Samsung projected an operating profit of 107.4 trillion won, equivalent to about R$ 426 billion, for the third quarter of 2026. This result is attributed to the intense demand for chips essential for artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure.
If this figure is confirmed in the final report, it will indicate a 782% increase compared to the same period last year, marking the first time Samsung will exceed the 100 trillion won mark in operating profit in a single quarter.
The projections also surpass analyst expectations. The company estimates a revenue of approximately 195 trillion won (about R$ 774 billion) between July and September, representing nearly a 127% year-on-year growth.
This achievement consolidates the position of the world's largest memory chip manufacturer and demonstrates the impact of global competition on the construction of AI infrastructures. The exponential growth in AI investments has altered the supply and demand balance in the semiconductor sector.
Large technology corporations are investing in creating data centers to process and train increasingly complex models, increasing the need for chips capable of managing large volumes of data. Samsung is a key supplier in this market and has been expanding its advanced memory production to meet this demand.
Other memory manufacturers, such as SK Hynix, are also benefiting from this scenario, while the shortage of components puts pressure on companies that use these chips in their own products.
However, the chip market growth presents internal challenges for Samsung itself. The increase in memory costs raises the production expenses for smartphones and other electronic devices, which could compress the margins of the divisions responsible for these items, despite the exceptional results in the semiconductor segment.
Additionally, the appreciation of the South Korean won against the dollar may reduce part of the profit obtained from international sales when converting revenue into US dollars to the local currency. Nevertheless, the robustness of the memory business should be responsible for the majority of the profit increase in the quarter.
The disclosed figures are only preliminary estimates. Samsung announced that it will present the detailed third-quarter results, including the performance distribution across its various lines of business, on October 29. The company set a revenue range between 194 and 196 trillion won (equivalent to R$ 728.1 billion to R$ 735.6 billion) and an operating profit range between 107.3 and 107.5 trillion won (approximately R$ 402.7 billion to R$ 403.4 billion), with 195 trillion and 107.4 trillion being the medians of these ranges.
In summary, this preliminary result underscores the growing importance of the AI race in the semiconductor industry. For Samsung, the demand for memory intended for AI systems is already generating profits that exceed the 100 trillion won barrier in a single quarter for the first time.