January 7, 2026 /SemiMedia/ — Samsung Electronics is set for a sharp rise in fourth-quarter profit as shortages of memory chips push prices higher, according to market estimates.

Global supply of conventional memory has remained tight as chipmakers continue to prioritize capacity for AI-related processors. At the same time, demand from servers and data centers has stayed firm, driving up prices for DRAM over recent months.

Memory shortages push DRAM prices higher

LSEG’s SmartEstimate, which weights forecasts from analysts with a strong track record, puts Samsung’s operating profit for the October–December quarter at about 16.9 trillion won, up from 6.49 trillion won a year earlier. That would mark the company’s strongest quarterly performance since 2018.

Some analysts have raised their forecasts further in recent weeks. Stronger-than-expected increases in DRAM prices have led several firms to project Samsung’s fourth-quarter operating profit at above 20 trillion won.

Rising memory prices drive Samsung’s profit rebound

Samsung’s business exposure helps explain the sensitivity. The company has a large share of its capacity in conventional DRAM, where price increases have been most pronounced during the current supply squeeze, analysts said.

DRAM chips are widely used in servers, personal computers and smartphones to store data temporarily and support system performance. Demand for DDR5 DRAM, which offers higher bandwidth and improved power efficiency, has grown quickly in data centers, adding pressure at the high end of the market.

DDR5 demand adds pressure to tight memory supply

The supply tightness is being felt across the industry. In December, Micron Technology said its adjusted profit for the second quarter would be nearly double Wall Street expectations, and its chief executive warned that memory supply could remain constrained beyond 2026.

For Samsung, the impact of the shortage is already visible in quarterly earnings rather than longer-term guidance.