As of October 25, 2026, the memory cycle has become an earnings event. Samsung Electronics reports confirmed third-quarter 2026 results, the July 1 to September 30 period, on October 29; SK hynix reports the same window October 28. Consensus puts their combined operating profit near KRW 185 trillion, and the demand is tightening supply from handset costs to the grid.
Key Takeaways
- ▲ Korean makers hold 64.3% of global DRAM revenue and 83% of HBM revenue, both for April 1 to June 30, 2026
- ■ Combined operating profit for the July 1 to September 30 quarter is forecast near KRW 185 trillion
- ▼ More than KRW 70 trillion of grid build-out is due, a prospective figure raising tariff pressure
What the October 28 and 29 filings will show
Samsung’s early-October guidance put third-quarter revenue (July 1 to September 30) at KRW 195 trillion and operating profit at KRW 107.4 trillion, according to Yonhap. Brokers see the foundry unit losing about KRW 1 trillion.
A Yonhap Infomax consensus of ten brokerages puts SK hynix operating profit for that same quarter at KRW 75.97 trillion, near KRW 185 trillion combined, the report said. WiseReport’s separate KRW 189.5 trillion estimate should not be averaged, iNews24 reported.
Why HBM4 sets the tone
The July to September quarter is the first in which HBM4, the sixth-generation high-bandwidth memory, is booked in earnest for Nvidia’s Vera Rubin accelerator. TrendForce estimated DRAM contract prices rose 13% to 18% into the third quarter from the second (April 1 to June 30), with another 10% to 15% expected in the fourth, October 1 to December 31.
TrendForce shows Samsung at 39.4% and SK hynix at 24.9% of global DRAM revenue for the second quarter of 2026, April 1 to June 30; Counterpoint puts SK hynix at 50%, Samsung at 33% and Micron at 18% of HBM revenue that quarter, ETNews reported.
The 64.3% and 83% figures reach readers second-hand through Mezha, cited by Global Economic:
시장조사기관 트렌드포스 집계 결과 2026 년 2 분기 세계 디램 시장에서 삼성전자가 39.4%, 에스케이하이닉스가 24.9% 의 매출 점유율을 기록했다 . 양사 합산 비중은 64.3% 에 이른다 .
English: Samsung held 39.4% of the second-quarter 2026 DRAM market and SK hynix 24.9%, a combined 64.3%.
Is the 2027 outlook semiconductor-only?
This is a forecast covering January 1 to December 31, 2027, not a result. Maeil Business Newspaper’s 2027 outlook describes a split screen: tariffs cloud most sectors, while chips extend an unprecedented boom, according to the report.
What could derail the trade?
Two costs sit outside the memory income statement. Korea Electric Power pressed chipmakers for five years of prepaid tariffs, and more than KRW 70 trillion is due for grid build-out, Herald Business reported:
반도체와 인공지능(AI) 산업에 필요한 전력망 구축에는 70조원 이상이 투입될 예정이어서 전기요금 인상 압력이 커지고 있다.
English: more than KRW 70 trillion is expected to go into the grid those industries need, so pressure to raise tariffs is growing.
Governance is the other drag. SK hynix withdrew Solidigm’s pre-IPO and IPO review after investors objected to what they read as a double listing; authorities also flagged minority-shareholder protection, Maeil Business reported.
FAQ
When does Samsung report third-quarter results?
October 29, 2026, for the July 1 to September 30 quarter; SK hynix reports October 28, according to Yonhap.
How large is the expected combined operating profit?
About KRW 185 trillion for the July to September quarter; WiseReport’s KRW 189.5 trillion is separate.
Which memory segment is driving the quarter?
HBM4 sales for Nvidia’s Vera Rubin accelerator, plus a 13% to 18% DRAM contract-price rise.
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