Samsung Shares Fall as Shareholder-Return Plans Disappoint — Update
By Sherry Qin
Samsung Electronics' shares fell despite the company posting a fourth straight quarter of record earnings, as investors were disappointed by its delayed shareholder-return plans.
Shares of the South Korean memory-chip giant fell by more than 5% on Thursday before paring some losses. The share-price moves came despite the company reporting quarterly operating profit topping 100 trillion won, equivalent to $74.52 billion, making it the first major global technology company to cross that threshold.
Samsung's shareholder-return plans offered no upside surprise, prompting disappointment-driven selling, said Shinhan Securities analyst Kang Jin-hyuk.
Samsung reaffirmed Thursday that it would return 90 trillion won to 110 trillion won to shareholders for 2026, with details to be finalized in early 2027.
So far, the company has already planned or completed 35 trillion won in shareholder returns, including 30 trillion won in dividends.
Samsung's delayed shareholder-return plans contrast with those of its peer SK Hynix, which announced a $75 billion shareholder-return plan alongside record profit a day earlier.
Investors are increasingly unimpressed by blockbuster earnings from AI-related companies and are demanding concrete proof of monetization.
"This highlights the real challenge of navigating an equity market with elevated expectations," Counterpoint Research's MS Hwang said.
Write to Sherry Qin at sherry.qin@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
October 29, 2026 00:51 ET (04:51 GMT)
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