SK Hynix stock outlook strengthens after record AI memory quarter
Published on 11/02/2026 at 09:14 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSRecord Quarter Reshapes AI Memory Outlook
- SK hynix posted its sixth consecutive quarterly record, driven by high-bandwidth memory and server products.
- The company expects HBM4 to overtake HBM3E in shipments and revenue during the fourth quarter.
- Long-term agreements with 14 customers cover more than half of planned 2027 and 2028 production capacity.
SK hynix reported record third-quarter results on Wednesday, October 28, as demand for artificial-intelligence memory lifted sales of high-value products. The company said revenue reached KRW 104.6155 trillion and operating profit KRW 83.3338 trillion, while net income came to KRW 39.7756 trillion. The figures were released by SK hynix.
Revenue exceeded KRW 100 trillion for the first time. Compared with the second quarter, revenue rose 32% and operating profit increased 38%. The operating margin reached 80%, reflecting stronger pricing and product mix in memory chips used for servers and AI infrastructure.
AI Memory Keeps Capacity Tight
SK hynix said server DDR5 sales and the start of regular HBM4 shipments supported the DRAM business. In NAND, sales of 321-layer triple-level-cell enterprise solid-state drives expanded as data-center demand increased. The company expects the memory market to keep growing as enterprise and personal AI applications expand in the near term, followed by autonomous driving, robotics and other physical-AI uses.
Management also expects supply constraints to persist through 2030. SK hynix cited the technical complexity of advanced manufacturing and the long lead times needed to build new production facilities. That outlook supports pricing and utilization, but it also leaves the company facing high investment requirements as customers seek more AI infrastructure.
HBM4 Becomes the Next Growth Driver
The company plans to bring its M15X facility to maximum capacity by the end of 2026 to increase HBM4 production. It expects HBM4 to exceed HBM3E in both shipment volume and revenue in the fourth quarter and become its main product. SK hynix is also increasing the share of its sixth-generation 1c process and expanding DDR5 and LPDDR5 SOCAMM products for AI servers.
Demand visibility has strengthened through long-term agreements with 14 major customers, including global cloud-service providers. The contracts cover more than 50% of total production capacity for 2027 and 2028, while the company is discussing longer terms with additional customers. SK hynix said typical agreements run for five years and can include pricing mechanisms that reflect market conditions.
Returns Rise Alongside Investment
SK hynix plans shareholder returns of approximately KRW 100 trillion for fiscal 2026, including cash dividends of at least KRW 30 trillion and share repurchases and cancellations totaling at least KRW 60 trillion. The board also resolved on a third-quarter cash dividend of KRW 14 trillion, including a special dividend linked to gains from the company's Kioxia investment.
At Lang & Schwarz, SK Hynix stock traded at 977.00 euros at 09:09 CET on Monday, November 2, 2026. Investors are weighing the strong earnings outlook against the capital spending required for new capacity.
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Further developments on production expansion, shareholder returns and AI-memory demand will shape the next phase for SK Hynix stock news and analysis.
SK Hynix stock at a glance
- Company: SK hynix Inc.
- ISIN: US78392B1070
- Market: Lang & Schwarz
- Quote: EUR 977.00 on November 2, 2026, at 09:09 CET
- Third-quarter revenue: KRW 104.6155 trillion
- Third-quarter operating profit: KRW 83.3338 trillion
