{
  "id": 10349306,
  "title": "Samsung, SK hynix Set to Post Record Q3 Operating Profit",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/samsung-sk-hynix-set-to-post-record-q3-operating-profit",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-28T03:22:53.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BusinessKorea",
    "slug": "businesskorea",
    "url": "https://www.businesskorea.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=277723"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Samsung Electronics and SK hynix are poised to achieve record third-quarter operating profits of around 190 trillion won, or approximately $139.71 billion, a testament to robust demand for memory products. The surge in memory demand, fueled by the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers and constrained supply, is driving the impressive results. Analysts anticipate the companies to maintain this momentum throughout the remainder of the year as they ramp up revenue from sixth-generation high-bandwidth memory (HBM4). Samsung Electronics anticipates a staggering year-on-year profit increase of 815.47% for the quarter, marking the first time a South Korean firm has ever recorded a profit surpassing 100 trillion won. Revenue for the period is projected to surge 137.93% to 204.76 trillion won. SK hynix is also expected to see a 307.13% year-on-year increase in revenue, coupled with a remarkable 586.34% growth in operating profit. The strong performance is largely attributable to the structural shortage in memory semiconductors, which has led to substantial price hikes. Market research firm TrendForce projects that DDRAM prices could climb by up to 18% quarter-on-quarter in the third quarter, while NAND flash prices may rise by as much as 15%. Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan cautioned that as AI adoption drives memory demand higher, supply shortages and price spikes will intensify further next year. Experts remain cautiously optimistic about the long-term prospects of the semiconductor sector, with analysts predicting sustained tight supply-demand conditions through 2027 and 2028, creating a favorable environment for manufacturers. Samsung and SK hynix are focusing their production capacity on HBM for AI semiconductors, intensifying the scarcity of general-purpose DRAM. Samsung's share of HBM in total DRAM production capacity is expected to rise from 27% to 40% by 2027, while the share of general-purpose DRAM is projected to decline from 73% to 59% over the same period. The lead time for DDR5, a high-capacity general-purpose DRAM utilized in servers, has extended to a staggering 52 weeks. Kim Dong-won, head of research at KB Securities, highlighted that the lead time for DDR5 delivery is more than eight times longer than usual, a significant deviation from the standard six-week lead time, describing the situation as \"exceptional.\" The commercial launch of next-generation HBM4 and HBM4E products is seen as a crucial factor in the companies' future earnings performance. Samsung's HBM4 revenue is projected to more than triple in the third quarter alone, accounting for over 60% of total HBM revenue in the second half of the year, with the seventh-generation HBM4E set to enter mass production next year. Experts anticipate HBM4 series revenue in 2027 to more than double compared to 2026, bolstering the companies' profitability.",
  "summary": "Samsung Electronics and SK hynix are projected to post a combined operating profit of about 190 trillion won, or approximately $139.71 billion, in the third quarter of this year, setting new records for quarterly earnings. Surging memory demand driven by expanded investment in artificial intelligenc",
  "key_points": [
    "Samsung and SK hynix forecast record Q3 operating profits of 190 trillion won ($139.71B).",
    "Demand for memory products surges due to AI data centers and limited supply.",
    "HBM4 revenue projected to triple in Q3, driving future earnings growth."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The record profits of Samsung and SK hynix signal a sustained favorable environment for memory manufacturers through 2027 and 2028 due to tight supply-demand conditions and constrained production capacity.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}