Samsung's market value could reach $2 trillion

May 31 (Asia Today) -- Samsung Electronics is drawing market attention as analysts raise the possibility that the South Korean technology giant could eventually reach a $2 trillion market capitalization, helped by artificial intelligence demand, stronger memory chips and possible gains in the foundry business.

Samsung's market capitalization stood at 1,853 trillion won, about $1.23 trillion, based on its latest common-share closing price of 317,000 won, about $210. Including preferred shares, Samsung's combined market value recently topped 2,000 trillion won, about $1.33 trillion, for the first time, according to Korean market reports.

Under current exchange rates, Samsung's common-share price would need to reach about 520,000 won, about $345, to put the company near a $2 trillion valuation, according to Korea Exchange-based estimates. That would require a gain of about 64% from its May 29 closing price.

The outlook is tied to whether Samsung can maintain the current memory upcycle while reducing risks from labor disputes and strengthening its non-memory semiconductor businesses, especially foundry operations.

Samsung has recently drawn attention for its reported multitrillion-won investment in Anthropic, the U.S. artificial intelligence company behind Claude. Anthropic raised $65 billion in a Series H funding round that valued the company at $965 billion, with Samsung, SK hynix and Micron participating as strategic infrastructure partners, according to Korean market reports.

The investment is viewed as more than a financial bet. Industry officials said Samsung's participation as a strategic infrastructure partner could open the door to broader cooperation in memory, AI infrastructure and possibly foundry services.

Samsung's most urgent challenge remains improving its system semiconductor business. Industry officials expect system semiconductors to account for about half of the global chip market this year, but Korean companies hold only a small share. Unlike memory chips, system semiconductors require customized development for each customer, making research and development investment especially important.

Samsung's latest high-bandwidth memory progress has also strengthened investor expectations. The company said it began shipping samples of its industry-first HBM4E chips to global customers, with the 12-layer product designed for next-generation AI workloads. The announcement lifted Samsung shares on optimism over AI memory and foundry opportunities tied to Anthropic-related cooperation.

The memory shortage is widely expected to continue for several years, but labor stability is increasingly seen as a key factor because semiconductor fabs require skilled workers and round-the-clock operations.

According to sustainability reports from Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, the companies' average turnover rates from 2020 to 2024 were 2.1% and 2.3%, respectively. Samsung's Device Solutions division, which handles semiconductors, reported a turnover rate in the 1% range, underscoring the importance of retaining experienced chip workers.

For Samsung to approach a $2 trillion valuation, analysts said it will need to defend its memory competitiveness, show clearer progress in foundry operations and expand AI partnerships with global technology companies.

-- Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

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Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260531010009118

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This story was originally published June 1, 2026 at 12:13 AM.