Samsung overtakes Nvidia and becomes the world’s most profitable company

In 2026, Samsung DS, Samsung’s semiconductor manufacturing division, is expected to generate more profit than it has over the past 40 years. In the second quarter of this year, Samsung generated $58.5 billion in total operating profit.The South Korean manufacturer is the world’s most profitable company for this period, surpassing Nvidia.

Samsung is currently the world’s most profitable company

Samsung reported its financial results for the group as a whole for the second quarter of 2026, and the figures are astronomical. During this second quarter, Samsung generated 58.5 billion dollars in operating profit. The South Korean manufacturer can thus boast the achievement of beating Nvidia’s quarterly profit ($53.54 billion) and, in the process, becomes the world’s most profitable company for this period.

During the first quarter of 2026, Samsung DS (Device Solutions), Samsung’s division dedicated to manufacturing semiconductors, generated operating profit of 53.7 billion won on its own (approximately $35.1 billion), accounting for 94% of the group’s total profits. Kim Yong-Kwan, president and head of management, strategy and operations for Samsung Electronics’ Device Solutions division, said, “This year’s profit will exceed the cumulative profit generated over the past 40 years since we entered the semiconductor market.” Analysts forecast Samsung’s annual operating profit at close to 300 billion won ($196 billion) for 2026.

Strikes, accusations, stratospheric profits: AI is shaking up Samsung

These stratospheric figures are, of course, explained by the surge in prices for RAM and storage chips driven by the frenzied development of artificial intelligence. This market is currently experiencing an unprecedented crisis, causing prices to skyrocket.

While the leading semiconductor manufacturers benefit from it (Samsung, Micron, TSMC, etc.), others accuse them of having caused this price increase. For Samsung DS employees, the situation is no calmer either. Last April, 48,000 of them had begun a major strike, mainly because their pay was not commensurate with the company’s profits. Since then, an agreement has been reached with bonuses of up to €300,000, but here too, objections have arisen, pointing to an internal social divide. The development of AI enables Samsung to generate record profits, but also places the company in several crisis situations.

👉🏻 Follow tech news in real time: add 01net to your sources on Google, and subscribe to our WhatsApp channel.

Source: Tom's Hardware