Samsung Electronics Net Profit Surges Fivefold to 47.22 Trillion Won in First Quarter 2026

Samsung Electronics Co. 22 trillion won for the three months ended March 2026. 22 trillion won in the first quarter of 2025.

The increase stemmed from robust demand for high-end memory chips used in artificial intelligence applications, according to the company's statement. 68 trillion won a year earlier. 14 trillion won in the same period of 2025.

Kr reported that the record quarterly operating profit and sales were primarily driven by robust sales of high-margin AI chips and rising memory prices in the device solutions division. S. 8 trillion won to the operating profit.

The company expects solid performance in the second quarter of 2026, as continued heavy investment in AI infrastructure by global technology firms supports memory chip prices. Major tech companies, including Meta Platforms Inc. , have ramped up spending on data centers and related hardware, boosting demand for AI chips.

Samsung Electronics plans to expand the supply of sixth-generation high bandwidth memory (HBM4) in 2026. At its annual shareholders meeting in March 2026, the company stated it would consider placing greater emphasis on securing multiyear contracts to stabilize supply. Such contracts could support pricing and provide a buffer against cyclical downturns, Samsung Electronics said at the meeting.

The company has 75,380 unionized workers, who are demanding that 15 percent of annual operating profit be allocated for employee compensation each year. The union has threatened to launch an 18-day general strike starting May 21, 2026, unless the company presents an acceptable performance-based pay framework. kr reported these labor developments amid the earnings release.