Seoul, Jan 26, 2026, 06:31 KST — Premarket
- SK hynix shares closed Friday 1.6% higher at 767,000 won, edging closer to a 52-week peak.
- Chipmaker SK hynix plans to release its fourth-quarter earnings on Jan. 29, before 9 a.m. local time.
- The spotlight is on high-bandwidth memory supply, pricing, and capital expenditures as AI expansion fuels demand.
SK hynix shares kicked off the week close to recent peaks, up 1.6% on Friday to 767,000 won. The South Korean memory-chip giant remains in the spotlight ahead of its quarterly results due Thursday.
This report is significant since much of the surge revolves around high-bandwidth memory (HBM) — those stacked memory chips paired with AI processors to speed up data transfer and reduce power consumption. If there’s any sign that supply is leveling off or prices are stabilizing, it can hit stocks hard, especially when investors have baked in high expectations.
In Seoul, the chip sector’s momentum has pushed the broader market higher. The Kospi ended Friday at 4,990.07 after crossing the 5,000 mark the previous day. Woori Bank analyst Park Seok-hyun commented, “There’s still plenty of room for further gains.” Korea Joongang Daily
The company is doubling down to maintain its edge. It announced plans this month to pour 19 trillion won ($12.9 billion) into an advanced chip-packaging facility in South Korea. Construction is set to begin in April, with completion expected by the end of next year. According to Macquarie Equity Research, SK hynix controlled 61% of the HBM market last year, surpassing Samsung Electronics and Micron.
SK hynix America CEO Sungsoo Ryu told Reuters the company needs to “support memory consumption for AI infrastructure” and plans to move up the opening of its first fab at the Yongin complex to February 2027. Reuters
Thursday’s figures will be scrutinized beyond just headline profits. Traders are looking closely at HBM3E and HBM4 production levels, how fast clients are committing to longer-term supply contracts, and whether investments in new capacity continue to rise.
Rivals aren’t sitting still. Samsung is aggressively working to narrow the lead in next-generation memory. At the same time, Micron has been ramping up its presence in the high-bandwidth segment, with qualification wins and delivery timelines frequently driving momentum in the sector.
Policy and competition remain potential stumbling blocks for the trade. South Korea announced plans to pursue favorable terms on U.S. tariffs targeting memory-chip imports, following Washington’s actions on AI-chip tariffs. Any shift in pricing power could put pressure on a stock that has already surged.
The next major event is the earnings release and call on Jan. 29. Expect guidance on 2026 demand, pricing, and HBM shipments to shape sentiment heading into week’s end.
