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Samsung Electronics said its profits surged 76% in the last three months of
2012, helped by sales of its Galaxy smartphones.
Net income rose to a record 7.04tn won ($6.6bn; 4.2bn), up from 4.01tn won in
the same period a year earlier, beating analysts' expectations.
The Korean firm said its mobile profits more than doubled over the same period.
Last year, Samsung became the world's biggest smartphone maker, overtaking
Apple, its main rival in the sector.
"Overall its earnings momentum remains intact," said Lee Se-chul, from Meritz
Securities in Seoul.
"Smartphone shipments will continue to grow, even in the traditionally weak
first quarter, as Samsung's got a broader product line-up and Apple appears to
be struggling in pushing iPhone volumes aggressively."
Samsung did not provide data on the number of smartphones it had shipped, but
analysts estimate it sold 63 million smartphones in the quarter.
The strong sales numbers come after Apple shares tumbled 12% in the US on
Thursday, over fears the company was losing its edge in key smartphone markets.
Apple had reported record quarterly revenues of $55bn, but there was
disappointment over sales of the company's new iPhone 5.
Galactic sales
Samsung said its Galaxy line of smartphones and tablets has been its top
seller, driving profits.
The handsets division, which sells about a quarter of all mobile phones in the
world according to analysts, saw an operating profit of 5.44tn won, up from
2.56tn won a year earlier.
Earnings were also helped by Samsung's displays unit, which made a profit,
after losses a year earlier.
The unit enjoyed a sales boost from its organic light-emitting diodes (OLED)
screen, used in the Galaxy smartphones.
Samsung smart phone The Galaxy line of products from Samsung has been a huge
success
The firm said its capital spending this year will be similar to 2012 levels,
despite analyst expectations that it would be cut.
'Decelerating demand'
However, it did caution that increased competition in the smartphone sector
could lead to a softening of demand in some regions.
"The furious growth spurt seen in the global smartphone market last year is
expected to be pacified by intensifying price competition, compounded by a slew
of new products," the company said in its earnings statement.
"In the first quarter, demand for smartphones in developed countries is
expected to decelerate, while their emerging counterparts will see their
markets escalate with the introduction of more affordable smartphones and a
bigger appetite for tablet PCs throughout the year."
Both Apple and Samsung are facing tough competition in markets such as China
from smartphone-makers with more competitive prices.