TLDRs;
- Samsung heirs plan to sell $1.2B worth of shares to pay inheritance taxes and settle loans.
- The sale follows a strong 84% year-to-date rally in Samsung’s stock amid AI and chip optimism.
- Analysts view the sale as part of a long-term tax settlement strategy following Lee Kun-hee’s death.
- Despite minor concerns among retail investors, Samsung remains one of the top-performing Asian tech stocks in 2025.
Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) stock continued its upward momentum this week, surging after the family of company chairman Jay Y. Lee announced plans to sell approximately $1.2 billion worth of shares to meet tax and loan obligations.
The sale comes at a time when Samsung’s market value has climbed to historic levels, driven by optimism in artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductor markets.
According to a regulatory filing released late Friday, Lee’s mother Hong Ra-hee and his sisters Lee Boo-jin and Lee Seo-hyun will collectively offload around 17.7 million shares, equivalent to a 0.3% stake in Samsung Electronics. The sale will be managed by Shinhan Bank through a trust agreement and is scheduled for completion by April 2026.
The proceeds from the sale will go toward covering a portion of the family’s estimated 12 trillion won ($8.4 billion) inheritance tax bill following the 2020 passing of patriarch Lee Kun-hee.
Samsung Shares Extend Yearlong Gains
Shares of Samsung Electronics have been on an extraordinary run in 2025, soaring more than 84% since the start of the year and setting multiple record highs in recent weeks. On Friday, the stock gained 0.2%, closing at 97,900 won ($68.85).
The rally has been fueled by optimism surrounding Samsung’s semiconductor business, particularly its expanding role in the AI chip market. The company has secured supply deals with major players such as Tesla and OpenAI and is expected to supply its latest high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips to Nvidia.
Earlier this month, shares surged 6.1% in a single session to hit 94,400 won, with Morgan Stanley raising its price target to 111,000 won on expectations of a sustained memory chip “supercycle.”
“Samsung’s discount compared to global peers is narrowing fast,” said Shawn Oh, an equities trader at NH Investment & Securities. “Investors now believe Samsung won’t miss the AI wave this time.”
Managing Taxes, Supporting Stock Value
Industry experts note that the Lee family’s share sale is not a reflection of waning confidence in Samsung but rather a continuation of its long-standing effort to resolve hefty inheritance taxes.
Park Ju-gun, head of Leaders Index, commented that Samsung’s 10 trillion won share buyback plan last year was designed to protect the stock’s value while allowing the family flexibility to raise liquidity for tax payments.
“With the stock now near the 100,000-won mark, the family is seizing an opportune moment to make progress on their tax obligations,” Park said. “Still, some retail investors may see this move as a dampener given Samsung’s symbolic role as South Korea’s national stock.”
Retail Optimism Remains High
Despite mild concerns that insider selling could weigh on sentiment, investor confidence remains robust. Nearly five million retail shareholders hold Samsung stock, viewing it as a cornerstone of the South Korean market.
Samsung’s dominance in both consumer electronics and semiconductors continues to underpin optimism, with analysts projecting further growth in memory and AI chip demand through 2026.
The company’s strategic partnerships with global AI leaders have reinforced its position at the heart of the tech hardware renaissance.
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