Samsung points to massive surge in Q4 profits as AI boom continues

8th Jan 2026 11:46

(Sharecast News) - South Korean memory chip giant Samsung Electronics on Thursday guided to a threefold increase in operating profits in the fourth quarter that smashed analysts' estimates on the back of a surge in semiconductor prices.

The company said in a guidance update that operating profits over the final three months of 2025 totalled 20trn won ($13.8bn), up from KRW6.5trn reported the year before.

That's a company record for a quarter and well ahead of the KRW17.7trn expected the market.

In an update ahead of its annual results later this month, Samsung also pointed to record quarterly sales of KRW93trn, up 23% over the year before, lifting full-year revenues up 11% to KRW332.8trn.

The chip side of the business, which generates over a half of group profits, has seen memory chip prices rise by 40% to 50% over the final quarter amid a supply shortage as AI adoption soars.