Samsung Electronics reported a record‑setting second‑quarter operating profit, up more than 1,800 % from the same period a year earlier, as strong demand for its semiconductor products drove growth.
Quarterly results break previous highs
The South Korean chipmaker said in a regulatory filing that operating profit for April‑June reached 89.49 trillion won, surpassing analysts’ consensus by about 6 %.
Revenue climbed 130 % year‑on‑year to 171.5 trillion won, while net profit rose 1,300 % to 71.62 trillion won. Earnings per share for both common and preferred shares increased 52 % from the prior quarter, landing among the highest levels recorded by global technology firms.
A stronger U.S. dollar added roughly 3.1 trillion won to the company‑wide operating profit compared with the previous quarter. Research and development spending also hit a new peak at 16 trillion won.
Semiconductor division leads the surge
Semiconductor earnings dominate.
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The Device Solutions (DS) segment, which houses the semiconductor business, posted record revenue of 127.5 trillion won and operating profit of 89.2 trillion won.
Within DS, the memory unit posted its best quarterly earnings by meeting robust demand for server products tied to the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI). Samsung expanded shipments of high‑performance high‑bandwidth memory (HBM) 4 products and became the first firm to deliver HBM4E samples.
Although overall demand softened, the System LSI business recorded a first‑half revenue record, helped by stronger sales of mobile system‑on‑chip processors and image sensors. The foundry arm also saw improved performance as North American customers increased orders for HBM base dies and related products.
Outside the chip sector, the Device eXperience (DX) division, which oversees finished products, generated 48 trillion won in revenue but posted an operating loss of 800 billion won. The loss marks the division’s first‑ever operating loss since the company’s inception.
The Mobile eXperience (MX) business saw year‑on‑year revenue growth thanks to solid sales of the Galaxy S26 series and continued demand for the Galaxy A line, though operating profit fell because of rising costs.
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In the network segment, earnings rose from both the prior quarter and the same quarter last year, supported by higher overseas sales. The Visual Display (VD) unit, which makes televisions, improved both revenue and profit by leveraging demand from major global sporting events and launching new products.
Home appliances recorded higher revenue than the previous quarter, driven by seasonal air‑conditioner sales, but profits declined amid higher costs. Harman International Industries, Samsung’s electronics device subsidiary, posted 4.6 trillion won in revenue and 400 billion won in operating profit, helped by stronger automotive electronics sales and demand for portable audio products.
The display business generated 7.5 trillion won in revenue and 700 billion won in operating profit. Small‑ and medium‑size displays improved from the prior quarter on solid demand for premium mobile products, while large‑size displays saw higher shipments and revenue thanks to growth in the gaming monitor market.
Samsung expects company‑wide earnings to keep rising in the second half of the year as semiconductor demand stays strong.
