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SK Hynix posts record Q3 profit of $62.8 billion, beats estimates on AI demand - Published OnOct 28, 2026 | 06:32 IST - Last Updated OnOct 28, 2026 | 07:55 IST Surging demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure propelled the chipmaker's quarterly revenue past the historic hundred-trillion-won milestone, as soaring memory chip prices multiplied profits manifold. Discover how the key Nvidia supplier plans to sustain this monumental HBM production growth against rising industry competition. South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix reported record quarterly revenue and operating profit, beating market estimates as surging demand for artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure drove up memory chip prices. Operating profit jumped 632.1% year on year to 83.33 trillion won ($62.8 billion) in the July-September quarter. That’s more than the LSEG SmartEstimate of 76.72 trillion won. Revenue surged 327.9% from a year earlier to 104.62 trillion won ($78.86 billion), exceeding analysts' expectations of 98.34 trillion won. Quarterly sales crossed 100 trillion won for the first time. Net profit rose 215.7% year on year to 39.78 trillion won. The Nvidia supplier's results were driven by strong demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips and other memory products used in AI infrastructure. Revenue rose 31.9% from the previous quarter, while operating profit increased 37.6%. SK Hynix expects its latest-generation HBM4 chips to surpass HBM3E in both shipments and revenue in the fourth quarter, as it ramps up production at its M15X facility in Cheongju, South Korea. The company has secured long-term agreements with 14 major customers covering more than half of its production capacity for 2027 and 2028. It expects memory demand to outstrip supply through 2030 and plans to significantly increase investment next year. Cash dividends SK Hynix also announced plans to return about 100 trillion won ($75.4 billion) to shareholders this year, including at least 30 trillion won in cash dividends and 60 trillion won in share repurchases and cancellations. The company's board approved a third-quarter dividend of 14 trillion won and a fresh share buyback worth 20 trillion won. Half of the new buyback will be cancelled, while the remaining amount will be used for employee compensation. Last week, SK Hynix said its US subsidiary Solidigm would halt its review of potential pre-IPO fundraising and initial public offering options, citing market volatility and share-price trends.
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