Key facts
- Samsung Electronics reported a 1,299.9% surge in net profit to 71.62 trillion won in Q2.
- SK Hynix shares fell as much as 20% after its Q2 profit missed market expectations.
- Standard Chartered's first-half pretax profit rose 9% to $4.78 billion.
- UBS reported a Q2 net profit of $2.8 billion.
- Apple is projected to achieve its strongest June-quarter sales growth in five years.
- General Dynamics raised its 2026 profit outlook.
- Johnson Controls International raised its full-year profit forecast.
- Biogen exceeded Q2 profit and revenue expectations.
- Banco Santander Brasil's Q2 net profit fell 17.6% to R$3.01 billion.
- Qualcomm forecasts Q4 profit and revenue below Wall Street estimates.
- Robinhood Markets reported a Q2 profit of $573 million.
- Electrolux reported a Q2 operating profit of 1.2 billion Swedish crowns.
Global corporate earnings reveal a bifurcated landscape, with significant gains in some sectors contrasted by notable shortfalls in others. Samsung Electronics reported a record second quarter, with net profit surging 1,299.9% to 71.62 trillion won, largely propelled by robust demand for AI-related semiconductors. This performance met market expectations, though its mobile division incurred an operating loss.
In contrast, SK Hynix experienced a sharp decline in its share price, dropping as much as 20% following its second-quarter results. Despite a record profit driven by AI demand, the company failed to meet market expectations, contributing to a broader sell-off among Asian chipmakers. Qualcomm also forecasts weaker-than-expected profits for its fourth quarter, citing supply constraints and rising costs, and anticipates an accelerated revenue drop from Apple, impacting its component share for the upcoming iPhone.
Financial institutions showed varied performance. Standard Chartered reported a 9% rise in first-half pretax profit to $4.78 billion, exceeding analyst estimates and leading the bank to raise its full-year income growth target to 5-7%. UBS announced a second-quarter net profit of $2.8 billion, surpassing expectations due to strong wealth management and investment banking operations, and plans a share repurchase program of up to $3 billion by mid-2025. Robinhood Markets saw its second-quarter profit increase to $573 million, or 62 cents per share, attributed to heightened trading activity amid market volatility.
However, Banco Santander Brasil reported a 17.6% year-over-year decline in net profit to R$3.01 billion, marking its weakest quarterly performance since late 2023 and missing analyst expectations. Electrolux's second-quarter operating profit of 1.2 billion Swedish crowns beat forecasts, but the company noted deteriorating conditions in its key North American market.
Other sectors also showed mixed results. Apple is projected to achieve its strongest June-quarter sales growth in five years, supported by its strategy of maintaining iPhone prices. Biogen exceeded quarterly profit and revenue expectations, driven by strong sales of rare-disease drugs, and now forecasts full-year revenue growth, a reversal from its prior projection of a decline. General Dynamics raised its 2026 profit outlook, citing strength in aerospace and shipbuilding, while Johnson Controls International lifted its annual profit forecast, anticipating continued demand for data center-related products and services. Aon reported a jump in second-quarter profit due to strong demand for commercial risk management offerings, particularly in the construction segment benefiting from data center spending, and reaffirmed its annual revenue growth forecast. European stocks experienced a slight downturn, influenced by mixed luxury earnings from Kering and Hermes, with investors awaiting the Federal Reserve's policy decision and key Big Tech earnings.