Samsung, SK hynix Q3 earnings set to surge on AI chip demand

Samsung Electronics and SK hynix are projected to post strong Q3 2025 earnings as demand for advanced memory chips rises with global AI expansion.

Analysts, citing FnGuide, expect Samsung’s Q3 revenue to exceed 83.8 trillion won (US$59 billion), up 6% year-on-year, with operating profit around 9.9 trillion won (US$6.9 billion).

Some forecasts suggest Samsung’s operating profit could surpass 10 trillion won (US$7 billion) for the first time in 15 months.

SK hynix is forecast to report 24 trillion won (US$16.9 billion) in Q3 revenue, a 37% year-on-year rise, and operating profit of 10.8 trillion won (US$7.6 billion), its first above 10 trillion won (US$7 billion) in a quarter.

These predictions follow strong results from Micron Technology, whose revenue and profit jumped 46% and 127% year-on-year.

Analysts cite AI-driven demand for high-bandwidth memory and DRAM, with memory prices rising amid limited supply.

🔗 Source: The Korea Times

🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

Samsung’s Nvidia qualification matters less than the HBM4 capacity race

Samsung cleared Nvidia’s bar for HBM3E, a faster HBM3 for its AI accelerators, but the win is symbolic with small early volumes and came after several failed tries to meet Nvidia’s strict specs 1. The real fight is HBM4. It reached 11 Gbps, ahead of SK hynix at 10 Gbps, while Micron still struggles to meet Nvidia’s 10+ Gbps needs 1.
Samsung holds more ready cleanroom space (controlled areas for chip fabs), which lets it scale faster 1. Wells Fargo warns the company may discount to grab share 1. That could pressure HBM pricing across suppliers 1. Hyperscale AI builds such as OpenAI’s Stargate signal outsized demand for memory. Capacity and yields in 2025–2026 will decide who wins the earnings upside 2.

AI infrastructure boom creates power and cooling equipment opportunity beyond semiconductors

AI data center power demand in the US could jump from 4 GW in 2024 to 123 GW by 2035 3. Single campuses may draw up to 5 GW, which is more than the largest US nuclear plants 3. That opens near-term business for power equipment firms and grid operators 3. American utilities plan $212 billion in capital expenditures (capex) for 2025 3.
Liquid cooling revenue could rise from $3.2 billion in 2025 to $15.3 billion by 2035 4. The driver is AI cabinets that use 30–100+ kW vs 7–10 kW for legacy gear 5. Vendors that build direct-to-chip systems and immersion setups can serve hyperscale sites, 55% of the market 4.