SK Hynix Q2 Profit Hits Record as AI Memory Chip Demand Fuels Growth

SK Hynix reported record second-quarter earnings as surging demand for artificial intelligence memory chips and stronger memory pricing drove exceptional growth, reinforcing its position as one of the biggest beneficiaries of the global AI boom.

The South Korean chipmaker posted operating profit of 60.54 trillion won ($41.6 billion), more than six times higher than a year earlier, while achieving a record operating margin of 76%. Revenue jumped 257% year over year to 79.32 trillion won, and net profit soared more than twelvefold to 93.92 trillion won, supported by higher prices for DRAM and NAND flash memory products.

The world's second-largest memory chip manufacturer said the rapid adoption of AI across industries continues to generate structural demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM), server DRAM, and enterprise solid-state drives (SSDs). Management expects growth to accelerate further as supply constraints gradually ease and major cloud service providers continue expanding investments in AI infrastructure.

Looking ahead, SK Hynix forecasts DRAM bit demand to grow in the mid-20% range during 2026, while NAND demand is projected to increase in the high-teens. For the third quarter, the company expects DRAM bit shipments to rise about 10% from the previous quarter, with NAND shipments increasing by a low-single-digit percentage.

The company also confirmed it started shipping its next-generation HBM4 products during the second quarter and plans to significantly expand production in the second half of the year. In addition, HBM4E samples have already been supplied to a major customer, highlighting continued progress in advanced AI memory technologies.

SK Hynix remains a critical supplier to Nvidia, whose AI accelerators rely heavily on HBM chips. The two companies recently strengthened their partnership through a long-term agreement to co-develop next-generation AI memory as part of a broader AI infrastructure initiative valued at more than $500 billion.

Despite its strong financial performance, investors continue monitoring whether the AI-driven semiconductor rally can be sustained. SK Hynix shares have experienced heightened volatility following the company's recent Nasdaq listing, reflecting broader market uncertainty surrounding AI-related technology stocks.