Samsung's TV and appliance unit posts operating loss in Q3

Samsung Electronics reported record companywide results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2026, but its TV and home appliance businesses fell short. Consolidated revenue reached KRW 195.3 trillion, a 14% increase from the previous quarter and another all-time quarterly high, while operating profit was KRW 107.4 trillion. Samsung said it was the first technology company worldwide to report quarterly operating profit above KRW 100 trillion, according to the company's earnings release.

The Device eXperience (DX) Division, which includes Samsung's consumer electronics businesses, grew revenue 8% from the previous quarter and reported an operating loss of KRW 0.8 trillion. Within that division, Samsung's Visual Display (VD) and Digital Appliances (DA) units together recorded KRW 13.9 trillion in revenue and a KRW 0.2 trillion operating loss.

The VD business, which covers televisions, saw revenue decline because the boost from major sporting events came to an end, Samsung said. Its earnings also decreased due to increased costs. The DA business, which includes home appliances, reported that earnings declined because of higher raw material and logistics costs. That happened even though domestic marketing efforts were stronger and the business saw growth in B2B and subscription sales, according to Samsung.

For the fourth quarter of 2026, the VD business aims to capture peak-season demand by strengthening retail partnerships, using differentiated marketing, and selling more premium TVs to offset rising costs. The DA business plans to sell a larger share of premium appliances to improve profit.

Looking further ahead to 2027, Samsung expects overall TV demand to be flat or decline slightly. The VD business will focus on delivering differentiated TV experiences and strengthening its service and platform businesses. The DA business plans to raise profit by selling more AI-based appliances and expanding high-margin business-to-business sales.

Samsung's Harman business reported higher earnings as audio and automotive sales expanded, with a one-time boost from U.S. tariff refunds. Looking ahead, Harman plans to keep growing steadily by developing new automotive business and strengthening its audio lineup.