Samsung Eyes $72 Billion Shareholder Return Plan as AI Chip Boom Fuels Profits

Samsung Electronics is reportedly preparing a new shareholder return policy worth more than 100 trillion won ($71.75 billion), as booming demand for artificial intelligence chips drives expectations of record profits at the South Korean semiconductor giant.

According to a MoneyToday report citing unidentified industry sources, Samsung Electronics plans to hold a board meeting at the end of August to approve the shareholder return program. The proposal is expected to include a special dividend, potentially providing investors with a significant payout as the company benefits from the ongoing AI-driven memory chip supercycle.

Under the reported plan, Samsung would allocate 50% of its free cash flow to shareholder returns. The scale of the program highlights how stronger semiconductor earnings could translate into increased distributions to investors.

Samsung, one of the world’s largest memory-chip manufacturers, has been positioned to benefit from growing demand for advanced memory products used in artificial intelligence infrastructure and data centers. The expanding AI market has helped fuel a broader recovery and growth cycle across the global semiconductor industry.

The reported Samsung shareholder return plan follows a major announcement from domestic competitor SK Hynix. The world’s second-largest memory-chip maker unveiled a 40 trillion won share buyback and cancellation program on Wednesday, described as the biggest shareholder return initiative announced by a publicly listed South Korean company.

SK Hynix also plans to direct more than 50% of the free cash flow it generates between 2025 and 2027 toward shareholder returns. Its decision adds pressure on Samsung Electronics to reward investors as both companies capitalize on robust demand for memory chips linked to AI computing.

The competing shareholder initiatives underscore the financial strength being generated by the AI semiconductor boom and could make South Korea’s leading chipmakers increasingly attractive to investors seeking both growth and capital returns.

Samsung Electronics has not confirmed the reported details and declined to comment on the media reports.