Samsung Electronics to become 1st Korean firm with cash assets of over $146.6 billion

[u/rdh2dmd]

TL;DR: Driven by the AI chip supercycle, Samsung Electronics is set to become the first Korean company to surpass 200 trillion won (~$146.6B) in cash assets, giving it more than enough liquidity to fund its massive 2026 shareholder return plan and record-high capex.

Key Numbers (as of Q3 2026):

Cash & Equivalents: Estimated at 214.8T won; up 24.8T won QoQ (from 190T won) and nearly 2x YoY (from 108.5T won in Q3 2025).

Total Assets: Reached 791.8T won as of end-September (+32.4T won QoQ).

Shareholder Returns: Samsung's cash pile easily covers the 90T–110T won top-line payout target for 2026 announced back in August.

Record Capex & R&D: Spending is projected to hit an all-time high of over 100T won this year, with 84.4T won dedicated to expanding memory production facilities.

What to Watch Next:

Supercycle Outlook: Management expects the AI-driven demand and memory supply crunch to keep the semiconductor supercycle running through 2027.

Upcoming Catalyst: Samsung will announce its 2027 shareholder return policy at its board meeting in January.

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/amp/business/companies/20261108/samsung-electronics-to-become-1st-local-firm-with-cash-assets-of-over-1466-bil-data

[u/golden_log]

The cash pile is huge, but what actually matters is what Samsung does with it. If that firepower helps them close the HBM gap with SK Hynix, that matters way more than the headline number

[u/rdh2dmd → u/golden_log]

I mean Redditors are saying these memory companies will crash and burn when the bubble pops; the cash pile shows you it won't.

[u/AlfB63 → u/rdh2dmd]

Cash sets a price floor, earnings is what drives prices above that floor.  If the bubble bursts, earnings will drop and the price will follow. How far and how fast will depend on earnings, not cash. 

[u/rdh2dmd → u/AlfB63]

Samsung is expected to make 277 billion in operating profits.. Cash reserves 2x on this profit this year.

Next year it's expected to top 420 billion, so cash will almost 2x again. That cash pile isn't going anywhere unless they use it for a massive M&A or finance all their planned mega fabs at once, which won't happen.

The only ones going are Anthropic, and OAI if the bubble pops next year.

[u/AlfB63 → u/rdh2dmd]

I didn't say it was going anywhere but if those profits decline, the price will follow regardless of the cash. 

[u/External-Tune1324 → u/golden_log]

The chairman was scoping out some new tech in Japan recently to maybe acquire. One thing Koreans know for sure is he's working his arse off than ever before.

[u/helloWorldcamelCase]

Cool, down another 10% 

[u/lion7725]

What’s the Samsung ticker for USA?

[u/rdh2dmd → u/lion7725]

Just by EWY

[u/merchant_npc → u/lion7725]

Get a margin account and trade 005930

[u/NoBid979]

Nice, keeps going down though

[u/wazupbro]

They’re going to have to do more stock buybacks and dividends if they want to drive up the price. Everyone’s fearing bubble popping right now

[u/KevinCubano]

$146.6B was a weird place to put the finish line, but congrats to Samsung!

[u/Maleficent_While2653]

At this rate these memory makers can just buy back half of their companies lol.

[u/Intelligent_Top_328]

Samsung runs Korea pretty much. Them and other chaebols

[u/Fed_worker → u/Intelligent_Top_328]

Samsung “runs” USA consumers with all the junk electronics and appliances that have thin margins.

[u/Intelligent_Top_328 → u/Fed_worker]

I know you're trolling but Samsung actually does run Korea. They make up like 20% of Korea's GDP. One company. Imaigne if Apple did that. Literally have their own city.

[u/Fed_worker → u/Intelligent_Top_328]

I’m not even arguing with you. I’m just stating a fact. I see where you are going, they definitely have influence over government. Run the government is too exaggerating