SEOUL, Oct. 8, 2026 | Samsung Electronics forecast a record third-quarter operating profit of about 107.4 trillion won (roughly $80 billion), nearly nine times the year-earlier level, as AI demand drives up memory chip prices, CNBC reports. The figure is preliminary guidance, and Samsung publishes full results with division detail around Oct. 29.
According to 24/7 Wall St., operating profit compares with 12.17 trillion won a year earlier and 89.49 trillion won in the second quarter, a 20% sequential increase. It is the first quarter Samsung's operating profit has topped 100 trillion won and the fourth straight record. The figure beat the 106.1 trillion won analyst consensus. Revenue was about 195 trillion won, up from 86.06 trillion won a year earlier, though slightly below one forecast of 200 trillion won. Samsung shares rose about 0.3% in early Seoul trading, per the same report.
What Is Driving the Profit
Memory is priced like a commodity, so price increases under tight supply flow largely to operating profit. High-bandwidth memory (HBM), stacked DRAM packaged next to AI accelerators, carries higher margins. Douglas Kim of Douglas Research Advisory estimated that Samsung's HBM bit shipments rose close to 50% quarter on quarter in the third quarter, according to Telecom Lead, which cites Reuters.
Samsung has not released a breakdown by division. Analysts estimate the chip division earned more than the whole company, which implies the consumer electronics side lost money. Telecom Lead reports analysts estimate the mobile business posted a loss above $1 billion and that the foundry division remains loss-making because of high fixed costs and low utilization.
How Long the Run Could Last
Prices are still rising, but more slowly. TrendForce expects conventional DRAM contract prices to rise 10% to 15% in the fourth quarter, compared with roughly 60% in the second, and analysts expect Q4 operating profit to grow 8.2% sequentially versus about 20% in Q3. Samsung and Micron expect the memory supply-demand imbalance to persist into 2028, subject to capacity additions, Chinese competition and AI infrastructure spending. Micron said Sept. 30 that it does "not have line of sight to when supply and demand will return to balance."
The risk is the one memory has always carried. High prices attract new capacity, and past cycles have ended in gluts, including the one Samsung faced about two years ago. SK hynix reports around Oct. 27, which will show whether the strength spreads across the sector. The results also tie into this week's bubble debate: Samsung's windfall is evidence of real AI spending today, while strategists such as Panmure Liberum's Joachim Klement argue that spending may not last.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did Samsung say it earned in Q3 2026?
Samsung forecast a preliminary operating profit of about 107.4 trillion won (roughly $80 billion), nearly nine times the year-earlier level and its first quarter above 100 trillion won. It beat the 106.1 trillion won consensus. Full results are due around Oct. 29.
Why is Samsung's profit surging?
AI demand is driving up prices for memory chips, especially high-bandwidth memory used alongside AI accelerators. Tight supply lets price increases flow largely to operating profit, though analysts expect price growth to slow in the fourth quarter.