Sony (NYSE:SONY) Stock Rating Lowered by Zacks Research

Sony (NYSE:SONY) was downgraded by Zacks Research from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Wednesday, Zacks reports.

Several other brokerages have also weighed in on SONY. Benchmark restated a “buy” rating on shares of Sony in a research note on Monday, August 3rd. Wall Street Zen downgraded Sony from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Sunday, August 9th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “sell (d+)” rating on shares of Sony in a research note on Monday, August 17th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $22.00.

Sony Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE SONY opened at $23.49 on Wednesday. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $23.60 and its 200 day moving average price is $21.92. Sony has a 1 year low of $19.32 and a 1 year high of $30.34. The company has a market capitalization of $138.76 billion, a PE ratio of 20.97, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.70 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a current ratio of 1.25.

Sony (NYSE:SONY) last released its quarterly earnings data on Saturday, August 1st. The company reported $0.36 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.28 by $0.08. The company had revenue of $17.45 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $17.17 billion. Sony had a negative net margin of 2.00% and a positive return on equity of 13.06%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 8.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $42.84 earnings per share. On average, research analysts predict that Sony will post 1.41 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Activity

In other Sony news, insider Robert Adrian Stringer sold 545,547 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $22.49, for a total transaction of $12,269,352.03. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 100,547 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,261,302.03. This represents a 84.44% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Also, insider Tsuyoshi Kodera sold 17,100 shares of Sony stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $22.72, for a total value of $388,512.00. Following the transaction, the insider owned 47,508 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,079,381.76. The trade was a 26.47% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 651,565 shares of company stock worth $14,612,651. Company insiders own 7.00% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Sony

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of SONY. Twin Tree Management LP increased its position in Sony by 4,218.5% during the fourth quarter. Twin Tree Management LP now owns 1,112 shares of the company’s stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 1,139 shares during the last quarter. SHP Wealth Management acquired a new position in Sony in the 4th quarter valued at about $33,000. Whipplewood Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Sony in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Evelyn Partners Asset Management Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Sony in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Finally, Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Sony by 56.5% during the 1st quarter. Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC now owns 1,736 shares of the company’s stock worth $36,000 after buying an additional 627 shares during the last quarter. 14.05% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

More Sony News

Here are the key news stories impacting Sony this week:

• Positive Sentiment: PlayStation demand remains robust. Reports that Sony is rationing PS5 and PS5 Pro consoles in Japan, with lottery access and “gamer” eligibility requirements, indicate supply is struggling to keep pace with demand ahead of major releases such as GTA 6. This supports hardware sales, software engagement and the broader PlayStation ecosystem. GTA 6 is creating PS5 Pro shortages
• Positive Sentiment: Product improvements could extend the PS5 cycle. A quietly redesigned PS5 Slim reportedly offers improved cooling and a replaceable battery, potentially improving reliability and ownership appeal without requiring a new console generation. Sony redesigned the PS5 Slim
• Positive Sentiment: Wall Street remains supportive. A Zacks report highlights bullish analyst views on SONY, which may reinforce investor confidence following the company’s latest earnings beat and revenue growth. Wall Street bullish views on Sony
• Positive Sentiment: Sony is expanding its entertainment pipeline. New release dates for several 2027 films, including Helldivers, 24 Jump Street and a Hugh Jackman-led Treasure Island, provide potential future contributions from Sony’s film business. The planned Spider-Man: Clone Saga series with Amazon also adds franchise monetization potential. Sony’s 2027 movie schedule
• Neutral Sentiment: Leadership promotions at Sony Pictures Television and Columbia Pictures suggest continuity, but are unlikely to materially affect near-term earnings. Sony TV leadership changes
• Negative Sentiment: Some entertainment and device concerns remain. The Helldivers movie has been delayed, postponing possible box-office revenue, while an Xperia 10 VIII review criticizes its higher price for limited improvements. These issues are relatively small compared with the PlayStation developments but could weigh on sentiment toward Sony’s film and mobile businesses. Sony’s Helldivers movie delay

About Sony

Sony Group Corporation is a Japan-based global entertainment and technology company headquartered in Tokyo. Founded in 1946 as Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo, the company adopted the Sony name in 1958. Sony’s businesses serve consumers and commercial customers worldwide across entertainment, electronics, imaging and digital services.

Sony’s principal activities include its Game & Network Services business, centered on the PlayStation platform, hardware, software and online services; Music, which develops and distributes recorded music and manages music publishing; and Pictures, which produces and distributes films, television programs and other visual entertainment.