Samsung Electronics tripled its operating profit in the fourth quarter of 2025 from a year earlier to a record high, thanks to a jump in chip prices.
The figure was 20 trillion won ($13.81 billion), up from 6.49 trillion won a year earlier, according to preliminary data. The result exceeded the consensus forecast of analysts surveyed by FactSet (17.68 trillion won) and the previous record (17.57 trillion won) recorded by the company in the third quarter of 2018.
Samsung’s quarterly revenue in the fourth quarter rose 23 per cent to a record 93 trillion won, the company said in a statement.
Samsung’s operating profit for the full year 2025 rose 33 per cent to 43.53 trillion won, while revenue rose 11 per cent to 332.77 trillion won, according to preliminary data.
The semiconductor business is becoming increasingly important to Samsung, already accounting for more than half of the company’s profits. Chip prices rose significantly last year due to a shortage in the market amid rising demand for AI technology.
Samsung shares were down 1.6 per cent at the end of trading on Thursday. The preliminary report was released after the market closed, with the company’s full fourth-quarter report to be released later this month.