Samsung and SK hynix post record Q3 2026 profits as HBM4 sales climb
Samsung's DS division reported 106.5 trillion won in operating profit and SK hynix an 80% margin, with 2027 HBM volume sold out at target prices.
Samsung Electronics and SK hynix both announced third-quarter 2026 results and held conference calls on October 29, 2026, reporting record figures driven by memory demand. Samsung's Device Solutions (DS) division posted revenue of 147.1 trillion won and operating profit of 106.5 trillion won, according to techm.kr. Its memory business alone brought in 140.7 trillion won, up 16% quarter-on-quarter and 427% year-on-year.
SK hynix reported revenue of 104.615 trillion won and operating profit of 83.334 trillion won, an operating profit margin of 80%. Executives from both companies said high-bandwidth memory (HBM) and long-term agreements (LTAs) now underpin a large share of future output. Samsung said HBM4 accounted for about 60% of its third-quarter HBM revenue, and that its 2027 HBM volume is sold out at target prices.
Capacity sold out as LTAs expand
Samsung is negotiating LTAs with 10 major customers and aims to cover 60-70% of its 2030 capacity with such deals. It plans to begin mass production of HBM4E in the first half of 2027, with capacity expansion in the second half. For the fourth quarter of 2026, Samsung expects DRAM bit growth to rise by a mid-to-high 10% range and NAND by a mid 10% range quarter-on-quarter.
SK hynix said it has completed LTAs with 14 companies, including global cloud service providers, on a five-year basic term. The company said its 2029 DRAM and HBM volume is effectively sold out, and that LTA-allocated volume covers more than 50% of total 2027 and 2028 capacity. It expects fourth-quarter DRAM bit growth in the mid-20% range and NAND in the mid single-digit range quarter-on-quarter.
On shareholder returns, SK hynix withdrew the planned IPO of its SSD unit Solidigm and announced a 100 trillion won return policy that includes a special dividend of 20,000 won per share. Samsung declared a third-quarter cash dividend of 2,601 won per common and preferred share, totaling 30 trillion won, and said it will decide its final 2026 shareholder return and 2027 policy in January 2027.
SK hynix's Solidigm traces back to the company's acquisition of Intel's SSD business, which was folded into the subsidiary.
Quick answers
What were Samsung's and SK hynix's Q3 2026 operating profits?
Samsung's Device Solutions division posted operating profit of 106.5 trillion won, while SK hynix reported 83.334 trillion won at an 80% margin.
When will HBM4E enter mass production?
Samsung said HBM4E mass production will begin in the first half of 2027, with capacity expansion in the second half.
What dividend did Samsung declare for Q3 2026?
Samsung declared a cash dividend of 2,601 won per common and preferred share, totaling 30 trillion won.