High RAM prices mean record-setting profits for Samsung and other memory makers

Recent months have seen significant supply shortages and soaring prices for RAM and storage, creating challenges for PC enthusiasts and builders. While we have yet to witness substantial price hikes in memory-reliant products such as pre-built laptops, smartphones, and graphics cards, experts anticipate changes on the horizon if these shortages persist. In the midst of this turbulent market, memory manufacturers are capitalizing on high demand and elevated prices, achieving remarkable profits. Samsung Electronics recently announced its revenue forecast, projecting an operating profit between 19.9 and 20.1 trillion Korean won (approximately $13.8 billion USD) for Q4 2025. This marks a significant increase from the 6.49 trillion won reported in Q4 2024. Although Samsung's business encompasses more than just memory, the company's fortunes are closely tied to its memory division, which faced a downturn in 2023 due to an oversupply that cost billions. Other memory-centric companies are also enjoying record earnings. SK Hynix reported its best quarterly performance ever in Q3 2025, with an operating profit of 11.38 trillion Korean won (about $7.8 billion), up from 7.03 trillion in the same quarter of 2024. This increase was attributed to enhanced investments in AI infrastructure and a surge in demand for AI servers, driving its operating margin from 40 percent to 47 percent. Micron Technology, which has opted to exit the consumer RAM and storage markets while continuing to supply other businesses, also saw a significant year-over-year increase in net income, climbing from $1.87 billion in Q1 2025 to $5.24 billion in Q1 2026. This achievement has led to the company’s highest-ever free cash flow. CEO Sanjay Mehrotra noted that total company revenue, as well as revenue from DRAM, NAND, and data centers, reached unprecedented levels in fiscal Q1. Despite these optimistic financial reports, consumers looking to build or upgrade their PCs are experiencing pain at the checkout, with the price of a 32GB DDR5-6000 memory kit skyrocketing from $80 in August 2025 to $340 today. Given the ongoing AI boom, it appears that these challenges may persist in the near future.