Samsung's quarterly profits decline for the seventh time in a row

Samsung's Q2 earnings for 2015 have fallen below expectation, with the company facing a 4% drop compared with April-June of 2014. Having endured a bit of a financial blip through last year -- thanks in no small part to the success of Apple's iPhone 6 and 6 Plus -- the launch of the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge was supposed to be Samsung's secret weapon as it looked to recover. But with supply shortages of the S6 edge suggested as being a major factor, operating profit is down was down to $6.13 billion, which is even lower than the conservative forecasts of 39 analysts from a Reuters survey. 

It should be noted that these are mere estimates from Samsung for the time being, but the company does plan to release a detailed financial report later on this month. Nonetheless, this doesn't make happy reading for all connected with Samsung, especially given the fanfare that met the arrival of the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge. 

The consensus is that these devices are the two best that Samsung has ever churned out, but the sales numbers don't appear to have corroborated this. There's been much talk -- refuted by those high up in Sammy's hierarchy -- that the next-gen Galaxy Note 5 will arrive earlier than its normal slot, in an attempt to fend off Apple's next smartphone.

For now, it seems that Samsung may have shot itself in the foot by not having foreseen the success of the Galaxy S6 edge. A powerful handset with an undeniable, hard-to-match sense of beauty, it has been warmly received by consumers. But as with any company, it can only sell as many as it makes, and with a larger version of the S6 edge said to be on the horizon, those with a financial interest in Samsung will be hoping that reported yield issues won't resurface.