GoPro Inc (NASDAQ:GPRO) Paints Grim Picture Of The Future

GoPro Inc (NASDAQ:GPRO)’s hope of turning the corner in 4Q16 with new devices now looks like a distant dream. Without specifying market reception for Hero5 camera, the new kid on the block of its action shooters, the company expressed worries that it would not meet demand for the Hero5.

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Ahead of Hero5 release, GoPro used a combination of discounts and promotions to clear the shelves of older cameras and create room for Hero5. The company wanted the new camera to be out in time for the holiday when demand for such products tends to be high. That’s why CEO Nick Woodman early this year saw nothing wrong in promising that 2016 would be a different and better year for the company and its shareholders.

“In 2016, we are committed to delivering the breakthrough experience we’ve all been waiting for,” said Woodman.

But it turns out GoPro’s production is compromised and clearing the shelves for Hero5 may cause a disaster for the company. At the 3Q16 earnings call, Woodman talked about their inability to restock channels. Woodman added that another problem they’re facing is meeting projected demand for Hero5 in 4Q16.

In plainer terms, GoPro risks failing to take full advantage of the holiday season, which in turn would make it difficult for the company to return to growth and profitability. Other than the production shortage warning, the management fell short of saying when it expects the supply chain problem to be fixed so that there can be enough Hero5 cameras on the shelves.

Alongside Hero5, GoPro also wanted into the nascent but promising drones market with branded drone called Karma.

3Q16 performance

GoPro posted 3Q16 EPS loss of $0.74, a steep plunge from EPS profit of $0.13 a year earlier and sharply below the consensus estimate of EPS loss of $0.51. Revenue of $240.6 million plunged 40% YoY and missed the consensus estimate of $308 million.

For 4Q16, GoPro sees topline in the range of $600 to $650 million, but because of the production issue, the company trimmed its full-year 2016 topline guidance to a range of $1.25 to $1.30 billion. The company earlier guided 2016 revenue in the band of $1.35 to $1.50 billion.

GoPro stock fell more than 7% in hours and nearly 20% in afterhours in the last session. The stock is down more than 33% YTD.

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