SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA / RankWire.AI / – According to Brand Finance, the brand value of Samsung Group reached US$97.4 billion in 2026. This figure represents an 8.9% increase from US$89.4 billion reported the previous year. Samsung secured the eighth spot among the world’s most valuable technology brands, dropping one position from 2025. It remains the sole South Korean brand in the global top 10 of the sector. This outcome keeps Samsung within a group largely led by prominent US technology firms.
The study valued the top 100 technology brands worldwide at US$3.7 trillion, marking a 15% rise from US$3.2 trillion in 2025. US-based companies accounted for over 75% of this total, with 46 firms included in the list. Apple, Microsoft, and Google maintained the top three positions. Nvidia advanced three places to fifth after its brand value more than doubled to US$184.3 billion. Despite Samsung’s increased valuation, its ranking slipped by one position due to Nvidia’s rapid growth.
South Korea’s five leading technology brands had a combined valuation of US$135.3 billion, up 8% from the previous year. This sum places South Korea third globally, behind the US and China. SK hynix experienced a 15% rise to US$15.8 billion and was ranked 28th. LG declined 9% to US$9.6 billion, placing it at 44th. Naver increased 11% to US$3.7 billion, while Coupang grew 10% to US$8.8 billion.
Semiconductors Drive Brand Valuation
Brand Finance attributed Samsung’s growth mainly to its leadership in memory chips and semiconductors. The report also highlighted strong demand for advanced memory solutions as a key factor underpinning its valuation. Samsung’s operations span semiconductors, smartphones, televisions, home appliances, and digital services—giving the brand a foothold in both consumer and enterprise technology markets. The US$97.4 billion figure reflects the value of the Samsung technology brand itself, not the company’s market cap, revenue, or physical assets.
Brand Finance employs a royalty relief approach consistent with the ISO 10668 valuation standard. The methodology begins with evaluating marketing investments, stakeholder equity, and business performance. Analysts then determine a royalty rate based on brand strength and industry context. This rate is applied to forecast brand-related revenues, with after-tax earnings discounted to present value. The resulting estimate represents the potential economic benefit a company could gain through licensing its brand on the open market.
Technology Sector Continues to Lead Global Rankings
In 2026, technology firms continued to dominate the broader global brand rankings. Seven of the top 10 most valuable brands in the Brand Finance Global 500 hailed from the tech industry. Apple maintained its position as the world’s most valuable brand, with Microsoft ranking second. The Technology 100 also saw notable growth among companies specializing in artificial intelligence infrastructure and semiconductors. Broadcom and AMD ranked among the fastest-growing technology brands, following Nvidia. Together, Apple, Microsoft, Google, and Amazon accounted for nearly 70% of the total value of the ranking.
Samsung’s valuation represented approximately 72% of the combined value of South Korea’s five ranked technology brands. Its US$97.4 billion valuation surpassed the total combined worth of SK hynix, LG, Coupang, and Naver, which was US$37.9 billion. Samsung’s top-10 placement remains central to South Korea’s third-place position in global tech brand value. The 2026 rankings show Samsung experiencing another year of growth, even as it slid down one spot in the overall global technology rankings.