Samsung could be on track for one of its biggest financial years yet. A senior researcher at Kiwoon Securities believes the company’s operating profit in 2026 could land between 90 trillion and 100 trillion won, roughly $62 billion to $69 billion. If that prediction holds, it would mark a dramatic leap driven by a mix of memory-market momentum, stronger demand for advanced chip manufacturing, and continued growth across Samsung’s device ecosystem.
One of the biggest engines behind this forecast is memory. The outlook points to visible gains in Samsung’s next-generation high-bandwidth memory business, particularly HBM4, which is becoming increasingly important as AI accelerators and data centers scale up. The same forecast also factors in a sharp rebound in traditional memory as well, including an estimated 56% jump in general-purpose DRAM prices. On top of that, rising NAND flash prices are expected to lift Samsung’s revenue and profitability, giving the company another tailwind after a challenging period for the broader memory industry.
At the same time, Samsung’s foundry business is under pressure to prove it can compete at the cutting edge—and 2nm gate-all-around (GAA) is the center of that story. The company has previously been expected to bring its foundry operations into profitable territory by 2027, so boosting 2nm GAA yields is a major near-term priority. Improving yields matters because it directly affects cost, output, and customer confidence—three things Samsung must strengthen if it wants to win more long-term contracts for advanced wafers.
There are already signs of progress. Samsung’s 2nm GAA process has reportedly secured orders from two Chinese cryptocurrency mining equipment manufacturers. The company is also said to have signed a major $16.5 billion deal with Tesla, which could help drive volume and reinforce its credibility as a leading-edge manufacturing partner. As production ramps and yields improve, Samsung has a better chance of turning advanced-node interest into repeat business and a broader customer base.
High-profile chip projects could also serve as major proof points. Samsung’s first major test of its 2nm GAA capabilities is expected to be the Exynos 2600, a chipset anticipated to appear in the Galaxy S26 series. How that chip performs—both in efficiency and real-world results—could shape perceptions of Samsung’s ability to produce competitive processors at 2nm, and it could influence future product strategies and customer confidence in the foundry roadmap.
Samsung’s engagement with other chip designers is another piece of the growth puzzle. Samples tied to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 have reportedly been provided for evaluation on Samsung’s 2nm GAA technology. While the broader impact may be more visible with next year’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, even evaluation activity signals continued interest in Samsung’s advanced nodes—especially if the company can demonstrate strong yields and consistent performance.
Beyond foundry and memory, other analysts see additional drivers building momentum into 2026. One researcher from KB Securities points to increased orders tied to Google’s TPU efforts. There’s also an expectation that expanded memory supply and higher Galaxy smartphone sales could contribute meaningfully, aided by deeper integration of Google’s Gemini experience. If those consumer and enterprise trends align, Samsung would benefit from multiple profit streams at once—memory, foundry, and mobile all reinforcing the same upward cycle.
Put together, the most bullish projection suggests operating profit could reach 100 trillion won in 2026, representing an estimated 129% year-over-year increase. While such an outcome depends on pricing, demand, and execution—especially at 2nm—the message is clear: Samsung’s next big leap hinges on winning more of the AI-era memory race and proving it can deliver reliable, high-yield advanced manufacturing at scale.
