LAB-11.76%
Market Analysis
Tech Giant Samsung Cuts Jobs as Stock Plummets 20% in 2024
Samsung Electronics plans to cut thousands of jobs globally, primarily outside South Korea, as it faces market challenges and a declining stock price.
Editorial disclosureRead more
All reviews, research, news and assessments of any kind on The Tokenist are compiled using a strict editorial review process by our editorial team. Neither our writers nor our editors receive direct compensation of any kind to publish information on tokenist.com. Our company, Tokenist Media LLC, is community supported and may receive a small commission when you purchase products or services through links on our website. Click here for a full list of our partners and an in-depth explanation on how we get paid.
Samsung Electronics Co., the world’s largest maker of memory chips and smartphones, is poised to implement significant job cuts across its global operations, according to a Bloomberg report published on October 1, 2024. The tech giant, grappling with market challenges and a sharp decline in its stock value, aims to streamline operations and improve efficiency through this widespread restructuring.
Samsung to Conduct Layoffs that Can Affect Up to 10% of Worldwide Workforce
The layoffs, which are part of a worldwide reduction plan, are primarily targeting Samsung’s operations in Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.
According to Bloomberg, approximately 10% of the workforce in these regions could be affected, though the impact may vary by subsidiary. Samsung’s overseas staff, numbering around 147,000 and representing more than half of its total 267,800 employees, are expected to bear the brunt of these cuts. The company has stated it does not plan layoffs in its home market of South Korea.
Samsung’s decision comes as the company faces significant challenges in key markets. The tech giant has fallen behind competitors in developing memory chips for artificial intelligence and has made limited progress in custom-made chip production. These setbacks, coupled with broader market pressures, have contributed to a more than 20% slide in Samsung’s share price since the beginning of 2024.
Samsung Stock is Struggling in 2024
As of September 30, 2024, at 3:30 PM GMT+9, Samsung’s stock was trading at 61,500.00 KRW on the Korean Stock Exchange, down 4.21% for the day. The company’s market capitalization stands at 409.027 trillion KRW, with a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.03 and a forward P/E of 7.78.
Despite recent underperformance, with year-to-date and one-year returns lagging behind the KOSPI Composite Index, Samsung has outperformed the index over a five-year period with a 41.87% return.
Analyst sentiment remains cautiously optimistic, with recommendations leaning towards “Buy” or “Strong Buy.” However, recent labor issues, including protests and strikes in India, have added to the company’s challenges.
Disclaimer: The author does not hold or have a position in any securities discussed in the article.
Tim Fries
Tim Fries is the cofounder of The Tokenist. He has a B. Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan, and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Tim served as a Senior Associate on the investment team at RW Baird's US Private Equity division, and is also the co-founder of Protective Technologies Capital, an investment firm specializing in sensing, protection and control solutions.
