate a more modest growth rate of 4% for the subsequent ten years. The discount rate applied to both stages is 11%, derived from the risk-free rate and equity risk premium.
Parameter Value Current EPS (TTM, excl. non-recurring) $1.14 10-Year Growth Rate 19.1% 10-Year Treasury Rate 4.43% Discount Rate (ceil(Treasury) + 6%) 11% Terminal Growth Rate 4% The calculation summary for the DCF model is as follows:
Stage Description Value Growth Stage (Years 1-10) EPS growing at 19.1%, discounted at 11% $17.11 Terminal Stage (Years 11-20) 4% terminal growth, discounted at 11% $16.37 Intrinsic Value Growth + Terminal $33.48 With the current price at $22.57, the intrinsic value of $40.65 indicates that the stock is significantly undervalued, presenting a margin of safety of 44.5%. It is important to note that GuruFocus utilizes EPS without non-recurring items, as research suggests that stock prices correlate more closely with earnings than with free cash flow. For further details, you can access the SONY DCF Calculator.
What Does the Free Cash Flow DCF Say? In addition to the earnings-based DCF model, we also analyzed Sony's intrinsic value using a Free Cash Flow (FCF) DCF model. The FCF-based intrinsic value is calculated at $21.64, which indicates a slight disagreement with the earnings-based valuation. The FCF model suggests that the stock is fair valued, with a margin of safety of -4.3%.
How Does GF Value™ Compare to the DCF Models? The GF Value™ for Sony Group Corp is calculated at $19.55, providing a third perspective on the company's valuation. GF Value™ is GuruFocus' proprietary measure derived from historical trading multiples, past business growth, and future performance estimates. When comparing the three models, we observe that the earnings-based DCF indicates significant undervaluation, while the FCF model suggests fair valuation, and the GF Value™ indicates that the stock is overvalued. For more insights, visit the GF Value™ page.
What Does SONY's GF Score™ Tell Us? The GF Score™ ranks stocks from 0 to 100 based on five key aspects: Financial Strength, Profitability, Growth, Valuation, and Momentum. Stocks with higher GF Score™ values have been found to generate higher long-term returns based on backtested data from 2006 to 2021. Below is the GF Score™ breakdown for Sony:
Metric Rating GF Score™ 78/100 Financial Strength 8/10 Profitability 8/10 Growth 8/10 Valuation 7/10 Momentum 1/10 With a predictability rank of 1/5 stars, it indicates that the DCF model may be less reliable for this stock. For more information, visit the SONY stock page.
Key Assumptions and Limitations It is essential to recognize that DCF models are highly sensitive to the assumptions made regarding growth rates and discount rates. Stocks with low predictability ratings, such as Sony's, tend to produce less reliable DCF estimates. The terminal growth rate of 4% is a simplifying assumption that may not reflect future market conditions accurately.
What This Means for Investors In synthesizing the three valuation models—DCF earnings, DCF FCF, and GF Value™—we find a mixed consensus on Sony's valuation. The earnings-based DCF suggests the stock is significantly undervalued, while the FCF model indicates fair valuation, and the GF Value™ suggests overvaluation. Overall, investors should approach SONY with caution given the discrepancies among the valuation models.
For the full DCF analysis, visit the SONY DCF Calculator. You can also explore the GF Value™ page, or use the GuruFocus Stock Screener to find undervalued predictable companies.
Frequently Asked Questions What is SONY's intrinsic value based on DCF?
[Answer: earnings-based $40.65, FCF-based $21.64]
Is SONY overvalued or undervalued?
[Answer using DCF + GF Value™ consensus]
How reliable is the DCF model for SONY?
[Answer using predictability rank 1/5]
This stock alert was generated using automated technology and GuruFocus financial data to provide readers with timely and accurate market reporting. This content was reviewed by GuruFocus editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].
Disclosures I/We may personally own shares in some of the companies mentioned above. However, those positions are not material to either the company or to my/our portfolios.
The Company is "Empowering Creativity, Enhancing Spaces" Across Hybrid Work Environments, Classrooms, Installations, Public Venues, and Retail Establishments
, /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Electronics is showcasing its vast portfolio of professional AV solutions June 17-19, 2026, at InfoComm in Las Vegas, at booth C8301. Attendees can expect to see Sony's lineup of scalable innovations, including BRAVIA Professional LCD displays, Crystal LED video walls, business projectors, and SRG pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras in experiential settings, in addition to the company's expanding partner network. Visitors will get a real-world glimpse of use cases across a variety of verticals including corporate, education, command & control, retail, as well as applications such as virtual production, AV broadcast, and digital signage.
Sony Electronics is showcasing its vast portfolio of professional AV solutions June 17-19, 2026, at InfoComm in Las Vegas, at booth C8301. Attendees can expect to see Sony’s lineup of scalable innovations, including BRAVIA Professional LCD displays, Crystal LED video walls, business projectors, and SRG pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras in experiential settings, in addition to the company’s expanding partner network. "At InfoComm 2026, Sony's booth is where creativity meets innovation," said Rich Ventura, Vice President, Professional Display Solutions, Sony Electronics. "We're pleased to strengthen our AV offerings and join our industry partners, customers, and friends to connect and collaborate. Visitors can expect to see several new pro AV products making their debut at the show, as well as immersive hands-on experiences, a sustainability showcase, and a powerful ecosystem of open solutions designed to elevate spaces and enhance integration – all while solving users' everyday challenges."
Highlights of Sony's presence at InfoComm include:
Products
BRAVIA Professional Displays
See Sony's latest BRAVIA Professional Display portfolio, including the recently launched BZ-P Series, which features 16 new 4K HDR models across BZ40P (flagship), BZ35P (enhanced), and BZ30P (core) lines. Available in sizes from 43 to 85 inches with up to 700 nits of brightness, the lineup delivers superior image quality, excellent visibility and usability, proven reliability, and improved energy efficiency when compared to previous models. All BZ‑P Series displays feature Sony's AI‑powered XR signal processing and Deep Black Non‑Glare technology to reduce reflections and maintain high contrast, even in bright spaces.
Crystal LED Displays
Show attendees will have access to several models in Sony's expanding Crystal LED family of direct view LED (dvLED) displays, optimized for different use cases. Visitors will experience the latest entries in the growing portfolio, as well as showstopping mainstays like the flagship 4K Crystal LED CH/BH Series modular display and Crystal LED VERONA purpose-built for virtual production.
Guests will also get a chance to see the new Crystal LED S Series, a mid‑market dvLED display line that delivers 800 cd/m² brightness, accurate color, ease of deployment, and low reflection. The two S Series models are slim, scalable, and energy‑efficient, while offering flexible installation and are optimized for showcasing information in corporate, education, and commercial environments.
Sony will also show the Crystal LED CAPRI with a maximum brightness of 1,500 cd/m2, a P2.5mm LED pitch size, high refresh rates and brightness, a wide color gamut, anti-reflection, and streamlined maintenance. The accessible model will be highlighted for corporate and higher education virtual production setups in conjunction with Sony's PTZ cameras, Virtual Production Tool Set, and XYN Motion Studio demonstrating the company's connected virtual production ecosystem.
AI-Enabled PTZ Cameras
Two new compact, lightweight 4K PTZ models—the SRG-AS10 and SRG-XS10—feature 4K 60p support, a 1/2.8‑type 4K STARVIS™ image sensor for clear, low‑light performance, and smooth pan/tilt operation for natural motion. Additional highlights include flexible installation, high‑quality video capture, extensive protocol support for simplified installation, and 10x optical zoom in 4K and up to 20x zoom in Full HD.
The SRG-AS10 includes AI-supported PTZ Auto Framing, enabling automatic subject recognition, tracking, and natural composition with less manual input. Advanced modes include Multi‑person Framing (up to eight people) for meetings and events, and Ball Sports (Basketball) Mode, which tracks players and ball movement for automated sports capture.
The established AI-powered SRG-A40/A12 PTZ cameras recently added a new Ver. 4 firmware update which will also be demonstrated to attendees. Key enhancements include Ball Sports (Basketball) Mode, optical image stabilization, real-time overlay capabilities, and more powerful facial recognition for registered individuals.
Solutions and Integrations
Device Provisioning and Management Tools
Experience Sony's suite of provisioning and management tools at InfoComm 2026. These include: Zero Touch Provisioning that automates the entire provisioning process — from initial setup to app deployment — without the need for a remote control, as well as the Device Management Platform, the company's full-featured device management solution which provides alerts, insights, and automation, and the Device Provisioning Tool, a free cloud service dedicated to device provisioning.
Control Solutions
Experience the showcase of comprehensive control solutions to fit any environment, across Sony's professional displays, direct view LEDs and PTZ cameras. The company prioritizes alignment with industry-standard control solutions, supports open-source control, and offers a ready-to-use Sony official mobile app, IP Remote[1], to meet the needs of real-world control integration with minimal barriers.
For more information, please visit: https://pro.sony/infocomm. Schedule a meeting with Sony at https://pro.sony/ue_US/infocomm-2026-registration-form. Follow the company on social media: LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
About Sony Electronics Inc.
Sony Electronics is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America and an affiliate of Sony Group Corporation, one of the most comprehensive entertainment companies in the world, with a portfolio that encompasses electronics, music, motion pictures, mobile, gaming, robotics and financial services. Headquartered in San Diego, California, Sony Electronics is a leader in electronics for the consumer and professional markets. Operations include research and development, engineering, sales, marketing, distribution and customer service. Sony Electronics creates products that innovate and inspire generations, such as the award-winning Alpha Interchangeable Lens Cameras and revolutionary high-resolution audio products. Sony is also a leading manufacturer of end-to-end solutions from 4K professional broadcast and A/V equipment to industry leading 4K and 8K Ultra HD TVs. Visit http://www.sony.com/news for more information.
1 Download IP Remote app at Google Play and the App Store. Network services, content, and operating system and software subject to terms and conditions and may be changed, interrupted or discontinued at any time and may require fees, registration and credit card information.
Dubbed “The Internet’s Delete Button,” Midnight Labs is the first enforcement platform to deliver court-admissible evidence at scale, with 2.8 billion takedowns and counting
DUBLIN, TOKYO & SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Midnight Labs, the market leader in predictive IP protection for entertainment, gaming and content industries, today announced an investment from the Sony Innovation Fund. The investment will fuel the expansion of Midnight Labs’ agentic Enforcement Engine to protect high-value entertainment IP from mass piracy, deepfakes and AI-generated infringement in the U.S. and Japanese markets.
Midnight Labs, the Internet's Delete Button, secures the full IP chain against generative AI misuse, deepfakes and piracy, including creator content, brand identity, NILV, character likeness, studio assets, and audio/video content, including live streams.
Share Video piracy alone will drive an estimated $125 billion in annual revenue leakage by 2028. Dubbed “The Internet’s Delete Button,” Midnight Labs delivers automated enforcement workflows that once took weeks in minutes, performing 120 hours of scanning, detection, analysis, verification and removal in just 60 seconds. To date, Midnight Labs has removed more than 2.8 billion pieces of infringing content, protecting the world's largest streaming platforms, podcast networks, talent agencies and Fortune 100 executives. Through its creator-focused product, Ceartas (/ˈkar-tɪs/, the Irish word for justice), Midnight Labs also protects the world's biggest content creators and creator-economy brands. Unlike traditional legacy solutions that focus on counterfeit goods, Midnight Labs focuses on the content that most directly undermines revenue and erodes reputation, including pirated films, leaked music, cloned livestreams, and weaponized deepfakes targeting talent and executives.
“Generative AI has industrialized piracy, exposing IP holders to both financial loss and real-time reputational damage,” said Dan Purcell, CEO and founder of Midnight Labs. “A single deepfake of a CEO, created in seconds and distributed across thousands of sites, can cause immediate, catastrophic harm before a legal team can even open a ticket. Traditional digital rights management built on manual processes simply cannot keep pace with AI-generated infringement, leaving legal and content protection teams overwhelmed. We make enforcement autonomous by scanning, detecting, proving and removing stolen content faster than it can spread, returning control to IP holders over their content, reputation and revenue. The backing of Sony Innovation Fund accelerates that mission.”
Court-Admissible Evidence at Scale.
Midnight Labs is the first enforcement platform that integrates legal-grade evidence collection directly into an automated pipeline. The platform backs every takedown with a forensic evidence bundle, including time-stamped screenshots, cryptographic hashes, HTML source archives and full network records. This approach turns enforcement from a reactive legal chore into a proactive asset for rights holders and ensures IP holders receive litigation-ready documentation without manual work.
Protecting the Full IP Chain.
Midnight Labs secures the full IP chain against generative AI misuse, deepfakes and piracy, including creator content, brand identity, NILV (Name/Image/Likeness/Voice), character likeness, studio assets, and audio/video content, including live streams. The platform continuously scans more than 75 million sources, including the dark web and non-compliant platforms, identifies threats in real time and automates takedowns, filings and compliance workflows. Critically, Midnight Labs does not rely on external AI models, ensuring full privacy, security and control of sensitive material.
Market Expansion in Japan and APAC.
Manga remains the most pirated content globally, and sophisticated digital piracy syndicates operate at unprecedented scale in Japan, making the country uniquely vulnerable to AI-generated copyright infringement. The investment from the Sony Innovation Fund accelerates Midnight Labs’ expansion in Japan and across APAC, giving the company a stronghold to dismantle these networks by removing content and neutralizing threats before damage spreads.
“Midnight Labs is tackling an important and increasingly complex problem for the creative industries. We are pleased to support the team and look forward to collaborating as they build solutions for rights holders worldwide,” said Antonio Avitabile, Managing Director, Sony Ventures EMEA.
About Midnight Labs
Midnight Labs is the enterprise leader in AI-powered IP protection, trusted by the world's largest streaming platforms, entertainment studios, podcast networks, talent agencies, and Fortune 100 executives. The company has removed over 2.8 billion pieces of infringing content across gaming, anime, manga, film, sports, music and live streaming.
Headquartered in Dublin, Midnight Labs is a Google Trusted Copyright Removal Program partner and a privately held company backed by Sony Innovation Fund, Airbridge Equity Partners, Earlybird VC, and Upside VC. Follow Midnight Labs on LinkedIn or learn more at https://midnightlabs.ai.
About Ceartas
Ceartas (/ˈkar-tɪs/), the Irish word for justice, is the creator-focused product of Midnight Labs, protecting the world's biggest content creators and creator-economy brands from impersonation, piracy, and deepfakes. Founded to fight exploitation and protect victims of non-consensual content, Ceartas empowers creators and agencies with seamless global protection. Follow Ceartas on LinkedIn or learn more at https://ceartas.io.
For new and old investors, taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals. Zacks Premium provides lots of different ways to do both.
The popular research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor, giving you access to daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens.
It also includes access to the Zacks Style Scores.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F. The better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform; an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreFinding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value, are what value investors like to focus on. So, the Value Style Score takes into account ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to highlight the most attractive and discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreWhile good value is important, growth investors are more focused on a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score takes projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow into account to uncover stocks that will see long-term, sustainable growth.
Momentum ScoreMomentum trading is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook, and these investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." The Momentum Style Score can pinpoint good times to build a position in a stock, using factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates.
VGM ScoreIf you like to use all three kinds of investing, then the VGM Score is for you. It's a combination of all Style Scores, and is an important indicator to use with the Zacks Rank. The VGM Score rates each stock on their shared weighted styles, narrowing down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors build a successful portfolio.
It's highly successful, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.7% average annual return since 1988. That's more than double the S&P 500. But because of the large number of stocks we rate, there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
This totals more than 800 top-rated stocks, and it can be overwhelming to try and pick the best stocks for you and your portfolio.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
To have the best chance of big returns, you'll want to always consider stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B, which will give you the highest probability of success. If you're looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, it's important they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
Since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank, the direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy.
A stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, for instance, even one with Scores of A and B, will still have a declining earnings forecast, and a greater chance its share price will fall too.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Sony (SONY - Free Report) Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Sony Group Corporation designs, manufactures and sells several consumer and industrial electronic equipment. The company’s product roster comprises audio and video equipment, televisions, network services, game hardware and software, mobile phones and image sensors. Additionally, Sony is active in the production, acquisition and distribution of recorded music and the management and licensing of the words and music for songs.
SONY is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.
It also boasts a Value Style Score of B thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 17.04; value investors should take notice.
One analyst revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2027, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.01 to $1.30 per share. SONY also boasts an average earnings surprise of +32.6%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, SONY should be on investors' short list.
Sony believes it has found the future of TV technology with True RGB, a new display system that uses independently controlled red, green, and blue LEDs to deliver richer colors, better viewing angles, and brighter images. After getting an early hands-on look in New York, I break down how True RGB works, why it matters, and what to expect from Sony's new Bravia 9 II and Bravia 7 II TVs.
Sony has had trouble keeping many key elements of Spider-Man: Brand New Day under wraps, from its added cast members to its initial trailer leaking well before release. Now, it has suffered a second trailer leak, this one worse than the first.
The problem is that the new Spider-Man: Brand New Day trailer is in incredibly high quality, and despite a red X and “property of Sony” stamped on it, is practically ready for release, it seems. I won’t post it here, not even screenshots, but it’s currently spreading on social media like a virus, and Sony is no doubt going to be cracking down hard on those sharing soon, so beware.
But if you do want to know about it, some highlights:
There’s an extended conversation with Bruce Banner about repressing mutated DNA, as we know that Peter is dealing with Man-Spider-type evolutions taking over his body this time around.We see more of the Sadie Sink-based threat where she has the ability to freeze and/or take over the minds of anyone except Peter, it’s said. There has been endless theorizing that these powers, plus her red hair, indicate that she’s playing Jean Grey from the X-Men, though her role as the Big Bad of the story seems extremely odd, if so. All this time, and across two trailers now, her part has remained under wraps, which is highly unusual for a superhero film like this, as normally such a thing would be used as an extra audience draw.Peter is back in MJ and Ned’s lives, with Ned on a mission to unmask who Spider-Man really is. Peter has to reestablish these relationships, starting from scratch, and there’s no indication that the last film’s memory wipe will be undone.In terms of the action, we see the rumored appearance of Savage Hulk, with Banner no longer being “Smart Hulk” the way we’ve seen him in many past appearances these last few years. He’s breaking through Spidey’s webs and sonic clapping him out of buildings.It does seem like The Punisher is going to be more than just a cameo in one action scene or another, as a scene shows Peter turning to him for help as the “only one” he can go to.I don’t think there’s anything all that groundbreaking shown here, as most of these we already knew in some form. Savage Hulk was leaked a long time ago, and the biggest mystery remains Sadie Sink’s villain. Tombstone is also supposed to be in here, somewhere, though he hasn’t been featured unless I missed him.
If this trailer is already available in high quality, it stands to reason it may be released officially very soon, so you might want to just stay tuned for that instead of hunting down the leak.
Sony Group Corporation remains a Buy as valuation improves despite recent operational setbacks and market underperformance. Recent losses from the discontinued AFEELA EV project and Bungie impairment are offset by prudent capital allocation and cost discipline. Key upside catalysts include potential outperformance in Gaming and Pictures, notably from GTA 6 and blockbuster film releases.
Sony (SONY - Free Report) has recently been on Zacks.com's list of the most searched stocks. Therefore, you might want to consider some of the key factors that could influence the stock's performance in the near future.
Over the past month, shares of this electronics and media company have returned -8.9%, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -1.6% change. During this period, the Zacks Audio Video Production industry, which Sony falls in, has gained 2.4%. The key question now is: What could be the stock's future direction?
Although media reports or rumors about a significant change in a company's business prospects usually cause its stock to trend and lead to an immediate price change, there are always certain fundamental factors that ultimately drive the buy-and-hold decision.
Earnings Estimate RevisionsRather than focusing on anything else, we at Zacks prioritize evaluating the change in a company's earnings projection. This is because we believe the fair value for its stock is determined by the present value of its future stream of earnings.
Our analysis is essentially based on how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to take the latest business trends into account. When earnings estimates for a company go up, the fair value for its stock goes up as well. And when a stock's fair value is higher than its current market price, investors tend to buy the stock, resulting in its price moving upward. Because of this, empirical studies indicate a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and short-term stock price movements.
Sony is expected to post earnings of $0.13 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -38.1%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed +25%.
For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $1.28 points to a change of +12.3% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has changed -2.8%.
For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $1.39 indicates a change of +8.4% from what Sony is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed -0.7%.
With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is a more conclusive indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Sony.
The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:
12 Month EPS
Projected Revenue GrowthEven though a company's earnings growth is arguably the best indicator of its financial health, nothing much happens if it cannot raise its revenues. It's almost impossible for a company to grow its earnings without growing its revenue for long periods. Therefore, knowing a company's potential revenue growth is crucial.
In the case of Sony, the consensus sales estimate of $17.99 billion for the current quarter points to a year-over-year change of +4.3%. The $78.5 billion and $80.58 billion estimates for the current and next fiscal years indicate changes of -5.3% and +2.6%, respectively.
Last Reported Results and Surprise HistorySony reported revenues of $24.11 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -16.7%. EPS of $0.41 for the same period compares with $0.41 a year ago.
Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $23.88 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of +0.98%. The EPS surprise was +24.24%.
The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The company topped consensus revenue estimates two times over this period.
ValuationWithout considering a stock's valuation, no investment decision can be efficient. In predicting a stock's future price performance, it's crucial to determine whether its current price correctly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects.
While comparing the current values of a company's valuation multiples, such as price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), with its own historical values helps determine whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of the reasonability of the stock's price.
As part of the Zacks Style Scores system, the Zacks Value Style Score (which evaluates both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics) organizes stocks into five groups ranging from A to F (A is better than B; B is better than C; and so on), making it helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.
Sony is graded B on this front, indicating that it is trading at a discount to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.
ConclusionThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Sony. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
