SK Hynix Shares Surge on AI Memory Chip Demand as Samsung Profit Slumps

SK Hynix (KS:000660) shares surged Tuesday after rival Samsung Electronics (KS:005930) warned of a steep drop in second-quarter profits, highlighting diverging fortunes in South Korea’s semiconductor sector amid booming demand for AI memory chips.

Samsung forecast a 56% year-over-year decline in Q2 operating profit to 4.6 trillion won ($3.3 billion), its weakest result in six quarters. The tech giant attributed the slump to U.S. export restrictions on AI chip sales to China and shipment delays of high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips to NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA), a key partner in AI hardware development.

Meanwhile, SK Hynix continues to benefit from accelerating demand for AI-driven DRAM and HBM modules. Analysts expect the chipmaker to report record-breaking quarterly earnings later this month, cementing its position as a major supplier in the global AI supply chain.

Investors responded positively to SK Hynix’s outlook, driving its shares up 3.7% to 281,000 won during early trading in Seoul. In contrast, Samsung shares slipped 0.8% to 61,200 won by 02:40 GMT.

The contrasting performance reflects shifting dynamics in the semiconductor market, where AI adoption is reshaping profitability. While Samsung remains the industry leader in overall chip production, SK Hynix’s focus on advanced AI memory solutions is paying off.

South Korea’s KOSPI index traded 0.2% lower on the day, weighed down by Samsung’s weaker guidance. Still, optimism surrounding AI-related growth in memory chips is fueling renewed investor interest in SK Hynix and other niche players.

As AI infrastructure spending accelerates globally, companies positioned to supply critical memory technologies like HBM are likely to see continued gains, keeping SK Hynix in the spotlight for growth-focused investors.