Analysts expect Samsung Electronics' Q3 operating profit to surge nearly
ninefold YoY to KRW106.1 trillion (about $79.1bn), driven by strong AI demand,
though forecasts have been cut nearly 8% since late August. If realized, it
would mark a fourth consecutive quarter of record operating profit and far
exceed KRW12.17 trillion a year earlier. Slowing memory-chip price gains and a
firmer won are cited as headwinds, stoking concern that chip margins may have
peaked and raising questions about the durability of AI-driven spending. SK
Securities analyst Han Dong-hee estimates Samsung's Q3 memory-chip operating
margin at 76%, unchanged from the prior quarter. Samsung will publish
preliminary Q3 results on Thursday; full figures are due in late October.
