By Kwanwoo Jun
Samsung Electronics is scheduled to report preliminary third-quarter results on Tuesday. Here is what you need to know:
OPERATING PROFIT: The South Korean technology giant is expected to post operating profit of 9.742 trillion won, equivalent to $6.81 billion, for the three months ended September, according to a FactSet-compiled consensus estimate of 28 analysts. That would be 6.1% higher than a year ago and more than double the previous quarter's figure.
REVENUE: The company's quarterly revenue is forecast to have risen 5.7% year-over-year to 83.585 trillion won.
Shares in Samsung closed 1.2% lower at 93,300 won on Monday, snapping a three-session winning streak. The stock remains more than 75% higher this year, buoyed by expectations that the artificial-intelligence boom will drive chip demand for years to come. Analysts at Nomura have said that a multiyear boom in the semiconductor industry is approaching. Investments in AI and conventional servers by big U.S. tech companies are set to boost memory-chip demand and push profit margins for DRAM and NAND products to record highs in 2026, they said in a recent research note. The analysts expect "an unprecedented supercycle" in the memory market, with substantial investment likely to continue into 2027 and 2028.
WHAT TO WATCH:
--REBOUND: Investors will look to see if Samsung guides for a strong earnings rebound after a disappointing second quarter. Most analysts expect the company's third-quarter operating profit to bounce back on improving profitability in its flagship memory-chip segment.
--CHIP DEMAND: Higher prices for DRAM and NAND products as well as strong demand for AI chips, including high-bandwidth-memory products, likely helped improve Samsung's profitability in the third quarter, according to analysts. Any progress in shipping redesigned HBM3E chips to Nvidia and developing more advanced HBM4 products would be of interest to investors.
--AI BOOM: Samsung's recent business pacts, including its Stargate partnership with OpenAI to expand data centers globally as well as chip-supply agreements with Apple and Tesla, will also be in focus. Such deals, if implemented, could reduce losses at Samsung's unprofitable foundry business and turn it around eventually.
Write to Kwanwoo Jun at kwanwoo.jun@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
October 13, 2025 05:45 ET (09:45 GMT)
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