Analysis: Surge in Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix Stocks

Now I have comprehensive information to provide a detailed analysis. Let me synthesize the findings.

---

The KOSPI index rose by 2% on February 11, 2026, with Samsung Electronics gaining over 4% and SK Hynix advancing more than 3%. Recent trading data confirms this momentum [0]:

Company	Symbol	Recent Performance	Trading Volume
Samsung Electronics	005930.KS	+2.92% on Feb 6; +2.32% on Feb 11	115.38M (5 days)
SK Hynix	000660.KS	+4.22% on Feb 6; +0.34% on Feb 12	17.97M (5 days)

Both stocks have demonstrated remarkable year-to-date gains: Samsung Electronics up approximately 16% and SK Hynix up approximately 11.5% in 2026 [1][2].

---

Samsung Electronics reported a historic Q4 2025 performance, with operating profit reaching approximately 20 trillion won (around $14 billion), more than tripling from the prior year and surpassing the company’s previous record of 17.6 trillion won set in Q3 2018 [3]. SK Hynix similarly delivered record earnings, driven by AI-related memory demand [3].

Memory chip prices have experienced a dramatic surge in 2025-2026. Counterpoint Research projects DRAM prices will rise approximately 40% through Q2 2026 [2]. This represents a historic first-quarter price surge that analysts describe as a “super cycle” rather than a typical cyclical bounce [1][4].

HBM has become the critical component for AI accelerators, and demand is accelerating:

• Market Size
  : The HBM market is projected to reach $54.6 billion in 2026, representing a 58% year-over-year increase [5]
• SK Hynix Leadership
  : SK Hynix holds approximately 62% of HBM shipments and 57% of HBM revenue as of Q2 2025, with expectations to maintain over 50% market share through 2026 [5]
• Samsung’s HBM4 Progress
  : Samsung’s CTO has stated that customer feedback on HBM4 has been “very satisfactory,” with mass production shipments planned for February 2026 [6]
• NVIDIA Partnership
  : SK Hynix is anticipated to secure approximately 70% of HBM4 share for NVIDIA’s upcoming Rubin platform [5]

The artificial intelligence infrastructure build-out is the primary demand driver:

• Tech giants (NVIDIA, AMD, Microsoft, Google, Amazon) are spending billions on AI data centers
• Memory chips are being diverted from other sectors to meet AI infrastructure demand [4]
• Goldman Sachs forecasts HBM demand for custom-ordered, ASIC-based AI chips will skyrocket by 82%, accounting for one-third of total HBM demand [5]

---

The memory chip shortage is expected to persist through 2027. Sassine Ghazi, CEO of Synopsys (the world’s largest chip design company), stated that “the chip crunch will continue through 2026 and 2027” [4]. New capacity from Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron will take at least two years to become operational, reinforcing the near-term supply constraints [4].

The memory segment is projected to grow 30% year-over-year, with total memory market size potentially exceeding $440 billion for server and data-center memory alone [5]. Industry forecasts suggest memory makers could earn $551 billion from the AI boom in 2026—more than twice the revenue of contract chip manufacturers [7].

Chipmakers are strategically reallocating manufacturing capacity away from lower-margin sectors (automotive, consumer electronics) to prioritize high-margin components like HBM for AI data centers [8]. This shift is creating supply constraints in other semiconductor segments while dramatically improving profitability for memory producers.

The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) predicts the global semiconductor industry will reach $1 trillion in sales in 2026, following an $791.7 billion haul in 2025 [9]. This represents the industry’s transition into a structural growth phase driven by AI adoption rather than traditional cyclical patterns.

---

( semiconductor analyst at Hyundai Motor Securities) advises investors not to sell Samsung and SK Hynix stocks yet, emphasizing that recent market corrections were reactions to AI-related news rather than fundamental weakness [1]. Key recommendations include:

• The recent correction represents a “misunderstanding” of market fundamentals
• Memory price momentum should be monitored through April provisional results before making investment decisions
• The semiconductor sector is expected to benefit from the ongoing AI boom

---

1. Potential HBM Price Correction
   : After 2026, HBM prices may face correction due to increased competition and expanded capacity [5]
2. Supply-Demand Balance
   : DRAM production increases and global semiconductor regulations could influence long-term supply-demand balance [5]
3. Geographic Concentration
   : Key memory producers and advanced packaging foundries (TSMC) are concentrated in East Asia, creating geopolitical supply chain risks [8]
4. Advanced Packaging Bottlenecks
   : AI chip supply is increasingly constrained by packaging capacity (CoWoS, HBM integration) rather than wafer capacity alone [8]

---

The significant surge in Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix stocks reflects a structural shift in the global semiconductor industry, driven by:

1. AI infrastructure build-out
   creating unprecedented demand for memory chips
2. HBM technology leadership
   positioning Korean memory giants as essential suppliers to NVIDIA and other AI chip designers
3. Historic memory price increases
   translating into record earnings and profit growth
4. Extended supply constraints
   expected to persist through 2027

This represents not merely a cyclical recovery but a “memory supercycle” that analysts compare to the 1990s semiconductor boom. Investors are advised to maintain positions through key earnings releases in April 2026 to capture the full upside of this structural transformation in the semiconductor industry.

---

[1] Chosun Ilbo - “Don’t Sell Samsung, SK Hynix Stocks Yet, Expert Says” (https://www.chosun.com/english/market-money-en/2026/02/09/M4RHMRVCUJATRDIUENCQZ3YTSE/)

[2] CNBC - “Semiconductor stocks rally led by ASML, TSMC, Samsung” (https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/06/semiconductor-stocks-rally-led-by-asml-tsmc-samsung.html)

[3] CNBC - “Samsung’s profit triples, beating estimates as AI chip demand fuels memory shortage” (https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/29/samsung-record-q4-2025-profit-ai-hbm-ai-memory-chip-shortage.html)

[4] CNBC - “Memory chip shortage to last through 2027: Synopsys CEO” (https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/26/memory-chip-shortage-synopsys-lenovo-ai-data-centers.html)

[5] SK Hynix - “2026 Market Outlook: Focus on the HBM-Led Memory Supercycle” (https://news.skhynix.com/2026-market-outlook-focus-on-the-hbm-led-memory-supercycle/)

[6] The Investor - “Samsung touts strong HBM4 response as AI memory race sizzles” (https://www.theinvestor.co.kr/article/10674895)

[7] Tom’s Hardware - “Memory makers are set to earn $551 billion from the AI boom” (https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/semiconductors/memory-makers-are-set-to-earn-usd551-billion-from-the-ai-boom-twice-as-much-as-contract-chip-manufacturers-forecasts-suggest-that-2026-revenue-will-skyrocket-thanks-to-data-center-demand)

[8] EnkiAI - “2026 Semiconductor Crisis: AI’s Impact on Global Supply” (https://enkiai.com/ai-market-intelligence/2026-semiconductor-crisis-ais-impact-on-global-supply)

[9] Tom’s Hardware - “Semiconductor industry on track to hit $1 trillion in sales in 2026, SIA predicts” (https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/semiconductors/semiconductor-industry-on-track-to-hit-usd1-trillion-in-sales-in-2026-sia-predicts-bumper-forecast-follows-usd791-7-billion-haul-for-2025)