Samsung Electronics announced preliminary third-quarter operating profit of 107.40 trillion won, equivalent to $80.2 billion, marking the first time the company has exceeded the 100 trillion won threshold. The performance reflected surging demand for memory chips fueled by artificial intelligence applications across the technology sector.
Operating profit increased 782% compared to the same quarter the previous year, while revenue projections of approximately 195 trillion won showed growth of nearly 127% year-over-year. Despite these record figures, Samsung’s share price declined 0.7% following the announcement, suggesting investor sentiment remained cautious despite the company’s strong financial performance.
Analysts noted that the market’s muted reaction reflected exceptionally elevated expectations within the artificial intelligence and memory chip sectors. Josh Gilbert, lead analyst for APAC at investment platform eToro, stated that Samsung’s record achievement fell short of market anticipations, noting that the high bar set by investors leaves limited room for celebration even at historic profit levels.
The broader demand environment appears supportive for continued growth. Gilbert highlighted that artificial intelligence agents consume substantially more memory than single-query chatbot applications, suggesting sustained demand drivers. Additionally, memory chip buyers have committed to multiyear supply agreements with Samsung, providing the company with greater visibility into future demand patterns in an industry historically vulnerable to cyclical downturns.
Samsung has intensified its artificial intelligence-related investments and partnerships. In September, the company announced a strategic partnership with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, with integration plans for the startup’s AI models across Samsung’s semiconductor operations. Full third-quarter earnings results, including detailed breakdowns by business division, were expected to be released later in the month.
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