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Samsung Electronics, the global leader in memory chips, smartphones, and televisions, has released its fourth-quarter operating profit estimate, revealing a significant shortfall compared to analyst expectations. The South Korean tech giant reported an estimated operating profit of 6.5 trillion won.
Samsung's fourth quater results, although a remarkable 131% increase from the same period last year, missed the consensus estimate of 7.7 trillion won, as projected by LSEG SmartEstimate.
The disappointing earnings were attributed to a number of factors, including Samsung’s struggles in the high-end chip market, where it faced fierce competition from rival SK Hynix. The company has been notably lagging behind SK Hynix in supplying premium chips to Nvidia, a key player in the semiconductor industry. Nvidia's demand for advanced chips, particularly those used in data centers and artificial intelligence (AI) applications, has surged in recent months, but Samsung has not kept pace with its competitors.
Samsung's business of designing and contract manufacturing logic chips also experienced a downturn during the quarter. The slowdown in global smartphone demand, combined with lower factory utilization rates and rising research and development costs, contributed to the overall decline in earnings from this segment. These challenges are particularly evident in the mobile industry, where demand has remained sluggish due to economic uncertainties and changing consumer preferences.
While Samsung’s estimated Q4 profit is still substantially higher than last year’s figures, it marks a significant decline of 29% from the previous quarter. This drop in earnings highlights the ongoing challenges faced by Samsung’s semiconductor business, which has long been a major driver of the company's overall profitability. The slowdown in chip demand, coupled with intense competition from other memory chipmakers, has put pressure on Samsung's market position in recent months.
Despite the disappointing earnings report, Samsung’s shares initially dropped by 1% in early trading following the announcement. However, they later rebounded and rose more than 1%, suggesting that investors remain cautiously optimistic about the company's future prospects, particularly in the long term.
Samsung's ability to regain momentum in its semiconductor business will be crucial to its overall performance in 2025. As competition in the chip industry intensifies, Samsung will need to adapt to changing market dynamics and invest in new technologies to stay competitive. The company’s ability to meet the growing demand for high-end chips, especially those used in AI and data centers, will play a pivotal role in shaping its financial outlook in the coming months.
A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck offshore near Taiwan’s north-eastern county of Yilan late on Saturday, shaking buildings across the island, including in the capital Taipei, authorities said.
Brigitte Bardot, the French actress whose barefoot mambo in And God Created Woman propelled her to international fame and reshaped female sexuality on screen, has died at the age of 91, her foundation said on Sunday.
Iran is engaged in a “comprehensive war” with the United States, Israel, and Europe, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated on Saturday.
Japan’s tourism sector has experienced a slowdown after China’s government advised its citizens to reconsider travel to Japan, following remarks by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding Taiwan.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Sunday praised the country’s armed forces as “invincible warriors” during a year-end ceremony honouring the Bolivarian National Armed Forces, held in the coastal city of La Guaira.
China has given the nod for car makers to sell Level 3 self-driving vehicles from as early as next year after it approved two electric sedans from Changan Auto and BAIC Motors.
Warner Bros Discovery’s board rejected Paramount Skydance’s $108.4 billion hostile bid on Wednesday (17 December), citing insufficient financing guarantees.
Ford Motor Company said on Monday it will take a $19.5 billion writedown and scrap several electric vehicle (EV) models, marking a major retreat from its battery-powered ambitions amid declining EV demand and changes under the Trump administration.
Iran has rolled out changes to how fuel is priced at the pump. The move is aimed at managing demand without triggering public anger.
U.S. stock markets closed lower at the end of the week, as investors continued to rotate out of technology shares, putting pressure on major indices.
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