In early trading on the 6th, Samsung Electronics is up more than 3%. With its first-quarter results set to be released on the 7th, investor sentiment appears to have improved on expectations in the securities industry that annual operating profit could exceed 300 trillion won.
As of 9:13 a.m. that day, in the Korea Exchange main market, Samsung Electronics is trading at 192,700 won, up 6,500 won (3.49%) from the previous session.
Brokerages are sharply raising their earnings forecasts to reflect rising memory prices. Korea Investment & Securities Co. raised its target price to 330,000 won, saying Samsung Electronics' operating profit this year could exceed 300 trillion won.
Kim Yeon-jun of Korea Investment & Securities Co. said, "Prices for both DRAM and NAND are estimated to have risen by about 90% from the previous quarter," and noted, "Operating profit from memory semiconductors will be 4.83 trillion won, accounting for 96% of companywide operating profit."
Accordingly, Korea Investment & Securities Co. adjusted its outlook for this year's average selling price (ASP) growth to reflect the upward revisions to first- and second-quarter price increases. Conventional DRAM was raised from 186% to 221%, and NAND from 92% to 248%.
Reflecting this, the 2026 operating profit estimate for Samsung Electronics was raised about 50% to 302 trillion won from 202 trillion won. The 2027 operating profit outlook was also increased to 392 trillion won from 277 trillion won.
Meanwhile, Samsung Electronics is scheduled to announce its preliminary first-quarter results on the 7th.