I’m sure everyone at this point has explored the vast array of articles discussing all the technical aspects of the newly announced D850. If you haven’t here is one from your very own Fstoppers writer, Adam Ottke. You can read the announcement here. While I agree with most of the assessments that I’ve read or watched so far in that the camera will be a powerhouse with really innovative features, my thoughts come back to what was in the news just a few months ago. What is the financial health of Nikon? Do they still need help from other companies like Fujifilm? Most importantly, should I invest in new equipment from a company whose financial standing is in question? With all this in mind, I did some research.
There are many ways of looking at the data. If you look at the trend of Nikon’s stock prices over the past year, it has an overall positive correlation. Last year this time the stock (7731:JP TOKYO) closed at $13.66 (1484 Japanese Yen). As of August 28, 2017 the stock closed at $16.62 (1806 Japanese Yen). However, looking at the YTD return is -1.49% likely doesn't help investor confidence. Now as we all know the YTD is based off of the first day of the calendar year, but what’s the percentage of return for investors who purchased last August? Great question. According to Bloomberg’s numbers, it’s just under 21%. Now, who wouldn’t want a near 21% profit on their investment? Earnings per share (EPS) is another great way to look at the profitability of a company, and as of August 28 Nikon sits at -24.5 Yen, which equates to roughly .23 cents of each share loss to Nikon. In other words, with a negative EPS the question arises to the ability to make dividend payments to stock holders. Currently dividend yields sit at only .89%.
Overall I think Nikon can pull through this and be stronger for it. In 2009, Nikon stock traded for a mere $7.92 (860 yen) and they were able to turn it around. With recent orders from NASA totaling 53 D5s, I think that is a strong vote of confidence that Nikon will continue to be a main competitor in the camera industry for years to come. At the end of the day, regardless of Nikon’s financial woes, I still want to get my hands on a D850.
Go ahead, pre-order the D850 here. You know you want to, and you better hurry because pre-order sales are skyrocketing. Read more here.
Let's face it - 9 years after the Canon 5D2 and 5 years after the D800, the D850 feature set is pretty expectable for a flagship camera. This Nikon camera just shines because Canon has been ultra lame and it would take 4 of their bodies at the moment to get the same features as offered in one D850. A mirrorless A7R2 is still much cooler in many regards, but lacks body feel, processing speed etc for solid photo shootings. GH5 / EM1II also provide many more cool features than the D850, but lack resolution, lowlight performance etc. The very first real timeless allround super camera could be available when Sony mixes the best elements of the A9 and A7R2 together in one - or when Canon and Nikon at some point come up with their mirrorless full frame flagship cameras. While the Sony solution could be expected in 2018, it probably takes the second generation for serious Canon and Nikon offerings not before the year 2022.
I think that Nikon will be around. There are many invested in the system. Although I am a Canon guy, having two majors go at it with each other improves both companies products; think Ford versus Chevy. A few days ago, NASA ordered 53 Nikon D5 cameras. If Nikon goes belly up, then they'll have to change to Canon; though I would love to see Canon in space.
They're going nowhere regardless of the D850, same for Canon. Can we just stop with these ridiculous blogs about the doom of Canon/Nikon. Its almost daily for this website. Does anyone vet these authors? The repetitive blogs of "Is Canon/Nikon doomed" or the "why I switched" are getting annoying. Why bother visiting fstoppers?
Well, unlike publications where there are a lot of people to check what and when to be written and published, I guess Fstoppers doesn't work like that. I feel you, I have read some "worthless" articles here after Fstoppers upgraded.
The staff writers are being given too much freedom (I assume) and most of them writes biased to their opinions and feelings to such matters.
We can all just hope that one day Fstoppers improve and be better.
Having one sentence about "I think Nikon can pull through this and be stronger for it" Makes this an opinion piece? Even though the basis of the article is based of factual financial figures? Didn't realize the stock market was based on opinions, good to know.
I was replying on Kyle's comment and not your article. And my use of "biased" are for the couple of article's I have read before. I didn't mention anything about what you have written in this article.
The D850 has extended them a lifeline, and if they sit on their haunches and do nothing and ignore customers until the successor to the D850 they will be in trouble again. A company rarely fails because of one thing. It is a series of missteps, like ignoring problems with their product and not continuing to innovate. But Nikon has proven that they are continuing to innovate despite the occasional misstep in customer service. And yes, I'm sick of these articles as well, and the constant harping on mirrorless as the holy grail of all photography... But I'm commenting on it, so I guess that means I am enabling it. I am pretty sure there will be further consolidation in the camera industry, but I don't think it will be one of the majors... Though strangers things have happened...
Somehow I see a similarity to the cpu market.
For the same price:
5DM4 - D850: 50% more megapixels
Skylake-X - Threadripper: 50% more cores
Nikon is AMD confirmed!!!
The last time I was this excited about a Nikon product and bought it sight unseen, it was the D600. And really until the day I went to the beach for wind and surf (and F11), i was very pleased. Anyway knowing how that turned out, I will wait until this one has been tested by the early adopters.
This is just the beginning, imaging industry will be thrilled by not only the D850 but upcoming D610/D750 successor and mirrorless cameras from Nikon. They'll develop high-end cameras aggressively to regain market share.
I agree. As long as the 850 is plagued with recall issues, I think it’ll be a huge winner.
I've learned over a 35 year period, there is no predicting anything -- especially in photo work.
In 1979 I was up to my ears in C-41 developer and making color corrections on mass printer systems. Today looks the way it does.. None of that equipment we HAD TO USE is around anymore. The only thing constant over that time was the glass.
I'm just grateful to be alive, still shooting, and enjoying all photography offers to my life.