Sean Daily

This is an English version of our Korean article, based on public information as of October 4, 2026. Please check the official sources below for the latest details.

Read the original Korean article

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When Do the Q3 Preliminary Earnings Come Out?

In its October 4 weekly outlook article, the Korea Economic Daily reported that Samsung Electronics’ Q3 preliminary earnings will be announced on the 8th. Samsung Electronics files its preliminary earnings first, usually within about a week after the quarter ends, and the most accurate way to confirm the exact date is the company’s filing. Some media outlets mention other dates, so please treat them as reference only.

Preliminary earnings are a quick first release of the big numbers such as revenue and operating profit. Details by division and the outlook for the second half come later in the final earnings announcement and the conference call. For Q2, the final results were released on July 30.

The timing matters this time too. Because the release comes ahead of the Bank of Korea’s Monetary Policy Board meeting (October 22) and the US FOMC (October 27–28), these numbers are getting extra attention as they arrive at a time when market sentiment and the exchange rate are sensitive.

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How Did Q2 Turn Out?

According to the Samsung Electronics Newsroom, consolidated revenue in Q2 2026 was KRW 171.5 trillion and operating profit was KRW 89.5 trillion. Revenue grew 28% and operating profit 56% from the previous quarter, and both are the biggest quarterly results ever.

Most of the profit came from the semiconductor (DS) division. DS operating profit was KRW 89.2 trillion, almost the same as the company-wide operating profit. By contrast, the consumer devices (DX) division posted an operating loss of KRW 0.8 trillion, affected by factors such as higher component costs. Samsung Electronics also said that the exchange rate added about KRW 3.1 trillion to operating profit compared with the previous quarter.

Division	Revenue	Operating profit
Company-wide	KRW 171.5 trillion	KRW 89.5 trillion
DS (semiconductors)	KRW 127.5 trillion	KRW 89.2 trillion
DX (consumer devices)	KRW 48.0 trillion	KRW -0.8 trillion
Display	KRW 7.5 trillion	KRW 0.7 trillion
Harman	KRW 4.6 trillion	KRW 0.4 trillion

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What Does the Market Expect for Q3?

Brokerage forecasts cluster around KRW 100 trillion. IBK Investment & Securities (IBK투자증권) expects Q3 revenue of KRW 195.2 trillion and operating profit of KRW 101.7 trillion. That operating profit would be about 13% higher than the previous quarter. It forecast DS division operating profit of KRW 101.8 trillion, and expects losses to continue on the consumer devices side, including an operating loss of KRW 1.1 trillion in the mobile and networking business.

Expectations have come down a little recently. According to NH Investment & Securities (NH투자증권), the Q3 operating profit consensus (the average estimate of brokerages) was revised down from KRW 113.1 trillion at the start of this month to KRW 109.5 trillion now. The reason given is that the won has strengthened sharply since the start of Q3, which reduces the won-converted value of profits earned in dollars.

Item	Revenue	Operating profit	Note
Q2 final results	KRW 171.5 trillion	KRW 89.5 trillion	Announced by Samsung Electronics
Q3 forecast by IBK Investment & Securities	KRW 195.2 trillion	KRW 101.7 trillion	Estimated operating margin 52.1%
Q3 consensus compiled by NH Investment & Securities	–	KRW 109.5 trillion	Revised down from KRW 113.1 trillion earlier this month
Q4 consensus compiled by NH Investment & Securities	–	KRW 120.8 trillion	Expected to rise from the previous quarter

For Q4, NH Investment & Securities put the consensus at KRW 120.8 trillion. Analysis was also presented that supply of HBM4, the sixth-generation high-bandwidth memory, is getting tight, leaving room for chip prices to rise further. Still, all of these numbers are brokerage forecasts, so they may differ from actual results.

It also helps to know the market mood. According to the Korea Economic Daily, NH Investment & Securities put the expected KOSPI range for this week (October 5–8) at 6,500–7,500, and saw it as a week when Samsung Electronics’ earnings announcement is added to macro variables such as US Treasury yields and international oil prices. There is some wariness that results could fall short of expectations, while others hold the view that the long-term growth trend in the semiconductor industry remains valid.

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4 Things to Watch in This Announcement

First is the exchange rate. When the won-dollar rate falls, the same dollar revenue shrinks when converted to won. The head of the Bank of Korea’s price statistics team also explained that a falling exchange rate can reduce the won-converted amount of semiconductor companies’ profits. In Q2 the exchange rate boosted profit, but check whether it worked in the opposite direction in Q3.

Second is memory prices and HBM4. In its Q2 announcement, Samsung Electronics said it had increased HBM4 supply and shipped HBM4E samples. It also gave an outlook that strong semiconductor demand would continue in the second half, and the key question is how well the Q3 numbers back up that outlook.

Third is the consumer devices (DX) division. The DX division, which posted a loss in Q2, continues to face higher component costs. IBK Investment & Securities expects the losses in mobile and in video display and home appliances to grow. How big the weakness in consumer devices is amid the strong semiconductor results is another checkpoint.

Fourth is shareholder returns. IBK Investment & Securities expected that share buybacks would not be large but that shareholder returns through dividends would be the largest ever. However, this is a brokerage’s expectation, and the actual decision must be confirmed through the company’s filings.

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How It Affects Your Daily Life

Even if you do not own Samsung Electronics shares directly, there can be an effect. It is a heavyweight in the domestic stock market, so the KOSPI’s movement can change depending on the earnings result, and some people hold it indirectly through funds, ETFs or retirement pensions. You can check the holdings of a product you have joined in the asset manager’s materials.

One common misconception is that good earnings mean the stock rises. The market often prices in a certain level of expectations already, so whether the figure is above or below the consensus matters more. This time too, forecasts vary from the KRW 109 trillion range to just over KRW 100 trillion, so the assessment can differ depending on which number you use as the benchmark.

It is also linked to the exchange rate. A stronger won helps with import prices and the cost of overseas online shopping, but it can weigh on exporters’ won-converted profits. Keep in mind that the same exchange rate change works differently for people and for companies. Investment decisions should be made carefully at your own judgment and responsibility.

On the day of the announcement, check it this way. First, see how the reported revenue and operating profit compare with the consensus, then check whether there is an explanation of the semiconductor division’s share of profit and the exchange rate effect. Finally, looking at how the Q4 and next-year outlook come out in the final earnings and the conference call that follow will make it easier to read the trend.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is the difference between preliminary and final earnings?

Preliminary earnings are a release that first announces the big numbers such as revenue and operating profit after the quarter ends, while final earnings are announced later and include division details and the second-half outlook. Samsung Electronics released its Q2 final results on July 30.

Q. What is a consensus?

It is the average of earnings estimates from multiple brokerages. Each brokerage differs in when and how it estimates, so the number differs slightly depending on the compiling institution. This article presents both the figure compiled by NH Investment & Securities and IBK Investment & Securities’ individual forecast.

Q. If operating profit tops KRW 100 trillion, will the stock rise?

You cannot say for sure. The reaction differs depending on whether it is above or below market expectations and on the outlook released alongside it. Other variables such as the exchange rate, interest rates and foreign investor flows also have a big effect.

Q. Where can I check the earnings announcement?

You can check Samsung Electronics’ fair disclosure on the Financial Supervisory Service’s electronic disclosure system (DART), or read it on the Samsung Electronics Newsroom. Major news outlets also report it as breaking news right after the announcement.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any financial product or to invest. Please make investment and financial decisions at your own judgment and responsibility.