Samsung Electronics is expected to announce a shareholder return programme worth more than 100 trillion won—approximately $72 billion—later this month, according to South Korean media reports. The proposed package could include a special dividend as the technology group shares record profits from the global artificial intelligence chip boom with investors.
Board decision expected in August
Samsung is preparing to hold a board meeting at the end of August to approve the new policy, MoneyToday reported, citing unidentified industry sources.
The company would allocate 50% of its free cash flow to the programme. A special cash dividend is reportedly among the measures being considered, although the final balance between dividends, share repurchases and other forms of capital return has not been disclosed.
Samsung declined to comment on the media reports, meaning the size, structure and timing remain subject to approval by its board.
AI boom creates a cash mountain
The potential payout follows an exceptional period for Samsung’s semiconductor business. Demand for memory used in artificial intelligence servers and data centres has driven prices higher and produced record earnings for South Korea’s two leading chipmakers.
Samsung reported second-quarter operating profit of 89.5 trillion won, with its semiconductor division accounting for almost all of the group’s earnings. Revenue reached a record 171.5 trillion won as restricted supply and accelerating AI investment supported prices for conventional memory and advanced high-bandwidth products.
The improvement has strengthened Samsung’s balance sheet while increasing calls for the company to return more of its growing cash reserves to shareholders.
Investors demand a greater share
Samsung’s existing policy covering 2024 to 2026 provides for the return of 50% of cumulative free cash flow. It includes regular annual dividends totalling approximately 9.8 trillion won, with additional distributions possible when surplus capital is available.
The reported programme would be significantly larger than Samsung’s existing regular dividend commitment. Analysts have argued that stronger dividends and buybacks could raise the company’s valuation and help reduce the longstanding “Korea discount”, under which South Korean companies frequently trade below comparable international businesses.
Retail investor platform ACT has also campaigned for a large share buyback and greater shareholder oversight of performance bonuses paid to Samsung employees.
SK Hynix increases the pressure
Samsung’s reported plans come immediately after rival SK Hynix announced a 40 trillion won share buyback and cancellation programme—the largest shareholder return initiative announced by a publicly listed South Korean company.
SK Hynix will repurchase up to approximately 24 million shares between 20 August and 19 November. It has also committed to returning more than 50% of the free cash flow generated between 2025 and 2027.
The announcement increased pressure on Samsung to provide investors with a clear and competitive capital allocation plan.
Balancing payouts with expansion
Samsung must nevertheless balance shareholder rewards against enormous investment requirements. The company is expanding semiconductor production, developing new AI memory products and increasing spending on research, advanced manufacturing and international facilities.
A return programme exceeding $72 billion would signal that Samsung believes it can finance those investments while distributing a substantial part of its AI-driven profits.
For shareholders, the decisive details will be whether the programme relies mainly on dividends or buybacks—and whether Samsung presents it as a one-off distribution or the beginning of a more permanent shift in capital policy.
REFH – Newshub, Asia, 20 August 2026
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