HELSINKI, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Finnish telecommunications equipment maker Nokia reported higher net sales and comparable operating profit for the second quarter (Q2) of 2026 on Thursday, boosted by growing demand from artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud customers.
Nokia's net sales rose 8 percent year-on-year to 4.82 billion euros (5.48 billion U.S. dollars) in the April-June period, while comparable operating profit increased 18 percent to 434 million euros (494 million dollars), the company said in its financial report.
The profit exceeded analysts' consensus estimate of 376 million euros (428 million dollars), according to Finnish business daily Kauppalehti.
In the first half of 2026, Nokia's net sales increased 6 percent year-on-year to 9.25 billion euros (10.52 billion dollars), while comparable operating profit rose 28 percent to 735 million euros (836 million dollars).
"Q2 demonstrates our strategy is delivering results," Nokia President and CEO Justin Hotard said in a statement, adding that the company had focused on maximizing its opportunities from the "AI supercycle."
Nokia's order intake from AI and cloud customers reached 2.8 billion euros (3.18 billion dollars) during Q2, while sales to those customers rose 105 percent year-on-year.
Nokia slightly raised its full year guidance for comparable operating profit to between 2.1 billion (2.39 billion dollars) and 2.6 billion euros (2.96 billion dollars).
The company warned, however, that its outlook remained subject to risks including global supply chain disruptions, heightened macroeconomic uncertainty, wars and other geopolitical conflicts. ■
