Samsung flags $80 billion profit on AI boom, highest quarterly for any tech company

Samsung Electronics projected its fourth-quarter profit would exceed 100 trillion won, a world-first for a technology company, as surging demand for AI chips fueled a near nine-fold increase in third-quarter earnings. The South Korean tech giant estimated an operating profit of 107.4 trillion won, or $80.17 billion, for the July-September period, just above the LSEG SmartEstimate of 106.1 trillion won.

The forecast marks Samsung's fourth consecutive quarter of record operating profit, highlighting the escalating global memory chip shortage; the AI infrastructure boom is outpacing supply growth, driving up chip prices. Samsung and Micron anticipate the imbalance will persist into 2028, though Chinese competition and potential AI spending slowdowns could pose risks to longer-term earnings.

Despite the record profit forecast, Samsung shares slipped 0.2% in early trade, down 0.5% from the benchmark KOSPI index. The company's share price has declined over 25% since a June record high due to concerns about the AI boom's longevity and the South Korean won's sharp appreciation, which reduces the value of overseas sales when converted to local currency.

Analysts have trimmed their forecasts due to the appreciation, with some expecting the fourth-quarter profit to grow 8.2% from the previous quarter, down from 20% sequential growth in the third quarter. This is attributed to the moderating chip price growth. Market research firm TrendForce predicts conventional DRAM contract prices will rise 10-15% in the fourth quarter, much slower than the 60% surge in the second quarter.

The slowdown in memory prices is closely monitored by investors, who note the more than year-long rally propelled profit margins to record highs for Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron. Third-quarter revenue is projected to surge 127% to 195 trillion won from the same period last year. Samsung will disclose detailed results, including earnings breakdowns by business division, on October 29.