Samsung Q4 Profits Higher Than Expected on Strong Galaxy Sales

Withstood iPhone 5 debut

Samsung Electronics Co. (005930), the world's largest maker of mobile phones and TVs, reported higher-than- expected fourth-quarter earnings as sales of Galaxy smartphones withstood the debut of Apple Inc. (AAPL)'s iPhone 5.

Operating profit rose 89 percent to a record 8.8 trillion won ($8.3 billion) in the three months ended December, Samsung said in a statement of preliminary results today. That compares with the 8.5 trillion-won average of 35 analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg. The Suwon, South Korea-based company didn't give net income or divisional figures.