Samsung has published its earnings report for 2023. As expected, the company suffered a steep decline in operating profit despite a relatively health consolidated sales revenue. Poor semiconductor demand hurt it big time, with the business unit posting a loss for the first time in 14 years.
Samsung suffered an 85% profit decline in 2023
According to Samsung’s official press release, the company made KRW 67.78 trillion (approx. $50.8 billion) in sales revenue and KRW 2.82 trillion (approx. $2.1 billion) in operating profit in the fourth quarter of 2023. The figures respectively mark a 3.8% and 34.5% year-on-year (YoY) decline from the same period in 2022.
While this already looks bad for a global conglomerate, it had even worse financial performance in the previous three quarters of last year. The year-end quarter was a more positive one. Its profit margin for October-December 2023 was 4.2%, up from 3.6% in the third quarter and 1% in the first two quarters.
With such a poor show throughout the year, Samsung’s operating profit for the whole of 2023 was just KRW 6.57 trillion (approx. $4.9 billion). That is despite a consolidated sales revenue of KRW 258.94 trillion (approx. $194 billion). The company generated a profit of KRW 43.38 trillion in 2022 when its revenue was KRW 302 trillion. Last year, its profit declined 85% YoY, while revenue dropped only 14%.
In 2023, Samsung was hit hard by a global decline in semiconductor demand and prices. The DS Division, which encompasses the semiconductor business, posted a loss throughout the year. It was the company’s first loss from the chip business in 14 years, since the global financial crisis of 2008. All other major business divisions fared relatively well for Samsung last year.
Samsung expects a better financial performance in 2024
Samsung expects its earnings to improve in 2024. The company plans to focus on improving profitability by increasing sales of “high value-added products,” while the component businesses aim to meet the demand for advanced products, such as generative AI. The Device eXperience (DX) Division, which includes the smartphone business, will bring more AI features to smartphones and other products.
As far as the semiconductor business is concerned, Samsung projects a recovery in demand this year as the smartphone market rebounds after a slowdown in 2023. There are still various potential obstacles, including interest rate policies and geopolitical issues, but the Korean firm likely expects the chip division to return to profitability in 2024. It remains to be seen whether Samsung manages to turn the tide this year. The company will publish its Q1 2024 earnings report in April.
2024-01-31 15:06:00