Samsung Posts Record Quarterly Profit on AI Memory Boom, but Shares Slip

Samsung Electronics reported a record quarterly profit, underscoring how the artificial-intelligence boom is powering a dramatic recovery in the memory-chip business. In preliminary guidance for the second quarter of 2026, the South Korean technology giant estimated operating profit of about 89.4 trillion won, roughly $59 billion, a near 19-fold increase from a year earlier and its highest ever, while revenue came in around 171 trillion won. The surge was driven by soaring demand for advanced memory, including high-bandwidth memory used in AI servers, which has lifted prices for DRAM and NAND chips and restored profitability across the semiconductor division. Yet despite the blockbuster figures, Samsung's shares fell more than 6% as revenue narrowly missed market expectations and investors took profits after a strong run, a reminder that in an AI-driven market even exceptional results can disappoint if they fall short of near-flawless. Full financial results, including a breakdown by division, are due at the end of July. The report reinforces South Korea's position as a bellwether for global technology demand.