As a result of the second quarter of 2017, Samsung Electronics probably outpaced Apple and became the most profitable technology company in the world, according to The Wall Street Journal. Last week, the South Korean giant announced the preliminary results of the past quarter, according to which Samsung's operating profit in April-June 2017 increased by 72% and reached 14 trillion won (12.1 billion US dollars). This is a record for the company in its history since its founding in 1969, notes The Korea Times.

Apple, the largest company in terms of market capitalization, has not yet published quarterly figures, but according to estimates of S & P Global Market Intelligence, the operating profit of the US corporation recording the decline in iPhone sales in the three-month period should be only $ 10.6 billion.

For the first time, Samsung outperformed Samsung in terms of profitability against the backdrop of growing revenues in its semiconductor business. According to Morgan Stanley, chips provide about 60% of Samsung's total operating profit. In addition, a positive role was played by the release of the new flagship smartphone Galaxy S8. Against this background, the company's revenue also reached a record level of 60 trillion won (more than 52 billion dollars), Samsung announced.

In addition, the high demand for memory chips probably allowed Samsung to outperform the processor giant Intel, which for decades held the title of the leader in the semiconductor industry by sales. According to the forecast of Nomura Securities, in the last quarter, Samsung earned $ 15.1 billion on the implementation of its chips, while Intel's revenue is expected to reach $ 14.4 billion.

South Korean analysts believe that the semiconductor business Samsung has a lot to grow, and in the second half of 2017, Samsung will beat new records.

"In the third quarter, Samsung's operating profit will rise to a new historic high of 15.

2 trillion won ($ 13.2 billion), thanks to a boom in the chip market and the recovery of the mobile unit," predicts Hue Investment & Securities analyst Song Myung Soup Sup).

The specialist added that the growth will be promoted by the seasonal rise in the supply of DRAM and NAND flash memory chips. It is expected that against this background, Samsung's semiconductor business operating income in July-September will reach 9.4 trillion won (8.2 billion dollars).