Samsung reported KRW 107.4 trillion in operating profit for the quarter ending September 30, with its semiconductor division contributing KRW 106.5 trillion as demand for AI memory increased. Revenue reached a quarterly record of KRW 195.3 trillion, rising 14% from the preceding quarter. The gains contrasted with an operating loss of KRW 0.8 trillion in its Device eXperience (DX) Division, despite an 8% sequential revenue increase.
The Device Solutions (DS) Division generated revenue of KRW 147.1 trillion, up 15% from the previous quarter. Samsung attributed record revenue and operating profit in its Memory Business to a greater emphasis on AI products while production capacity remained constrained. It said server demand pushed market prices higher across applications, while HBM4 sales increased substantially and demand for server SSDs continued growing.
Read more: Samsung Reports Record Q1 2026 Revenue of 133.9 Trillion KRW Driven by AI Memory Chip Demand
Samsung expects investment in AI infrastructure to continue during the fourth quarter, supported by competition among companies pursuing AI leadership. It forecasts memory growth tied to new CPU and GPU platforms, with the expansion of personal AI agent services supporting demand for QLC SSDs. For 2027, Samsung expects AI infrastructure spending to reach a record and AI demand to exceed industry supply by a wider margin than in 2026.
Earlier price negotiations had already pointed to pressure on memory buyers: in July, industry sources said Samsung was seeking quarterly commodity DRAM price increases of up to 20%, according to TechJuice. At that time, TrendForce projected DRAM contract prices would rise 13% to 18% during the third quarter as supply remained constrained.
Samsung's MX and Networks Businesses together recorded KRW 37.7 trillion in revenue and an operating loss of KRW 0.6 trillion. New flagship devices, including foldables, helped revenue rise both sequentially and from a year earlier, but Samsung attributed the annual earnings decline to cost pressures. For the fourth quarter, it plans to concentrate seasonal flagship sales efforts on devices including the Galaxy S26 series and Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra.
The Foundry Business improved revenue and earnings as HBM base-die sales rose and advanced manufacturing processes attracted more business. Samsung expects its new factory in Taylor, Texas, to begin operating in 2027, expanding its production capabilities. Samsung Display Corporation recorded operating profit of KRW 1.1 trillion on revenue of KRW 8.0 trillion, helped by demand for premium mobile displays and growth in gaming monitors.
