DRAM price surge boosts profits for Samsung, SK hynix, and Micron

Samsung’s latest earnings guidance indicates a significant increase in profitability, driven by a tightening memory market fueled by AI-led demand and constrained supply. The company reported consolidated sales of approximately 93 trillion won in the fourth quarter of 2025, with an operating profit of around 20 trillion won. These figures, which are midpoints, suggest a strong performance for Samsung, with more detailed results expected to be released later this month.

As highlighted in previous reports by eeNews Europe, the resurgence in memory pricing has led to suppliers prioritizing server and high-bandwidth memory products, leaving other segments scrambling for available resources. This shift in focus is now evident in both pricing forecasts and financial outcomes across the industry.

DRAM Price Surge Driving Earnings Growth

According to TrendForce, conventional DRAM contract prices are projected to increase by 55–60% quarter-on-quarter in the first quarter of 2026, with NAND flash contract prices also expected to rise by 33–38% quarter-on-quarter. Specifically, server DRAM pricing is anticipated to surge by over 60% quarter-on-quarter, reflecting the redirection of capacity towards AI servers and HBM technologies.

This market landscape explains Samsung’s optimistic outlook for the quarter and the positive impact on its competitors. SK hynix, for instance, reported record-high quarterly performance in the third quarter of 2025, driven by HBM and high-performance server products. Similarly, Micron is experiencing a similar momentum, positioning memory and storage as crucial components in enabling AI technologies as datacentre expansions gain momentum.

Implications of the DRAM Price Surge for Buyers

For system builders and OEMs, the surge in DRAM prices presents challenges as AI infrastructure demands cutting-edge memory solutions, while traditional client markets still require a steady supply for PCs, mobile devices, and consumer SSDs. TrendForce predicts that client SSD contract prices will increase by at least 40% quarter-on-quarter in the first quarter of 2026, as suppliers shift NAND production towards datacentre SSDs.

While the DRAM price surge may bolster margins for memory manufacturers in the early part of 2026, it also creates pressure on bill-of-materials costs for other sectors, especially those unable to easily pass on the increased expenses. Samsung has indicated that its guidance is based on K-IFRS midpoints, with a more detailed breakdown expected to be disclosed on January 29, 2026.