SEOUL, South Korea-Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.’s profit jumped almost 40 percent in the fourth quarter, but the gains were largely driven by the company’s semiconductor and TV businesses. Samsung’s wireless business saw a slight rise in sales quarter over quarter but a drop in operating profit.
Samsung, the world’s third-largest mobile phone maker, recorded a 7.7 percent operating margin in its phones business. The company shipped 27.2 million mobile phones in the quarter.
Samsung is the first mobile phone maker to report first quarter earnings. Motorola Inc. is scheduled to report earnings Thursday.
