Samsung Electronics has announced an optimistic forecast for the second quarter of 2024, estimating that its operating profits will reach $7.5 billion, representing a 15-fold increase compared to the same period last year.
In addition to this projection, Samsung confirmed a 10-fold increase in its profits for the first quarter of this year. This significant increase is attributed to the “excessive demand for artificial intelligence (AI) chips in data centers and smartphones.” This growing demand has driven memory chip prices up by 15% compared to the previous quarter, suggesting a recovery in the $160 billion memory chip market post-COVID decline.
However, this announcement comes at a time of internal tension, as Samsung workers went on strike last month and are preparing for a three-day union stoppage at key chip manufacturing plants due to wage disputes.
Despite this promising start to the quarter, investors maintain concerns about Samsung’s position in the market against smaller rivals like SK Hynix, whose stock prices have significantly increased. Furthermore, the lack of approval for Samsung’s latest chips by NVIDIA adds uncertainty about its future competitiveness.
Samsung Electronics has provided earnings guidance for the second quarter of 2024, with the following estimates based on K-IFRS:
– Consolidated Sales: Approximately 74 trillion Korean won.
– Consolidated Operating Profit: Approximately 10.4 trillion Korean won.
These figures represent the midpoint of the estimated ranges provided:
– Sales: Between 73 and 75 trillion Korean won.
– Operating Profit: Between 10.3 and 10.5 trillion Korean won.
For historical reference, the consolidated K-IFRS figures for the first quarter of 2024 and the second quarter of 2023 are as follows:
– 1Q 2024: Sales of 71.92 trillion Korean won and operating profit of 6.61 trillion Korean won.
– 2Q 2023: Sales of 60.01 trillion Korean won and operating profit of 0.67 trillion Korean won.
The impressive profit projection from Samsung reflects a strong recovery and growth in the memory chip sector, driven by AI technology demand. However, internal challenges and market competition pose uncertainties that the company will need to navigate in the coming months.