Pachter: Wii Fit Launch To Cause New Hardware Demand Boom?

Ahead of Nintendo's 2008 Q4 report, expected April 24th, Wedbush Morgan analyst has said he expects sales to reach 359 billion yen ($3.59 billion), and adds that the forthcoming U.S. May launch of Wii Fit could "cause a new boom in demand for the Wii." Pachter says consensus sales estimates of 357 billion yen ($3.57 billion) and the company's own 314 billion yen ($3.14 billion) guidance are too conservative, following Nintendo's holiday performance, and over 20 million Wiis and 65 million DSs sold to date. He adds that the group is raising its estimates for fiscal 2009 to 1,700 billion ($17 billion), up from previous estimates of 1,450 billion ($14.5 billion). Pachter says that following Nintendo's U.S. Media Summit, Wedbush has a "more positive view on the company," and says Mario Kart Wii, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon, and Wii Fit each "has the potential for significant revenue contribution." Wii Fit in particular, he believes, "can cause a new boom in demand for the Wii," adding, "We believe that Nintendo of America intends to support the Wii Fit launch with the biggest marketing campaign in its history, and believe that the increased buzz will drive increased demand for the already difficult to find Wii hardware."