(3rd LD) SK hynix logs record profit in Q3 on AI chip supercycle

SK hynix reported record revenue and operating profit in Q3, driven by surging demand for memory chips due to the AI boom. Operating profit surged 557.2%, reaching 83.33 trillion won, while revenue jumped 327.9% to 104.61 trillion won. The company has posted six consecutive quarters of record quarterly revenue and operating profit since Q2 last year.

Net profit also hit a record 39.77 trillion won, up 215.7% year-over-year. The AI supercycle has benefited SK hynix, which supplies high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips to Nvidia. The company's operating profit margin exceeded 80% in Q3, reflecting tight supply conditions. Almost all of SK hynix's DRAM and HBM production capacity for the next three years has been sold, with the outlook reflecting secured volumes and pending customer discussions.

The memory supply shortage is expected to persist until 2030 due to expanding AI infrastructure investment. SK hynix plans to supply its sixth-generation HBM4 chips from Q4. The company announced an additional shareholder return program, returning over 100 trillion won to shareholders in 2026, including cash dividends and special dividends.