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Samsung Forecasts Record Q4 Profit as AI Memory Boom Lifts Prices

AI-driven shifts to HBM have tightened supply, setting up higher memory costs that could reach consumers in 2026.

Overview

  • Preliminary guidance pegs October–December operating profit at about 20 trillion won and revenue at roughly 93 trillion won, both all‑time highs.
  • Market trackers report extreme price jumps, including a 313% year‑on‑year rise for a DRAM contract type in Q4, with further double‑digit increases expected in early 2026.
  • Producers are prioritizing server and HBM output for hyperscalers, squeezing consumer DRAM and NAND supply as Samsung warns it may need to reprice products.
  • Analysts estimate the Device Solutions semiconductor unit delivered roughly 16–17 trillion won of Q4 operating profit, with full results due January 29.
  • Samsung has secured Nvidia qualification for HBM3E and reportedly advanced HBM4 toward approval, while analysts see tight supply and strong memory pricing persisting through 2026.