Motorola Q2 sales climb 17%

Motorola reported sales of $8.83 billion, up 17% from sales of $7.54 million for last year’s second quarter. Earnings per share from continuing operations jumped 52% to $0.38 from $0.25. Earnings were $933 million compared with a loss of $203 million a year ago. For the first six months of 2005, sales totaled $16.986 billion vs. $14.982 billion, earnings per share were $0.66 compared with $0.45, and net earnings were $1.625 billion compared with $406 million.

"Motorola delivered a very strong second quarter and once again exceeded guidance," said Ed Zander, chairman and CEO. In the automotive electronics market, Motorola took cost reduction actions that enabled a return to marginal profitability on slightly lower sales.

For the third quarter, Motorola expects sales between $8.9 billion and $9.1 billion, with earnings per share in the $0.27 to $0.29 range.