Samsung Electronics forecast second‑quarter operating profit of Won89.4tn ($58.4bn), a 19‑fold jump that beats the Won87.3tn consensus and exceeds the company’s full‑year 2025 earnings. Revenue is expected to more than double to Won171tn, marking the third straight quarter of record profit.

The surge reflects acute memory‑chip shortages driven by AI data‑centre build‑out. Samsung and rival SK Hynix are pursuing a $600bn capacity expansion, while analysts see supply tightness persisting into 2027.

Shares have climbed 165 % year‑to‑date, pushing market capitalisation above $1tn, though the stock has pulled back as investors question returns on the massive AI capex.

Broader adoption of autonomous AI agents should keep high‑bandwidth memory demand strong, yet the focus on higher‑margin HBM is squeezing conventional DRAM supply, a dynamic that will shape pricing and margin trajectories for both makers.