US Top News and Analysis | Samsung shares rise nearly 5% as profit seen jumping 8-fold on AI chip boom

Samsung shares rose as much as 4.8% on Tuesday after the South Korean technology giant forecast record quarterly profit driven by surging demand for artificial intelligence chips. In its preliminary earnings guidance, Samsung projected operating profit for the January-March quarter to reach 57.2 trillion won ($37.8 billion), more than eight times the 6.69 trillion won reported a year earlier. If realized, this would mark a quarterly record—nearly three times the previous high—and exceed LSEG SmartEstimate forecasts of 42.3 trillion won.

The company also estimated consolidated revenue would surge nearly 70% year-on-year to 133 trillion Korean won, with the growth primarily fueled by its memory chip business. Samsung’s Device Solutions division, which includes memory chips, contributed 39% of total revenue and 57% of operating profits in 2025. Explosive demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips used in AI computing has caused widespread shortages, pushing prices and volumes upward across the memory sector.

Samsung’s strong outlook reflects its efforts to reclaim leadership in the HBM market after losing an early advantage to rival SK Hynix. The company is expected to release its full earnings later this month, with analysts watching closely to confirm whether the AI-driven boom translates into sustained financial performance. The guidance underscores how AI infrastructure demand is reshaping the semiconductor landscape, positioning Samsung as a key beneficiary of the ongoing AI chip boom.

Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/07/samsung-shares-rise-nearly-5percent-on-record-breaking-earnings-forecast-buoyed-by-ai-chip-demand.html

#samsung #aichips #memorychips #hbmchips #semiconductor

Yahoo Finance | AI's Chip Appetite Is Squeezing The Global Smartphone Market— Analysts Warn Of 31% Shipment Slump Ahead

The international smartphone market is bracing for a potential 31% slump in shipments over the coming year, a consequence of escalating memory chip costs fueled by the demand from AI hyperscalers, according to Jeffries. The firm noted a 70% quarter-on-quarter price surge in memory chips, driven by server-making companies’ increasing demand. The prices are projected to rise by an additional 50% in Q2 2026.

As memory costs continue to soar due to the strong demand for AI-driven technologies, smartphone production costs are increasing. Memory prices, which rose 40%-50% in late 2025, are projected to climb further in early 2026, potentially increasing premium device costs by over $150. Earlier this year, analysts had already predicted the steepest decline in the global smartphone market in 2026, with memory shortages driving up device prices. The global PC and smartphone markets were expected to shrink by 11% and 13%, respectively, according to a February report from the International Data Corporation, while Counterpoint Research projected a 12% year-on-year decline in global smartphone shipments in 2026, calling it the "sharpest decline on record."

Qualcomm is expected to face near-term headwinds due to market share loss at key smartphone customer accounts, as noted by analyst James Schneider. He said soaring memory prices could reduce smartphone demand, impacting the company’s biggest business segment. Meanwhile, a January report suggested that Apple Inc. is prioritizing production and shipment of its premium iPhone models for 2026, delaying the standard version due to supply chain constraints. The strategy aims to optimize resources, offset rising memory chip costs, and manage manufacturing challenges linked to its upcoming foldable iPhone.

Read more: https://finance.yahoo.com/sectors/technology/articles/ais-chip-appetite-squeezing-global-113108327.html

#qualcomm #appleinc #aihyperscalers #memorychips #smartphonemarket

Samsung Electronics is embroiled in a deepening labor dispute after intensive negotiations between management and workers — which began on March ...

Samsung Electronics is embroiled in a deepening labor dispute after intensive negotiations between management and workers — which began on March 26, 2026 — broke down without an agreement on employee treatment across its business units.#2026 #business #Chipscomponents #EastAsia #ICmanufacturing #labor #management #Memorychips #Samsung #SouthKorea #strike
Samsung faces 17,700-worker strike as DS division talks collapse

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🔗 https://aidailypost.com/news/ai-data-centers-projected-use-70-global-ram-by-2026-wsj-reports

Samsung Electronics' labor union recently announced that employees who do not participate in a planned 18-day general strike from May 21 to June 7 ...

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Samsung Electronics is facing a potential general strike by its unionized workers, increasing a sense of uncertainty for the company, ...

Samsung Electronics is facing a potential general strike by its unionized workers, increasing a sense of uncertainty for the company, which is alre...#consumersentiment #excessprofitincentive #generalstrike #geopoliticalrisks #Israel-Iranwar #laboractions #laborunion #marketleader #memorychips #memorydivisionincentives #MiddleEasternsmartphonemarket #NationalLaborRelationsCommission #NationalSamsungElectronicsUnion #Nvidiasupplycompetition #operatingprofitincentive #OPIceiling #samsungelectronics #SamsungElectronicsCoUnion #SamsungElectronicsLaborUnion #semiconductorbusiness #SKhynix #unionizedworkers #wagenegotiations #korea #southkorea #news #northkorea #thekoreatimes #koreatimes #koreatimes #koreannewsinenglish #seoul
Samsung faces growing risks as labor unions move toward strike - The Korea Times