Samsung Poised to Report Nearly Nine-Fold Profit Surge as AI Chip Demand Drives Record Quarter

Samsung Electronics is anticipated to report third-quarter operating profit of approximately 106.1 trillion won, a nearly nine-fold increase from 12.17 trillion won in the same period last year, driven primarily by surging demand for high-bandwidth memory chips essential to artificial intelligence infrastructure. The company's Device Solutions division, housing its chip business, is expected to achieve operating margins of 72-76%, with high-bandwidth memory generating revenue increases exceeding 130% year-over-year. Samsung's market share in HBM technology has risen to approximately 33% in the second quarter of 2026, positioning the company to potentially become the first South Korean company to achieve 100 trillion won in quarterly operating profit.

Samsung's chip division is projected to achieve exceptional profitability margins between 72-76%, with the newest HBM4 generation expected to represent more than 60% of the company's memory chip revenue by the second half of 2026. The company has rapidly closed a competitive gap, increasing its share of the high-bandwidth memory market from 21% in the first quarter to 33% by the second quarter, positioning it to challenge SK hynix's previous dominance in supplying AI infrastructure customers.

Analyst estimates have been modestly reduced by roughly 8% since late August due to moderating memory chip price gains and won appreciation, which reduces dollar-denominated sales when converted to local currency on financial statements. Despite these adjustments, Samsung remains on track for its fourth consecutive record quarter if preliminary guidance released October 8 meets current consensus expectations.