Samsung and SK Hynix Shares Jump After Micron Earnings Boost AI Chip Optimism

Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix posted strong gains on Thursday after Micron Technology delivered record quarterly earnings and issued a stronger-than-expected revenue forecast, reinforcing confidence in the growing demand for artificial intelligence (AI) memory chips. The upbeat results from the U.S. memory chip maker eased concerns over the recent selloff in semiconductor stocks and renewed investor optimism across the global chip industry.

Samsung Electronics shares climbed 5.3%, while SK Hynix surged 9.2%, significantly outperforming South Korea’s broader stock market. The rally followed Micron’s announcement that fourth-quarter revenue is expected to exceed Wall Street forecasts. The company also stated that demand for AI memory products is likely to remain strong, with supply expected to stay tight through at least 2027. Following the announcement, Micron shares jumped nearly 12% in after-hours trading, lifting semiconductor stocks and Nasdaq futures.

Micron further strengthened investor confidence by revealing $22 billion in long-term customer commitments, highlighting continued investment in AI infrastructure despite recent market volatility. The results suggest that demand for advanced memory chips remains one of the strongest growth drivers in the semiconductor sector.

SK Hynix received an additional boost after unveiling plans to raise up to $29.4 billion through a Nasdaq listing of American depositary receipts (ADRs). The company plans to use the proceeds to expand AI memory chip production capacity. Market analysts believe the U.S. listing could improve SK Hynix’s global visibility, attract more international investors, and help narrow its valuation gap with leading U.S. semiconductor companies.

The latest rally adds to SK Hynix’s impressive performance this year. The company recently surpassed Samsung Electronics as South Korea’s most valuable publicly traded company, driven by its leadership in high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips, a critical component used in Nvidia’s AI processors. While Samsung remains the world’s largest memory chip manufacturer overall, investors continue to favor SK Hynix for its stronger position in premium AI memory technology.

The positive momentum also lifted the broader South Korean market, with the KOSPI index rising 4.1%. As AI adoption accelerates worldwide, strong demand for advanced memory chips is expected to remain a key catalyst for Samsung, SK Hynix, Micron, and the broader semiconductor industry in the coming years.