Power of Semiconductors
Samsung Electronics saw more than 5 trillion won (US$4.56 billion) in operating profits in Q4 of last year, exceeding market expectations.
Samsung Electronics announced on Jan. 8 that the preliminary figures for its sales were 52 trillion won (US$47.45 billion), while its operating profits were 5.2 trillion won (US$4.74 billion) on a consolidated basis for Q4 of last year. The figures of its sales and operating profits were down 12.28 percent and 37.42 percent, respectively, compared to the same period last year.
Until now, the stock market had estimated Samsung Electronics’ operating profits in Q4 of last year at less than 5 trillion won (US$4.56 billion).
Samsung Electronics achieved the figures with the company clearing out its smartphone stocks in Q4 of last year, seeing the semiconductor boom and the peak season of complete products at the end of the year.
The operating profits in its semiconductor unit are expected to reach 2 trillion won (US$1.82 billion), while the figures in the IT and mobile units are likely to increase to nearly 2 trillion won (US$1.82 billion) in Q4 from the 1.75 trillion won (US$1.6 billion) of Q3.
The operating profits of the consumer electronics unit in Q3 were only 50 billion won (US$45.62 million). However, the figures are expected to more than double in Q4 due to the year-end shopping season, including China’s National Day and Black Friday in the U.S.
Samsung Electronics’ performance had turned south after its highest figures in Q3 2013. Its operating profits nudged up in Q1 of last year. However, the figure plunged to 7 trillion won (US$6.39 billion) in Q2 last year, and then again down to 4 trillion won (US$3.65 billion) in Q3 from 8 trillion won (US$7.3 billion), which the company had maintained.