Samsung Electronics reported a 43% rise in first-quarter revenue to 133.9 trillion Korean won, its highest quarterly performance, despite weak demand in some business segments.
In financial results released this week, the company said operating profit rose to a record 57.2 trillion won for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, highlighting strong earnings momentum amid broader market challenges.
Samsung said some units faced pressure from seasonal slowdowns, rising tariffs and higher operational costs.
Samsung Display Corporation reported weaker earnings in its small and medium display segment, citing softer smartphone demand and higher memory prices. The company projected continued uncertainty in the display market in the second half of 2026.
“In Q2 2026, the small and medium display business will focus on sales in the relatively resilient high-end segment,” Samsung said.
The firm added that overall market demand remained weak despite expected resilience in premium categories.
Samsung said its Networks Business recorded lower earnings both quarter-on-quarter and year-on-year due to investment headwinds in the global telecommunications sector.
The Digital Appliances Business posted only limited earnings growth amid rising tariffs and cost pressures, while its Harman International subsidiary also reported lower earnings, reflecting higher costs and seasonal weakness in audio demand.
Despite these challenges, Samsung’s semiconductor division remained its strongest growth driver. The Device Solutions Division reported revenue of 81.7 trillion won and operating profit of 53.7 trillion won, supported by strong demand for artificial intelligence-related memory products.
Samsung said its memory business achieved record quarterly sales and operating profit, driven by products such as HBM4 chips and PCIe Gen6 SSDs.
The company added it had begun mass sales of HBM4 and SOCAMM2 products for NVIDIA’s Vera Rubin platform. Demand for server memory is expected to remain strong through 2026 as enterprises expand artificial intelligence and large language model services, Samsung said.
The company also reported improved performance in its mobile business following new flagship smartphone launches and stronger premium device sales. Samsung said it would continue to focus on AI-driven products, premium offerings and efficiency measures to sustain profitability amid global uncertainties.