Samsung Electronics has put forward some historical forecasts for the first quarter of 2026which point to a profit surge rarely seen in the technology industry. The South Korean manufacturer of memory chips, mobile phones, and displays expects to break its own records in a context marked by the explosion of artificial intelligence and heavy investment in data centers and agreements for manufacture the most advanced chips.
According to preliminary data submitted by the company, the Suwon-based group is confident of closing the January-March period with a unprecedented operating profit and equally record salesThis is significantly higher than the figure recorded a year earlier. This rebound, driven primarily by the semiconductor business, follows a very positive 2025 and reinforces Samsung's position as one of the world's leading technology companies, including in European markets.
An operating profit that multiplies by more than eight
The South Korean company estimates that its Operating profit will reach approximately 57,2 trillion won in the first quarter of 2026This equates to approximately $38.000 billion or €32.890 billion at the current exchange rate. It is the group's largest quarterly result ever, marking a new high in its financial history.
The leap is striking when compared to the 6,69 trillion won of operating profit recorded in the same period of 2025The year-on-year improvement is around 755%, meaning Samsung estimates that its operating profit will be more than eight times higher than what it obtained a year earlier at the start of the fiscal year.
The company also emphasizes that, compared to immediately preceding quarter (fourth quarter of 2025)Operating profit would grow by around 185%. This implies that the rebound not only has a year-on-year recovery component, but also confirms a notable acceleration compared to the close of the previous fiscal year.
These preliminary figures have been prepared in accordance with accounting standards. K-IFRS and they are located at the midpoint of the ranges used by Samsung itself, which range from 57,1 to 57,3 trillion won in the case of estimated operating profit.
Record sales driven by semiconductors and artificial intelligence
In terms of revenue, Samsung Electronics estimates that its Revenues between January and March 2026 will amount to approximately 133 trillion wonThis translates to approximately $88.200 billion and nearly €76.470 billion for the company. This forecast also marks a quarterly high for the technology conglomerate.
Compared to the first quarter of 2025, when revenue was around 79,14 trillion won (about 52.514 billion dollars)The increase would be close to 68% year-over-year. This is a very significant rise for a company of this size, which was already experiencing strong revenue growth in 2025 related to its memory chip and storage solutions business.
Compared to the immediately preceding quarter, Samsung anticipates a sales growth of approximately 41,7%This reflects that the business's surge is not a one-off event, but rather has maintained an upward trend since the end of 2025. Revenue forecasts are in the range of 132 to 134 trillion won, with the published estimate falling in the midpoint of that range.
Much of the impetus comes from what is known as device solutions divisionwhich encompasses the semiconductor business. The growing demand for high-performance memory chips and advanced components for data centers and services Artificial Intelligence It has become the main driver of results, a phenomenon that is also being felt in Europe, where operators, large technology companies and industrial companies are accelerating their AI-related projects.
Market reaction and effect on the Seoul Stock Exchange
The publication of the forecast report has had a immediate impact on financial marketsOn the Seoul Stock Exchange, Samsung Electronics shares surged by around 2,41% during the first hour of trading after the estimates were released, and subsequently closed the session with a gain of around 1,76%, to 196.500 won per share.
This move adds to the strong appreciation that the stock has accumulated so far this year, with a rise of close to 52% in 2026Driven by expectations surrounding the memory chip business and the expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure, this growth positions Samsung as a major player in a South Korean market that closely monitors the technology sector.
The drag effect was also noticeable in the main benchmark index, the KospiThe index rose by more than 1% after the figures were released, surpassing the 5.500-point mark. In the first part of the session, the index was up 70,7 points, representing an approximate increase of 1,3% compared to the previous close.
Other relevant stocks on the South Korean stock exchange, especially in the technology sector, benefited from the positive tone. The main local competitor in the memory business, SK HynixIt recorded gains of over 3%, while automakers such as Hyundai Motor advanced around 1% and Kia remained stable, confirming the generally positive atmosphere in the market.
Context for 2025 and expectations for the end of the quarter
Samsung's forecasts for the first quarter of 2026 are based on a 2025 is already very solid financiallyThroughout that period, the company would have achieved a net profit of around $30.000 billion and an operating profit close to $29.000 billion, figures that already reflected a clear improvement compared to previous years marked by the adjustment of the memory cycle and by the AI chip delay.
The performance of the memory chip and advanced solutions division, key in applications of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and data centersThis was the main support for that annual result. The recovery in demand, after a period of oversupply and falling prices, has allowed Samsung to take advantage of its production scale and its weight in the global market.
In this context, the market now awaits the full presentation of the first quarter financial resultsThe company expects to publish this detailed report at the end of the month. It will confirm the extent to which each division (semiconductors, consumer electronics, mobile, displays, etc.) has contributed to the projected record and how revenue is geographically distributed—an aspect closely watched in Europe and Spain due to its impact on the technology supply chain.
Looking ahead to the coming months, analysts and fund managers will be keeping a close eye on the evolution of memory prices, investments in production capacity and potential supply chain tensions, factors that can influence both margins and component availability for European device manufacturers and for large cloud and AI projects in the region.
With these forecasts, Samsung consolidates its position as one of the key players in the race to supply advanced chips and memory solutions to major artificial intelligence platforms and data center operators. The record operating profit and sales forecast for the first quarter of 2026 reinforces the idea that the company has managed to position itself at the epicenter of the current wave of technological investment, a factor that will continue to be key for Asian markets and also for the digital development of Europe and Spain in the coming years.
