Samsung expects 780% quarterly operating profit jump on AI boom

Samsung Electronics projected on Thursday a staggering 782.5% rise in third-quarter operating profit compared to the previous year, driven by the soaring prices of memory chips and the burgeoning demand for AI technology. The South Korean tech giant, the world's leading producer of memory chips, anticipated a profit of 107.4tn won ($80.1bn) for July-September 2023, a record-high that marks the first time a Korean firm has surpassed 100tn won in quarterly earnings.

Revenue for the same period is expected to swell by 127% to 195tn won. This represents four consecutive quarters of record-breaking sales and operating profits. Samsung's bullish outlook is anticipated to be confirmed in its final quarterly earnings report in early October. The AI boom has already propelled semiconductor companies worldwide to record profits this year.

Analysts at Korean brokerage Shinhan Securities remain optimistic about Samsung's prospects, predicting even stronger earnings next year. The company is poised for a significant market share increase, thanks to the ramp-up of production of advanced HBM4 chips, which are crucial for AI data centers. Samsung, SK hynix, and US firm Micron dominate the global HBM market.

The shift to HBM4 will enable Samsung to renegotiate prices, potentially guaranteeing solid margins. However, the AI boom has also led to increased production costs for DRAM and NAND flash used in smartphones, forcing Samsung's mobile division to pay higher prices. To offset the rising costs, Samsung announced a stock buyback of up to $80bn to enhance shareholder returns.

The company's semiconductor employees will receive bonuses equivalent to 10.5% of operating profit, benefiting around 78,000 workers.