Samsung Electronics reported a record operating profit of 89.4 trillion won ($58.6 billion) for the second quarter. This performance represents a 19-fold increase from the previous year. Soaring demand for AI memory chips drove the results, which exceeded analyst expectations. Samsung is now positioned to overtake Nvidia for the largest quarterly operating profit among global tech firms.
Despite these historic earnings, Samsung shares fell nearly 7% in Seoul. The announcement triggered a broad sell-off across Asian semiconductor and technology stocks. Investors signaled concerns that the AI chip rally has peaked and current valuations already price in exceptional growth. This market response serves as an AI reality check regarding the sustainability of the current investment cycle.