BlackBerry Records Profit in First Quarter Fueled by Growth in Its Cybersecurity Business

BlackBerry posted a surprise profit for the first quarter on Wednesday as its cybersecurity business benefited from higher client spending, while its enterprise software continued to gain traction in automotive sector.

US-listed shares of the company rose 5.79 percent in extended trading.

The Canadian technology company is banking on resilient demand for its cybersecurity products on rising security threats in the information technology sector.

BlackBerry reported a surprise profit of 6 cents per share for the quarter ended May 31, while analysts were expecting a loss of 5 cents per share.

Its total revenue of $373 million (roughly Rs. 3,061 crore) topped analysts’ average estimate of $160.4 million (roughly Rs. 1,316 crore), according to IBES data from Refinitiv.

Revenue in the cybersecurity business unit rose 5.5 percent sequentially to $93 million (roughly Rs. 763 crore), while revenue from licensing and other services came in at $235 million (roughly Rs. 1,929 crore), majorly comprising of proceeds from patent sale.

BlackBerry, which went public in 1997 and soon became popular for its ubiquitous business smartphones, shut its flagship business last year and has since been trying to sell its legacy patents related to its mobile devices.

In March, it signed a deal to sell patents, primarily related to its mobile devices, to Malikie Innovation Limited for up to $900 million (roughly Rs. 7,388 crore).

Waterloo, Canada-based BlackBerry earlier had announced its plans to conduct a review of strategic alternatives, including possible separation of its core businesses — cybersecurity and software systems.

© Thomson Reuters 2023