Samsung Electronics crossed the $1 trillion market‑cap mark today, spurred by a surge in memory‑chip orders that lifted its shares 14.4%. The milestone makes the Korean giant the second Asian firm after TSMC to hit the trillion‑dollar threshold, underscoring the profitability of its semiconductor division.

Last quarter’s semiconductor unit posted $36 billion in operating income, far outpacing the $24.4 billion analysts had forecast. The windfall reflects robust server‑memory demand and Samsung’s progress on its 1.4nm process, while the company eyes large‑scale 2nm customers as Apple prepares to shift its iPhone 18 line to that node.

Amid rumors that Apple is courting Samsung and Intel to diversify its chip supply, Samsung pledged to lock in flagship SoC design wins in the second half of 2026. With Apple’s iPhone 17 shipments hampered by shortages of TSMC‑made chips, Samsung’s valuation surge positions it as a viable alternative supplier for future Apple silicon.