Samsung Electronics forecast about 107.4 trillion won in third-quarter operating profit, a preliminary figure that would surpass its second-quarter record as Executive Chairman Jay Y. Lee marks four years in the role.
Samsung’s Oct. 8 guidance put sales at about 195 trillion won, with a range of 194 trillion to 196 trillion won. The operating profit range was 107.3 trillion to 107.5 trillion won, making 107.4 trillion won its midpoint. The guidance is preliminary and precedes an external audit; Samsung has not provided a business-segment breakdown for the quarter.
The board appointed Lee on Oct. 27, 2022. It said global uncertainty and the need for firmer accountability informed its decision.
The forecast follows a sharp downturn and recovery in Samsung’s chip business. Its Device Solutions division reported an operating loss of 14.88 trillion won in 2023, while Samsung’s total operating profit fell to 6.57 trillion won from 43.38 trillion won in 2022.
Samsung reported consolidated operating profit of 89.5 trillion won in the second quarter of 2026, including 89.2 trillion won from Device Solutions. The company linked record memory earnings to AI demand amid limited capacity and rising prices across the industry. Its MX and Networks businesses together posted an operating loss of 0.7 trillion won, with elevated component costs weighing on earnings.
Samsung said it began mass-producing HBM4 and shipping commercial products in February. In May, it began shipping 12-layer HBM4E samples to customers. The company has also set a 2030 target to use AI throughout its manufacturing operations, with digital twins, specialized AI agents and robots among its planned tools.
Samsung’s full third-quarter results call is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET Wednesday, Oct. 28 (10 a.m. Korea Standard Time Thursday, Oct. 29).
