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Seoul, Oktober 8, 2026 – Samsung Electronics is set to deliver one of its most dramatic earnings rebounds in recent memory, with third quarter operating profit projected to surge nearly nine‑fold on the back of relentless demand for artificial intelligence chips.
Analysts expect the South Korean giant to post around 106.1 trillion won ($79.1 billion) in operating profit for the July September period, compared with just 12.17 trillion won a year earlier.
The turnaround underscores how the AI revolution is reshaping the global semiconductor industry, lifting memory prices and tightening supply chains.
The surge is largely attributed to high‑bandwidth memory (HBM) chips, a critical component for training and running large AI models.
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Samsung, the world’s largest memory chip maker, has been racing to close the gap with SK Hynix, which has dominated the HBM market.
Demand from companies such as Nvidia, whose GPUs require advanced memory, has created a supply crunch that analysts believe will persist well into 2027.
This shortage has allowed Samsung to post four consecutive record quarters, a streak that highlights the scale of the AI‑driven boom.
Yet despite the headline numbers, caution is creeping into forecasts.
Market watchers note that profit estimates have been trimmed by nearly 8 percent since August, reflecting concerns that margins may be peaking.
Memory chip prices rose again in the third quarter, but at a slower pace than earlier in the year.
TrendForce projects conventional DRAM contract prices will climb 10 to 15 percent in the fourth quarter, far below the 60 percent surge seen in the second quarter. T
he slowdown suggests the industry may be entering a more measured phase, even as demand remains strong.
Currency movements have also weighed on performance.
A stronger South Korean won has eroded export competitiveness, while long‑term supply contracts with major customers have capped price gains.
At the same time, rising chip costs are filtering into consumer electronics, pushing up smartphone and device prices and dampening demand in some markets.
Analysts warn that while AI infrastructure spending remains robust, the broader electronics sector could face headwinds.
Investors will be watching closely when Samsung releases preliminary earnings guidance later this week, followed by detailed results later in October.
The company’s ability to sustain momentum in AI chips while navigating currency pressures and moderating price growth will be critical.
For now, the nine fold profit jump stands as a testament to how the AI era has transformed the fortunes of the semiconductor industry, positioning Samsung at the center of a global technology shift.
