Canon is considering outsourcing the production of low-end cameras

According to a report by DCLife, the Nikkei recently published an interview with Canon's Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Minoru Tanaka. In the interview, he hinted that Canon might consider outsourcing the production of low-end models of its cameras and printers. It is understood that Canon will formulate a new medium- to long-term business plan for the next fiscal year.

To improve its return on equity (ROE) in the next fiscal year and beyond, Canon is considering outsourcing the production of low-end models of various products. Cameras and printers are likely to be outsourced. Currently, Canon's performance is strong, and its goal is to improve capital efficiency during this period of strong performance.

Note: Return on equity is a metric that measures a company's efficiency in generating profits using shareholder capital and is one of the financial indicators that investors value. Canon's medium- to long-term business plan, "Phase V 2021-2025," will end this fiscal year. A new medium-term business plan, "Phase V (tentative name)," is expected to be formulated starting next fiscal year, and the development direction of the imaging business in the new plan is worth noting. This article suggests that Canon aims to improve its return on equity, and its stock price performance is attracting attention.

As of December 12, 2025, Canon's stock price has fallen 5.16% year-to-date. Looking solely at its financial reports, while the imaging business itself has been somewhat affected by tariffs, the impact has been relatively minor. Some analysts point out that its performance in multifunction printers, printing presses (which are heavily influenced by the US market), and medical devices is problematic. In the semiconductor field, it remains to be seen how much market share its new "nanoimprint" technology can capture from ASML in the semiconductor lithography equipment market.