LGE forecast to top Samsung in Q4 operating profit

SEOUL, Dec. 25 (Yonhap) -- LG Electronics Inc. is expected to overtake bigger rival Samsung Electronics Co. in fourth-quarter operating profit for the first time in seven years, a market research firm said Thursday.

According to financial information provider FnGuide Inc., LG Electronics is
expected to post 206.8 billion won (US$158 million) in operating profit for the
October-December period, while Samsung Electronics is forecast to record an
operating loss of 147.2 billion won.
LG Electronics said that if the market forecasts hit the mark, it will the first
time since the fourth quarter of 2001 that its quarterly operating profit has
exceeded that of Samsung Electronics.
Market watchers attributed LG's expected better performance to Samsung's
struggling chip segment, which has seen its operating profit margin sink amid
falling prices stemming from an oversupply.
LG's solid performance in the handset and home electronics markets is also
responsible, they said.
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