Samsung posts KRW 107.4 trillion quarterly operating profit

Samsung Electronics reported KRW 107.4 trillion in operating profit for the quarter, a level the company says makes it the first tech firm to exceed KRW 100 trillion in quarterly operating profit.

Revenue rose 14% quarter-on-quarter versus Q3, and the company said the result was driven largely by Device Solutions, its memory division. Device Solutions posted KRW 147.1 trillion in consolidated revenue and KRW 106.5 trillion in operating profit, another record for the division. Samsung attributed the surge to strong HBM4 sales and increased server SSD shipments, and said it expects memory demand to grow further as new CPU and GPU platforms enter the market. The company added that "increasing AI-driven demand will far exceed the industry supply in comparison with 2026."

Device Solutions accounted for almost the entire quarterly operating profit, reporting KRW 106.5 trillion on KRW 147.1 trillion in revenue.

Capital expenditure for the quarter rose to KRW 29 trillion, up KRW 12.2 trillion from Q3 and up KRW 19.8 trillion year on year. Most of that investment went to Device Solutions, which received KRW 27.2 trillion; Samsung Display Corporation received KRW 1.1 trillion.

Samsung Mobile eXperience and the Networks Business reported a combined KRW 37.7 trillion in consolidated revenue and an operating loss of KRW 0.6 trillion, compared with KRW 33.2 trillion in consolidated revenue and an operating loss of KRW 0.7 trillion in Q2. MX said it will press sales through the year-end shopping season with the Galaxy Z Fold8, Z Fold8 Ultra and the Galaxy S26 series, alongside what it described as "new ecosystem products." For 2027 the unit plans to focus on improving its product mix around flagship phones, including launching new models that promise "hardware and form-factor innovation."

Foundry outlook and image sensors

Samsung LSI reported revenue growth driven by stronger sales of flagship chipsets and 200MP image sensors and expects to sustain that momentum in Q4. LSI forecasted "double-digit" revenue growth and higher operating profit as more orders for 2nm chips and 4nm NPUs arrive, and said sales of HBM base dies should continue to expand. Looking to next year, the foundry business expects robust demand for its 2nm and 4nm nodes to support further revenue gains, and the Taylor, Texas fab is expected to begin operations next year. On image sensors, Samsung said it will pursue non-mobile applications for its high-resolution sensors while continued flagship smartphone sales will also support demand.

Samsung Display Corporation reported KRW 8.0 trillion in revenue and KRW 1.1 trillion in operating profit. The company said demand for premium smartphone displays was strong during the quarter and expects a pickup in the holiday quarter, but warned that earnings growth will be limited due to unspecified external factors.

The company released additional figures covering Visual Display, Digital Appliances and other divisions in its full results.

Samsung also announced a cash dividend of KRW 4,601 per common share and KRW 4,601 per preferred share, for a total payout of KRW 30 trillion in the quarter. For 2026 the company targets returning KRW 90-110 trillion to shareholders, a plan that includes a "substantial" share repurchasing program in addition to cash dividends.