Samsung Soars on AI Boom, Warns of Global Headwinds Despite Record Profits

• Samsung Electronics reported a record-breaking operating profit, more than tripling in Q4, driven by the ongoing AI boom and robust chip demand.
• The company's chip division saw a 470% increase in operating profit, reaching 16.4 trillion won, highlighting its strong pricing power in the memory chip market.
• Despite optimism for continued favorable market conditions in Q1 2026 due to AI, Samsung cautioned about future volatility from factors like tariffs.
• Samsung's mobile profit declined by 10% to 1.9 trillion won, attributed to rising chip prices, while its display business profit doubled due to strong Apple iPhone 17 sales.
• Samsung is on track to ship its next-generation HBM4 chips this quarter, aiming to catch up with rival SK Hynix in the high-bandwidth memory market for AI accelerators.

Why It Matters: Samsung achieved record profits fueled by the AI boom but remains cautious about upcoming global economic challenges.