[Edaily SOYEON KIM Reporter Choi Oh-hyun] SK hynix achieved record-breaking earnings in the third quarter of this year, demonstrating strong growth in the artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductor market. This is seen as dispelling the so-called “AI peak theory,” which claimed that semiconductor demand had peaked due to concerns over the profitability of AI investments. Production volumes for DRAM and HBM for the next three years, through 2029, have effectively been sold out. Thanks to unprecedented cash generation, shareholder returns this year are expected to reach approximately 100 trillion won.

SK hynix announced on the 28th that, on a consolidated basis, it recorded third-quarter revenue of 104.6155 trillion won and operating profit of 83.3338 trillion won. Compared to the same period last year, revenue surged more than fourfold, and operating profit soared more than sevenfold. Operating profit hit an all-time high, and quarterly revenue surpassed 100 trillion won for the first time. The operating profit margin reached a staggering 80%.

SK hynix projected that HBM4 will surpass HBM3E in both shipment volume and revenue in the fourth quarter, establishing itself as the company’s flagship product. To date, the volume secured through Long-Term Agreements (LTAs) accounts for more than 50% of the company’s total production capacity for 2027–2028. The company has signed LTAs with 14 companies, including major global cloud service providers (CSPs). These figures put to rest the “AI peak” theories recently circulating in some market circles.

Based on its record-breaking cash generation, SK hynix has unveiled a shareholder return plan totaling 100 trillion won this year. The company intends to share the profits generated by the memory supercycle with its shareholders. Of this amount, cash dividends will total over 30 trillion won, while share buybacks and cancellations will total over 60 trillion won. In the third quarter, the company plans to pay a dividend of 20,000 won per share, investing a total of 14 trillion won. The company also plans to return the capital gains from the sale of its stake in Japanese semiconductor firm Kioxia to shareholders through a special dividend. When combined with SamsungElectronics, the total shareholder returns from these two companies are expected to exceed 200 trillion won this year.

Kwak No-jeong, President and CEO of SK hynix, appeared on an earnings conference call for the first time since taking office and personally explained the company’s future shareholder return principles. On that day, SK hynix’s stock price closed at 1,487,000 won, surging 10.89% from the previous trading day.