Samsung Electronics Reports Record Q3 Profit Amid Strong Memory Chip Demand, Stock Dips Slightly
Samsung Electronics Co. (005930.KS) shares closed at ₩91,600, down 1.82%, despite forecasting a record ₩12.1 trillion ($8.48 billion) operating profit for Q3—its highest in three years. The semiconductor division, buoyed by soaring DRAM and NAND prices, contributed an estimated ₩5 trillion to the earnings. Analysts attribute the muted stock reaction to market expectations already pricing in the recovery, with attention now shifting to potential oversupply risks in 2026.
"The earnings beat was impressive, but sustainability is the real question," noted a Seoul-based analyst. Memory chip demand, driven by AI applications, has propelled Samsung’s rebound, yet industry-wide supply increases could erode pricing power in the coming years.