Insider Selling: Sony (NYSE:SONY) Insider Sells $476,600.00 in Stock

Sony Corporation (NYSE:SONY) insider Kenji Tanaka sold 20,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $23.83, for a total transaction of $476,600.00. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 43,899 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,046,113.17. This represents a 31.30% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website.

Sony Stock Up 1.5%

Sony stock opened at $23.93 on Friday. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $21.65 and its 200 day moving average price is $21.56. The company has a market cap of $141.38 billion, a PE ratio of 21.37, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.70 and a beta of 0.92. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11, a current ratio of 1.25 and a quick ratio of 0.97. Sony Corporation has a 1-year low of $19.32 and a 1-year high of $30.34.

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

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

SONY has been the topic of several analyst reports. Weiss Ratings restated a “sell (d+)” rating on shares of Sony in a report on Monday. Zacks Research raised shares of Sony from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 4th. Benchmark reissued a “buy” rating on shares of Sony in a research report on Monday, August 3rd. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Sony from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Sunday, August 9th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have assigned a Buy rating, one has issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Sony presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $22.00.

Key Headlines Impacting Sony

Here are the key news stories impacting Sony this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Analysts’ average price target implies approximately 26.4% potential upside. Zacks noted that upward earnings-estimate revisions may be a more meaningful bullish signal than price targets alone. Sony analyst price target article
• Positive Sentiment: Sony’s chief executive said the timing of the memory-chip shortage may benefit the PS5 because the console is already established and the company does not need to aggressively promote hardware. This could support pricing and margins, although component availability remains a consideration. Sony PS5 memory crisis article
• Neutral Sentiment: Sony’s transformation from a hardware maker into a broader entertainment company, spanning PlayStation, music and film, reinforces its diversification strategy but does not provide a new earnings catalyst. Sony transformation article
• Neutral Sentiment: Sony’s CEO said game narratives are off-limits for generative AI, signaling an effort to protect creative assets and intellectual property. The stance may appeal to creators but could limit some efficiency benefits from AI. Sony CEO AI policy article
• Neutral Sentiment: Discounts on Sony headphones, earbuds and gaming accessories, along with a likely Xperia 10 VIII announcement, could support consumer engagement but are unlikely to materially affect near-term companywide earnings. Sony Xperia announcement article
• Negative Sentiment: Reports suggest the Horizon live-service multiplayer spinoff could be canceled or substantially reworked by December following weak feedback. This raises concerns about Sony’s live-service execution and future PlayStation software revenue. Horizon live-service report
• Negative Sentiment: Reports that most of Bungie’s projects unraveled after Sony’s $3.6 billion acquisition renew concerns about integration, capital allocation and the profitability of Sony’s live-service strategy. Bungie development report
• Negative Sentiment: Insider Kenji Tanaka sold 20,000 shares worth about $476,600, reducing his direct ownership by 31.3%. The sale is small relative to Sony’s market value but may modestly weigh on sentiment. Sony insider sale filing

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Sony

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Elyxium Wealth LLC bought a new stake in Sony during the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Sony by 404.1% during the 4th quarter. Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC now owns 1,109 shares of the company’s stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 889 shares in the last quarter. Twin Tree Management LP boosted its holdings 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 buying an additional 1,139 shares in the last quarter. Osterweis Capital Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Sony in the 4th quarter worth $28,000. Finally, Binnacle Investments Inc increased its stake in Sony by 81.7% in the 3rd quarter. Binnacle Investments Inc now owns 1,032 shares of the company’s stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 464 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 14.05% of the company’s stock.

Sony Company Profile

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.