South Korea's Samsung posts a record $80bn quarterly operating profit on the AI chip boom as its shares slide 6%
Samsung shares fell on Thursday despite the record quarterly result, with investors wary about whether AI spending will hold at current levels.
Samsung Electronics has become the first technology company in history to post quarterly operating profit above 100 trillion won, with its semiconductor division alone generating 106.5 trillion won — virtually the entire group total. A surge in AI memory demand drove revenue 127% higher year on year to 195.3 trillion won, marking the company's fourth consecutive quarter of record results.
HBM chip allocations for 2027 have been fully committed, and major customers are already requesting more than Samsung can supply.
The chip shortage is expected to DEEPEN next year, with Samsung forecasting tight market conditions through 2028.
Samsung will not reveal its next shareholder-return policy until a January board meeting, frustrating investors who had wanted clarity after rival SK Hynix's bullish capital-return announcement.
