Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are projected to post record third-quarter operating profits as AI-server demand and rising memory prices strengthen suppliers’ bargaining power. FnGuide’s consensus as of Sept. 30 puts Samsung’s operating profit at 110.2803 trillion won, up 806% from a year earlier and 23% from the previous quarter, while SK Hynix is expected to post 78.0577 trillion won, up about 29% sequentially. Their combined estimate is 188.338 trillion won, which would mark Samsung’s first quarter above 100 trillion won in operating profit. TrendForce expects third-quarter average selling prices to rise 13% to 18% for general-purpose DRAM and 10% to 15% for NAND flash. Brokerages have raised several price targets, citing expanding AI investment, inference workloads and AI agents, with some analysts expecting memory shortages to persist through 2027. Other analysts see the consensus as too optimistic, pointing to a stronger won, slower DRAM price increases, business-specific costs and changing HBM shipment and revenue-recognition patterns. DS Investment & Securities forecasts combined profits of 174 trillion won, while BNK Securities expects 180.6 trillion won.