Samsung HBM Shipments Expected to Offset Slower General Memory Growth, Analyst Says

Mirae Asset Securities analyst Kim Young-gun said Samsung Electronics' expanding HBM shipments for AI applications are expected to offset the impact of slower growth in general memory chips next year. According to ChainCatcher, the analyst said Samsung's 2027 HBM shipment capacity and average selling price are expected to rise 57% and 49%, respectively, outpacing the projected 16% and 20% growth rates for general memory chips. Mirae Asset said Samsung's earnings will be weighed by a stronger won against the U.S. dollar, but overall profitability is still expected to remain solid. The firm cut its 2026 operating profit forecast for Samsung by 5.7% to 370.057 trillion won and lowered its 2027 forecast by 4.2% to 535.682 trillion won.