Samsung (005930.KS) rose 0.3% in early trade after announcing a projected Q3 operating profit of 107.4 trillion won, surpassing LSEG SmartEstimate of 106.1 trillion won and marking the fourth straight record quarter.
Revenue is slated to hit 195 trillion won, a 127% year‑on‑year jump from the 86.7 trillion won posted in Q2, driven largely by memory‑chip sales that benefit from the AI‑chip boom.
The memory‑chip sector remains in a tight‑supply environment; AI data‑center demand has outpaced supply growth, pushing DRAM and NAND prices higher and squeezing margins in Samsung’s consumer‑electronics arm.
Micron and other rivals echo the outlook, forecasting a continued supply‑demand imbalance into 2028, though rising manufacturing costs, Chinese competition, and potential U.S. tariffs add uncertainty to long‑term earnings.
Investors will monitor Samsung’s detailed earnings on Oct 29, where management is expected to discuss margin trends, capital‑expenditure plans, and any adjustments to its share‑repurchase policy amid the AI‑chip rally.