Samsung Forecasts Record $80 Billion Quarterly Profit as AI Chip Demand Surges
Samsung Electronics expects record quarterly operating profit of about $80 billion, driven by strong demand for AI-related memory chips, while its shares fell despite the upbeat earnings forecast.
Samsung Electronics has estimated third-quarter operating profit of about 107.40 trillion Korean won ($80.17 billion), marking another quarterly record as demand for artificial intelligence-related chips continues to support its semiconductor business.
The preliminary figure for the July-to-September period represents a 782.5% increase from the 12.17 trillion won recorded in the third quarter of 2025. It is also about 20% above the 89.49 trillion won operating profit Samsung reported for the second quarter of 2026.
Samsung estimated third-quarter sales at approximately 195 trillion won, compared with 86.06 trillion won a year earlier and 171.5 trillion won in the second quarter.
AI demand drives memory chip earnings
The strong outlook comes as demand for memory chips used in AI infrastructure remains high. Samsung has benefited from higher demand for memory used in AI systems.
Reuters reported that the growth in AI infrastructure has been putting pressure on memory supply, supporting prices for conventional DRAM and NAND chips as well as demand for high-bandwidth memory, or HBM, which is used in AI applications.
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The stronger demand for AI-related memory is an important factor behind the current strength in the semiconductor market, particularly as AI systems require large amounts of memory to process and handle data.
Samsung’s profit reaches another quarterly record
The 107.4 trillion won estimate would mark Samsung’s fourth consecutive quarter of record operating profit if confirmed in its final results. The figure is also slightly above the LSEG SmartEstimate of 106.1 trillion won from analysts tracked by the financial data provider.
Samsung has not yet released the full breakdown of its third-quarter performance by business division. That information will provide more detail on how its semiconductor operations performed and how its other businesses contributed to the overall result.
For now, the preliminary figures point to another exceptionally strong quarter for Samsung, with AI-related memory demand supporting its semiconductor business.
Samsung shares slip despite record profit forecast
Samsung’s record profit guidance did not produce a similar rise in its shares. Reuters reported that the stock slipped after the announcement, showing that investors were also considering whether the current strength in the memory market can continue.
That reaction matters because strong earnings do not automatically mean a share price will rise. Investors also consider future earnings, chip prices, supply conditions, and the sustainability of demand when valuing a company.
Full results are due on October 29
Samsung has scheduled its third-quarter earnings call for October 29, 2026. The company will release its detailed results and provide a breakdown of performance across its business divisions at that time.
The 107.4 trillion won figure remains a preliminary earnings estimate, not Samsung’s final third-quarter result. The company provided the figures before completion of the external audit.
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