Samsung approves record $80bn shareholder return; stock falls

Samsung Electronics has approved the largest shareholder return in South Korean corporate history, pledging between 90 trillion and 110 trillion won ($65bn–$80bn) for 2026. The announcement, which follows SK Hynix's 40 trillion won buyback, marks a blockbuster week for shareholder returns among South Korea's chip giants. Despite the record, Samsung's shares fell as much as 2.6% in post-market trading, as investors had expected even more Source: The Next Web.

The package

The board signed off on a return of 90–110 trillion won, about five times Samsung's previous record of 20.3 trillion won set in 2020. Around 30 trillion won will be paid as cash dividends in the third quarter, with details fixed at an October board meeting. The remainder will be decided at a January 2027 board meeting, considering a mix of dividends and buybacks Source: CNBC.

Investor reaction

Investors were disappointed, with some having expected up to 150 trillion won. "Some investors have recently expected up to 150 trillion won of shareholder returns, which explains the post-market share move," said Kim Minji of Must Asset Management Source: The Next Web. The lack of detail on the split between buybacks and dividends also drew criticism. "The real question is how much is incremental and how much comes through buybacks versus dividends," said Albert Yong of Petra Capital Management Source: The Next Web.

Context

Samsung's announcement comes amid a broader trend of South Korean chipmakers returning cash to shareholders. SK Hynix disclosed a 40 trillion won buyback on Wednesday, and both companies are under pressure to share their AI-driven profits. Samsung's stock is up around 135% year-to-date Source: CNBC. The company's foundry business, meanwhile, has raised prices up to 15% for advanced nodes, with Chinese customers paying the steepest increases Source: The Next Web.