Core Viewpoint - Samsung Electronics is expected to achieve an operating profit exceeding 10 trillion KRW for the first time in about a year in Q3 2023, driven by improvements in its high bandwidth memory (HBM) and foundry businesses, alongside strong global sales of its Galaxy series smartphones and the upcoming mass production of its 2nm Exynos 2600 mobile application processor [1][3][4]. Group 1: Financial Performance - Samsung Electronics' Q3 2023 sales are projected to reach 82.7 trillion KRW, with an operating profit of 10.7 trillion KRW, marking a return to the 10 trillion KRW profit club [3]. - The company's operating profit has seen a significant decline from 10.44 trillion KRW in Q2 2022 to 4.7 trillion KRW in Q2 2023, reflecting challenges in the HBM market and missed opportunities in the AI sector [1]. - Analysts predict that Samsung's operating profit could rise to 12 trillion KRW in Q4 2023, with a target stock price adjustment to 10.5 trillion KRW [3]. Group 2: Business Developments - Samsung has signed a contract worth approximately 23 trillion KRW to produce the next-generation AI6 chip for Tesla, indicating a potential recovery in its foundry business [2]. - The company is also set to supply image sensors to Apple and has secured a contract for IBM's next-generation Power11 data center chip, suggesting a strengthening of its foundry capabilities [2]. - The anticipated mass production of the Exynos 2600, which has received positive evaluations from global verification agencies, could lead to its integration into all models of the upcoming Galaxy S26 smartphone [2]. Group 3: Market Position and Future Outlook - There is speculation that Qualcomm may resume semiconductor foundry production with Samsung, following contracts with Tesla, Apple, and IBM, which could further stabilize Samsung's foundry business [3]. - Financial analysts expect Samsung's sales to grow by 12% year-on-year to 358 trillion KRW in the next year, with operating profit projected to increase by 66% to 53.4 trillion KRW, marking the highest performance in eight years [4].

Core Viewpoint - Apple is considering acquiring two AI companies, Mistral and Perplexity, to enhance its capabilities in the generative AI space, where it has been lagging behind competitors [1][4][11]. Group 1: Company Profiles - Mistral, a European AI startup, has rapidly increased its valuation to $10 billion within two years, receiving significant investment from Nvidia during its Series B funding round [6][9]. - Perplexity, known for its conversational search capabilities, has emerged as a strong competitor in the AI search domain, attracting support from Nvidia and Amazon [10]. Group 2: Strategic Implications - The acquisition of Mistral could allow Apple to integrate lightweight AI models into its ecosystem, enhancing user experience across its devices [9][16]. - Integrating Perplexity's search capabilities with Siri could provide a more comprehensive information retrieval system for Apple users, potentially transforming the way information is accessed on Apple devices [10][16]. Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Apple is perceived to be falling behind in the AI race, with competitors like Samsung and Google already implementing advanced AI features in their products [13][14]. - The urgency for Apple to acquire these companies stems from the need to catch up with rivals who have made significant advancements in AI technology [11][16]. Group 4: Acquisition Dynamics - There is uncertainty surrounding the potential acquisition, with Perplexity's representatives indicating they are focused on acquiring other companies rather than being acquired [19][20]. - Both Apple and Mistral have remained silent on the acquisition discussions, which is typical behavior for companies during negotiation phases [21].

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly state an investment rating for the industry or company [23]. Core Insights - The overall operating profit for Samsung Electronics in Q2 2025 was 4.7 trillion KRW (approximately $3.37 billion), a significant decline of 55.2% compared to 10.44 trillion KRW in the same period of 2024, marking a six-quarter low [1][9]. - Revenue for the same period was 74.6 trillion KRW (approximately $53.5 billion), showing a slight increase of 0.7% from 74.07 trillion KRW year-over-year [1][9]. - The semiconductor and device solutions division reported an operating profit of only 400 billion KRW, down 93.8% from 6.5 trillion KRW year-on-year, indicating a major impact on profitability due to weak chip sales [1][9]. Business Guidance and Performance - DRAM business guidance for Q3 2025 anticipates high single-digit percentage growth in shipments quarter-over-quarter, with Q2 2025 performance showing low double-digit percentage growth [2][10]. - NAND business guidance for Q3 2025 expects approximately single-digit percentage growth, while Q2 2025 performance exceeded guidance with over 20% growth quarter-over-quarter [2][10]. - The mobile (MX) division expects growth in smartphone shipments and average selling price (ASP) for Q3 2025, while tablet shipments are forecasted to decline [2][10]. Profitability and Cost Control - The overall operating profit margin contracted by 2.2 percentage points to 6.3% in Q2 2025 [3][11]. - The mobile division maintained double-digit profitability despite declines in some component prices [3][11]. - Measures to improve NAND profit margins include increasing the sales share of server SSDs [3][12]. AI Strategy and Related Products - Samsung is experiencing strong demand related to AI, particularly for HBM3E and high-density DDR5 server products, driving a recovery in its memory business [4][13]. - The company is developing next-generation AI memory products, including HBM4, which offers twice the performance of HBM3E [4][14]. - Samsung is collaborating with major tech firms like Google to develop AI functionalities, including Cross App interfaces and Gemini Live [4][14]. Order Situation - Samsung secured a significant order worth $16.5 billion from Tesla for next-generation products utilizing advanced process technologies [5][15]. Inventory Status - DRAM inventory decreased to below normal levels in Q2 2025, while NAND inventory has significantly reduced for two consecutive quarters [5][16].

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the eSIM industry Core Insights - The eSIM technology represents a significant evolution in telecommunications, transitioning from traditional physical SIM cards to embedded SIMs, which are crucial for the Internet of Things (IoT) and 5G applications [7][8] - The report highlights the global adoption of eSIM technology, with various countries commercializing it and establishing a robust industrial ecosystem, while also addressing challenges in standardization and data security [7][8] Industry Development Overview - The report outlines the historical development of telecommunications cards, detailing the evolution from magnetic cards to IC cards, SIM, USIM, and finally to eSIM technology [15][20][22] - eSIM technology is characterized by its ability to support remote configuration and management, making it suitable for a wide range of applications in consumer electronics and IoT [23][49] Current Status of eSIM Industry Technical Standards - The GSMA has established a comprehensive standardization framework for eSIM technology, which is recognized by international organizations, facilitating its global interoperability and scalability [40][44] - The report notes that the CCSA and TAF are actively developing eSIM standards in China, aligning with international standards while promoting innovation [46][48] Application Areas - eSIM technology is increasingly utilized in consumer electronics, enabling seamless network switching for travelers and enhancing connectivity for remote work and e-commerce [49][50] - In the IoT sector, eSIM technology is gaining traction across various industries, including smart homes, healthcare, automotive, and energy management, due to its flexible configuration and efficient management capabilities [51][52] Market Size - In 2023, global eSIM chip shipments reached 446 million, with significant contributions from smartphones, tablets, and wearables [58][60] - The report forecasts that by 2025, approximately 1 billion eSIM-enabled smartphones will be connected globally, indicating a strong growth trajectory for the eSIM market [62] Industry Chain - The eSIM industry chain is well-established in the US and Europe, with key players in chip manufacturing, security certification, and product design leading the market [68]