Samsung Electronics anticipates a record-setting operating profit for the second quarter, estimating nearly 90 trillion won (approximately US$58.8 billion). This projection marks a dramatic year-on-year increase of more than 1,100 percent and surpasses market expectations by over 6 percent, underscoring the profound impact of robust demand for artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductors.
The surge in earnings reflects skyrocketing global investments in AI infrastructure, which have intensified supply shortages in the semiconductor market and sustained high prices for memory chips. Samsung’s device solutions segment, which houses its semiconductor business, likely drove the vast majority of this growth, although the company has not released a detailed breakdown by division.
Included in the earnings guidance are provisions tied to a recent wage agreement granting employees a special semiconductor performance bonus worth 10.5 percent of business performance. This bonus, estimated at around 20 trillion won, will be paid in company stock over at least a decade and is linked to the company’s semiconductor business results. Excluding these provisions, Samsung’s Q2 operating profit could reach approximately 100 trillion won.
The company’s projected Q2 revenue stands at 171 trillion won, representing more than a 129 percent increase compared to the same period last year. This quarterly operating profit alone is more than twice the total operating profit Samsung recorded for the entire previous year. The net profit figure was not disclosed with the earnings forecast.
This expected performance would mark the third consecutive quarter of record revenue and operating profit, a streak that began in the final quarter of the previous year. Industry analysts attribute Samsung’s success mainly to its leadership in memory chip production capacity, positioning it as one of the main beneficiaries of the current AI-driven semiconductor supercycle.
Samsung continues to expand its market position by securing long-term supply contracts with major technology firms and ramping up production capacity to meet sustained demand. It has also pioneered the mass production and shipment of sixth-generation high-bandwidth memory (HBM4) chips, reflecting a strategic focus on higher-value semiconductor products amid ongoing global shortages and elevated chip prices.