Adidas vs Samsung: Revenue, Profit and Business Model
Adidas reported ~$28B of revenue in FY2025 and ~$1.5B of net income. Samsung reported ~$236.9B of revenue in FY2025 and ~$31.4B of net income.
Latest financial snapshot
Financial summary
Adidas
Adidas reported a ~$84.7 million (EUR75 million) attributable net loss in 2023 after ending the Ye partnership, followed by attributable net income of ~$863 million (EUR764 million) in 2024 and ~$1.51 billion (EUR1.340 billion) in 2025. Sales rose from ~$24.2 billion (EUR21.427 billion) in 2023 to ~$28 billion (EUR24.811 billion) in 2025.
Samsung
Samsung's earnings follow the memory cycle. Revenue fell from ~$215 billion (KRW 302.2 trillion) in 2022 to ~$184 billion (KRW 258.9 trillion) in 2023 during a chip downturn, then recovered to ~$214 billion (KRW 300.9 trillion) in 2024 and ~$237 billion (KRW 333.6 trillion) in 2025, when net income reached about $31.5 billion (KRW 44.3 trillion). In 2026, AI server demand created a memory shortage. Q1 operating profit of ~$40.6 billion (KRW 57.2 trillion) exceeded the full-year 2025 total, and Q2 reached ~$63.5 billion (KRW 89.5 trillion) on ~$122 billion (KRW 171.5 trillion) revenue. Higher memory costs also squeezed Samsung's own devices: the MX and Networks unit lost ~$497 million (KRW 0.7 trillion) in Q2 2026 on ~$23.6 billion (KRW 33.2 trillion) revenue.
Revenue and profit by year
Adidas
| Year | Revenue | Net income | Margin | Growth | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | ~$28B | ~$1.5B | 5.4% | +4.8% | Source |
| FY2024 | ~$26.8B | ~$863.3M | 3.2% | +10.5% | Source |
| FY2023 | ~$24.2B | ~-$84.7M | -0.4% | -4.8% | Source |
| FY2022 | ~$25.4B | ~$691.6M | 2.7% | +6.0% | Source |
| FY2021 | ~$24B | ~$2.4B | 10.0% | +7.0% | Source |
| FY2020 | ~$22.4B | ~$484.8M | 2.2% | -16.1% | Source |
| FY2019 | ~$26.7B | ~$2.2B | 8.4% | +7.9% | Source |
| FY2018 | ~$24.8B | ~$1.9B | 7.8% | +3.3% | Source |
| FY2017 | ~$24B | ~$1.2B | 5.2% | +10.0% | Source |
| FY2016 | ~$21.8B | ~$1.1B | 5.3% | — | Source |
Samsung
| Year | Revenue | Net income | Margin | Growth | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | ~$236.9B | ~$31.4B | 13.3% | +10.9% | Source |
| FY2024 | ~$213.6B | ~$23.9B | 11.2% | +16.2% | Source |
| FY2023 | ~$183.8B | ~$10.3B | 5.6% | -14.3% | Source |
| FY2022 | ~$214.6B | ~$38.9B | 18.1% | +8.1% | Source |
| FY2021 | ~$198.5B | ~$27.9B | 14.0% | — | Source |
Where the revenue comes from
Adidas
- Footwear
~$16.1B (EUR14.232B) in FY2025 net sales (~57%)
Footwear is Adidas' largest revenue category, led by football, running, training, basketball, Originals, Sportswear, Samba, Gazelle, Spezial, and Adizero franchises.
- Apparel
~$9.9B (EUR8.764B) in FY2025 net sales (~35%)
Apparel includes football kits, training, running, Originals, Sportswear, and locally relevant collections that grew strongly in 2025 and Q1 2026.
- Accessories
~$2.05B (EUR1.815B) in FY2025 net sales (~7%)
Accessories include balls, bags, socks, caps, and sport equipment, including Adidas' long-running FIFA World Cup match-ball platform.
- Wholesale
60% of FY2025 net sales
Wholesale remains Adidas' largest channel, relying on retail partners, branded space, key-account relationships, and disciplined sell-in.
- Direct-to-Consumer
40% of FY2025 net sales
DTC includes own retail and e-commerce, giving Adidas more control over consumer experience, pricing, launches, data, and full-price sell-through.
Samsung
- Memory semiconductors
- Foundry and system LSI
- Galaxy smartphones and mobile devices
- Display panels
- TVs and appliances
- Network equipment
- Harman automotive and audio
Business model and strategy
Adidas
How it makes money
Adidas develops and markets footwear, apparel, and accessories while independent manufacturing partners produce most goods. It sells through wholesale partners and direct-to-consumer channels; wholesale represented 60% of 2025 sales and direct-to-consumer represented 40%.
Growth strategy
Adidas is investing in football, running, training, basketball, Originals, and Sportswear while giving regional teams more authority over assortments and marketing. The company uses wholesale and direct-to-consumer channels rather than relying on one distribution model.
Competitive advantage
Adidas combines a recognized 3-Stripes identity, long-standing football relationships, performance products, and archive footwear such as Samba, Gazelle, Superstar, and Stan Smith. Its wholesale network and direct-to-consumer channels provide global distribution.
Samsung
How it makes money
Samsung earns money from two groups of businesses. Device Solutions (DS) makes and sells memory (DRAM, HBM, NAND), System LSI chips such as Exynos processors and ISOCELL image sensors, and contract foundry manufacturing.
Growth strategy
Samsung's growth plan centers on AI memory: ramping HBM4 for Nvidia and AMD accelerators, developing HBM4E, and adding DRAM capacity at Pyeongtaek. In foundry it is pursuing 2nm gate-all-around production and building its Taylor, Texas fab to win customers from TSMC. On the device side it relies on Galaxy AI features, foldables and premium TVs to defend share against Apple and Chinese brands.
Competitive advantage
Samsung's edge is manufacturing scale and breadth. It is the largest memory producer and one of only three major DRAM makers, alongside SK hynix and Micron. That lets it capture pricing upswings like the 2026 AI-driven shortage.
Questions about Adidas vs Samsung
Which company has higher revenue — Adidas AG or Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.?
Adidas AG reported ~$28B (FY2025), while Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. reported ~$236.9B (FY2025). By last reported revenue, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is the larger business, with Adidas AG reporting a smaller revenue base.
What is the market cap of Adidas AG vs Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.?
Adidas AG's market capitalisation stands at $29.0B, while Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.'s is $1.33T. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. carries the higher market valuation, reflecting investors' expectations of its future earnings power relative to Adidas AG.
Which is more financially efficient — Adidas AG or Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.?
Adidas AG generates $432k / employee in revenue per employee, while Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. generates $914k / employee. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. shows higher revenue efficiency per headcount, though this reflects business model differences — capital-light software companies routinely outperform labour-intensive manufacturers on this metric.
How do Adidas AG and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. make money?
Adidas AG and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. generate revenue in fundamentally different ways. Adidas AG: Adidas develops and markets footwear, apparel, and accessories while independent manufacturing partners produce most goods. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.: Samsung earns money from two groups of businesses.
Which company is valued higher relative to revenue — Adidas AG or Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.?
On a price-to-sales (P/S) basis, Adidas AG trades at 1.0x P/S and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. at 5.6x P/S. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. commands a higher revenue multiple, typically indicating that investors expect faster growth or higher future margins compared to Adidas AG. A higher multiple is not inherently better — it may also signal that the stock is priced for perfection.
Is Adidas AG bigger than Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.?
By last reported revenue, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (~$236.9B (FY2025)) is the larger company compared to Adidas AG (~$28B (FY2025)). Revenue scale is one dimension of size — market capitalisation, employee count, and geographic reach are also relevant depending on the context.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Adidas vs Samsung overview