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THE INVESTOR]
Samsung Electronics’ earnings in the first quarter are widely expected to beat market estimates helped by its robust chip business, a local security firm said on March 21.
NH Investment & Securities said Samsung is forecast to post an operating income of 9.6 trillion won (US$8.59 billion) for the January-March period, hovering far above the market estimate of 8.9 trillion won.
By sector, Samsung‘s chip business will rake in 6.1 trillion won in operating income, with the mobile, display and consumer electronics divisions logging 2.1 trillion won, 980 billion won and 380 billion won, respectively, it said.
The brokerage house said Samsung enjoyed improved sales of DRAM and 3-D NAND products, which will recoup losses from a seasonal decline in demand for display and mobile products.
NH Investment said Samsung’s mobile business will get back on track after the release of the presumed Galaxy S8, which will be showcased this month.
By Alex Lee and newswires (
alexlee@heraldcorp.com)