SK Hynix Breaks 2,000 Trillion Won Market Cap, Denies $100 Trillion Buyback Rumour
17.06.2026 - 08:13:06 | boerse-global.de
A single company now commands more than four-fifths of the value of South Korea’s second-largest conglomerate. SK Hynix, the memory-chip powerhouse riding the global AI wave, has pushed past the 2,000 trillion won ($1.5 trillion) market capitalisation mark and, in doing so, propelled its parent SK Group to within striking distance of Samsung’s stock?market heft. The chipmaker alone accounts for 84% of the SK group’s total equity, up from roughly 57% at the end of last year. SK Group’s combined market cap now stands at 74% of Samsung’s, a breathtaking shift in Korea’s corporate pecking order.
The engine behind this surge is a deepening partnership with Nvidia. The two companies are jointly developing the next generation of memory chips for AI factories, including components for Nvidia’s upcoming Vera?Rubin supercomputers and its Jetson?Thor robotics platform. In return, Nvidia is embedding its software into SK Hynix’s chip designs. The collaboration has supercharged the stock, which touched a new 52?week high of 2,494,000 won earlier this week. The year?to?date return now stands at roughly 267%.
Such a blistering rally has come with extreme turbulence. The annualised volatility on SK Hynix shares hovers near 98%, and the stock has surged 49% above its 50?day moving average — a clear sign of frothy momentum. Analysts caution that the lofty valuation leaves no room for error. Every earnings report must now deliver on the sky?high expectations baked into HBM and DRAM pricing. Any disappointment could trigger a sharp correction given the volatility profile.
Should investors sell immediately? Or is it worth buying SK Hynix?
Amid the euphoria, the company has been forced to stamp out a distracting rumour. Reports in the Korea Economic Daily claimed SK Hynix would launch a 100?trillion?won shareholder return programme in the fourth quarter — combining buybacks and dividends — linked to an upcoming US ADR listing. SK Hynix swiftly denied the story, stating it was reviewing various measures to boost shareholder value but had not examined the specific size or details cited. The denial, however, left the door open: buybacks and dividends remain under consideration, just not at that scale.
The ADR listing itself appears to be nearing the finish line. According to Invest Chosun, SK Hynix could list in the US around the time it releases second?quarter earnings, pending regulatory approval. New shares would be issued, raising the spectre of dilution — a classic pressure point that often forces companies to offer buybacks or higher dividends to keep investors onside. So far, SK Hynix has neither confirmed nor ruled out such a move.
On the day the denial hit, the broader market showed little concern. The Kospi index surged 2.11% to its highest close since June 2, while SK Hynix added 4.11% in the session. Foreign investors piled into Korean equities, buying a net 1.4 trillion won worth of shares. With the next concrete catalyst — second?quarter earnings — still on the horizon, the stock continues to trade primarily on AI?memory demand and the tantalising prospect of a Nasdaq listing. The buyback speculation may be dead for now, but the themes that drove the rally to its 2,000?trillion?won milestone remain very much alive.
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SK Hynix Stock: New Analysis - 17 June
Fresh SK Hynix information released. What's the impact for investors? Our latest independent report examines recent figures and market trends.
