Nikon fell behind in sales, exceeded expectations in profit

Nikon reported a second-quarter operating profit of ¥9.9 billion for the fiscal year ending March 2027, a ¥13.5 billion year-on-year increase that beat its first-quarter guidance by ¥14.4 billion, even as sales lagged. The profit outperformance came despite weak revenue, underscoring a gap between the company's top-line momentum and its earnings. The result matters because it signals cost or margin gains are offsetting demand softness at the Japanese optical and imaging group. Investors will watch whether Nikon can revive sales growth in the coming quarters or whether profit will continue to rely on internal efficiencies rather than volume.