BMW vs Samsung: Revenue, Profit and Business Model
BMW reported ~$150.8B of revenue in FY2025 and ~$8.2B of net income. Samsung reported ~$236.9B of revenue in FY2025 and ~$31.4B of net income.
Latest financial snapshot
Financial summary
BMW
BMW's financial story has turned from peak to reset in three years. Revenue reached ~$176 billion (EUR155.5 billion) in 2023 with a 9.8% automotive EBIT margin, then fell to ~$161 billion (EUR142.4 billion) in 2024 and ~$151 billion (EUR133.5 billion) in 2025 as China pricing, tariffs and currency weighed. Group profit before tax still stayed above ~$11.3 billion (EUR10 billion) in 2025 (~$11.6 billion (EUR10.236 billion), 7.7% margin), helped by ~$2.82 billion (EUR2.5 billion) of cost cuts and a stable Financial Services business. 2026 is weaker: H1 revenue fell 8.0% to ~$70.4 billion (EUR62.3 billion), Group EBT dropped 29.4% to ~$4.52 billion (EUR4.0 billion), and BMW now guides to a 1-3% automotive EBIT margin and automotive free cash flow above ~$2.82 billion (EUR2.5 billion). Shareholder returns continue through a EUR4.40 dividend for 2025 and a ~$2.26 billion (EUR2 billion) buyback due to finish by November 2026.
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
BMW
| Year | Revenue | Net income | Margin | Growth | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | ~$150.8B | ~$8.2B | 5.5% | -6.3% | Source |
| FY2024 | ~$160.9B | ~$8.2B | 5.1% | -8.4% | Source |
| FY2023 | ~$175.7B | ~$12.8B | 7.3% | +9.0% | Source |
| FY2022 | ~$161.1B | ~$20.3B | 12.6% | +28.2% | Source |
| FY2021 | ~$125.7B | ~$14B | 11.1% | — | 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
BMW
- Automotive
~$133B (EUR117.6B) segment revenue (2025)
Sales of BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce cars, parts and services; the segment's EBIT margin was 5.3% in 2025.
- Financial Services
~$45B (EUR39.8B) segment revenue (2025)
Leasing, retail loans, dealer financing and insurance; new business volume was ~$74.4B (EUR65.8B) in 2025.
- Motorcycles
~$3.5B (EUR3.1B) segment revenue (2025)
BMW Motorrad bikes, parts and gear; segment EBIT margin was 5.7% in 2025.
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
BMW
How it makes money
BMW makes money by designing, building and selling premium cars at prices that carry a brand premium, then earning a second layer of profit from financing them. In 2025 the Automotive segment (BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce) generated ~$133 billion (EUR117.6 billion) of revenue, Financial Services ~$45 billion (EUR39.8 billion) and Motorcycles ~$3.5 billion (EUR3.1 billion) before intra-group eliminations.
Growth strategy
Under CEO Milan Nedeljković, BMW's growth plan is narrower and more regional. The group will cut variants (the 2 Series Active Tourer gets no successor), add top-end models such as the first BMW ALPINA car in 2027 and a US-focused SAV above the X7, and launch a compact Neue Klasse EV for Europe in 2028.
Competitive advantage
BMW's advantage rests on brand depth, engineering credibility and a flexible production network. Customers still pay for BMW driving dynamics, M performance models and Rolls-Royce craftsmanship, which supports pricing even when volumes are flat.
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 BMW vs Samsung
Which company has higher revenue — Bayerische Motoren Werke AG or Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.?
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG reported ~$150.8B (FY2025), while Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. reported ~$236.9B (FY2025). By last reported revenue, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is the larger business, with Bayerische Motoren Werke AG reporting a smaller revenue base.
What is the market cap of Bayerische Motoren Werke AG vs Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.?
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG's market capitalisation stands at $39.8B, 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 Bayerische Motoren Werke AG.
Which is more financially efficient — Bayerische Motoren Werke AG or Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.?
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG generates $976k / employee in revenue per employee, while Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. generates $914k / employee. Bayerische Motoren Werke AG 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 Bayerische Motoren Werke AG and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. make money?
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. generate revenue in fundamentally different ways. Bayerische Motoren Werke AG: BMW makes money by designing, building and selling premium cars at prices that carry a brand premium, then earning a second layer of profit from financing them. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.: Samsung earns money from two groups of businesses.
Which company is valued higher relative to revenue — Bayerische Motoren Werke AG or Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.?
On a price-to-sales (P/S) basis, Bayerische Motoren Werke AG trades at 0.3x 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 Bayerische Motoren Werke AG. A higher multiple is not inherently better — it may also signal that the stock is priced for perfection.
Is Bayerische Motoren Werke AG bigger than Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.?
By last reported revenue, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (~$236.9B (FY2025)) is the larger company compared to Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (~$150.8B (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 BMW vs Samsung overview