SK Hynix Tops Micron after 340% Rally, $1.35 Trillion Valuation
MU•SK Hynix shares surged over 340% this year, trading up 5.7% to 2,082.5 trillion won ($1.35 trillion) and surpassing both Samsung Electronics and Micron in market value. The chipmaker’s dominance in high-bandwidth memory for AI systems drove a record 23.5 trillion won operating profit in 2024.
1. SK Hynix Beats Samsung and Micron in Market Value
SK Hynix shares rose 5.7% to reach a market capitalization of 2,082.5 trillion won ($1.35 trillion), surpassing both Samsung Electronics and Micron after a 340% year-to-date rally. This marks the first time SK Hynix has become South Korea’s most valuable listed company.
2. AI-Driven Demand for HBM Chips
The company’s focus on high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips for AI applications used by Nvidia, Google and Microsoft has transformed specialized memory into a high-margin business. Heavy enterprise investment propelled SK Hynix to a record operating profit of 23.5 trillion won in 2024.
3. Competitive Impact on Micron
With SK Hynix now leading the memory chip sector, Micron faces heightened competition in both DRAM and HBM markets. The shift underscores the importance of AI-driven demand as a key valuation driver for memory chipmakers.
