Operating Profit

Toyota has revised its full-year operating profit forecast upward to 3.4 trillion yen, despite a 1.45 trillion yen hit from U.S. tariffs. The September quarter’s operating profit, however, fell short of analyst estimates due to these tariffs, with a nearly 28% year-over-year decline in quarterly profit despite increased revenue. Toyota is exploring exporting U.S.-made vehicles to Japan in response to trade agreements. Analysts expect continued pressure on profitability, with potential recovery contingent on trade stability and currency fluctuations amidst growing EV competition.

SK Hynix surpassed Samsung Electronics in operating profit in 2024, achieving 21.33 trillion won, driven by a strong performance in the memory chip market. South Korea’s 1,000 major listed companies also saw record profits, with a 92.7% increase from 2023. While Samsung had significantly higher revenue, SK Hynix’s operating profit margin was much higher. The CXO Institute predicts SK Hynix to maintain its lead in 2025.