SK hynix posts record profit on demand for AI chips
The South Korean memory-chip maker sees revenue and operating profit soar on demand for AI infrastructure.
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SK hynix posted record revenue and operating profit in the third quarter of 2026. The South Korean chipmaker attributed the growth to higher prices and strong demand for memory chips for artificial intelligence.
Revenue came to 104.62 trillion South Korean won, equivalent to approximately €79 billion. Operating profit was 83.33 trillion won, while net profit came to 39.78 trillion won. The figures come from the company’s preliminary quarterly results and have not yet undergone final verification.
Compared with the same quarter last year, SK hynix said revenue rose by 327.9 per cent and operating profit by 632 per cent. Revenue also increased compared with the second quarter, rising by 32 per cent. Yonhap reports that operating profit was more than seven times higher than a year earlier.
The growth comes mainly from memory chips used in data centres and AI systems. SK hynix specifically mentions DDR5 server memory and so-called high-bandwidth memory, or HBM. This memory can move large quantities of data rapidly between processors and storage, making it important for many AI applications.
The company says deliveries of HBM4, the latest generation in that product line, began in the third quarter. According to its own forecast, HBM4 will become the most important product in the segment from the fourth quarter. This is SK hynix’s expectation, not an independent forecast.
The chipmaker also announced that it plans to distribute more than 100 trillion won to shareholders this year. Part of this will consist of dividends and part of the buyback of its own shares. The company says it also wants to share with shareholders proceeds from its stake in memory-chip producer Kioxia.
The results show how strongly the company is benefiting from demand for AI memory, but they do not mean that growth will continue indefinitely. The figures remain subject to the completion of the accountant’s review. SK hynix is also basing its outlook on market conditions that may change, for example if demand for data centres or memory-chip prices weaken.
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The key figures and the explanation for the growth are confirmed by the company’s publication and an independent news source. Uncertainties about future growth have been presented as SK hynix’s expectation.
- confirmed SK hynix posted revenue of 104.62 trillion won and operating profit of 83.33 trillion won in the third quarter of 2026. — Mentioned in SK hynix’s preliminary quarterly results and confirmed by Yonhap. source
- confirmed Net profit was 39.78 trillion won. — Listed in SK hynix’s financial overview and in Yonhap’s report. source
- confirmed The growth was driven by demand for AI memory, server memory and HBM. — SK hynix cites higher demand for AI memory, DDR5 server memory and HBM; Yonhap describes the same development. source
- confirmed According to SK hynix, HBM4 will become the most important product in the product line from the fourth quarter. — This is presented as the company’s expectation, not as an established market fact. source
- confirmed SK hynix intends to distribute more than 100 trillion won to shareholders this year. — Reported by Yonhap and explained in the official financial statement. source
Editor's note
The record figures and their relationship with AI memory have been confirmed by SK hynix and Yonhap. The financial figures are preliminary; the expectation regarding HBM4 comes from the company itself.Sources
- SK hynix Announces 3Q26 Financial Results — SK hynix
- SK hynix logs record profit in Q3 on AI chip supercycle — Yonhap News Agency
- SK Hynix Q3 profit jumps more than 7-fold, beats forecasts — Reuters via Investing.com