Samsung Electronics has forecast a record quarterly operating profit of 107.4 trillion won, equivalent to about 80 billion dollars, for the third quarter of 2026. The projection reflects a sharp rise in demand for memory chips used in artificial-intelligence infrastructure.
The estimate, reported by Reuters on October 7, is almost nine times the company’s operating profit in the same period a year earlier. High-bandwidth memory and other advanced chips have become key growth drivers as technology companies expand their AI data-centre capacity.
The boom is not benefiting every part of Samsung equally. Higher component costs have put pressure on consumer electronics, while the company’s foundry business has continued to face challenges. The outlook therefore highlights the widening gap between demand for AI infrastructure and more mature electronics markets.
Investors will be watching the company’s full results, due later in October, for further detail on chip pricing, supply constraints and how long the current AI-driven cycle can sustain its pace.
Read Reuters’ report on Samsung’s third-quarter outlook.
The figures are a preliminary earnings estimate announced by the company; full quarterly results are due later this month.
