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SEOUL — SK hynix Inc. said Wednesday that its revenue and operating profit reached record highs in the second quarter, driven by robust demand for high bandwidth memory (HBM) chips and other memory products. The company's net profit came to a record 93.92 trillion won (US$64.6 billion) for the April-June period, surged 1,242.5 percent from a year earlier, according to its regulatory filing.

Operating income soared 557.2 percent on-year to 60.54 trillion won, while sales increased 256.8 percent to 79.31 trillion won.

Coverage comparison

The earnings report, as covered by Yonhap News Agency, highlighted record-breaking figures across key metrics. The company's operating profit margin reached a record high of 76 percent for the second quarter, compared with 75 percent in the first quarter. This means SK hynix generated roughly 7,600 won in operating profit for every 10,000 won in sales, an exceptionally high level rarely seen in the manufacturing sector.

The results exceeded market expectations. The average estimate of net profit by analysts stood at 63.55 trillion won, according to a survey by Yonhap Infomax, the financial data firm of Yonhap News Agency.

The strong results are expected to ease investor concerns over a potential artificial intelligence (AI) bubble and fears that demand for AI chips may have peaked, which recently triggered a sharp decline in technology stocks.

Key claims

  • Record net profit of 93.92 trillion won (US$64.6 billion) for the April-June period, up 1,242.5 percent from a year earlier.
  • Operating income soared 557.2 percent on-year to 60.54 trillion won.
  • Sales increased 256.8 percent to 79.31 trillion won.
  • Operating profit margin reached a record high of 76 percent for the second quarter.
  • SK hynix outperformed its rival Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) in operating profit margin for the third consecutive quarter since the fourth quarter of 2025. TSMC posted a 60.3 percent operating margin in the second quarter, leaving a gap of about 15 percentage points.
  • Earnings exceeded market expectations, with analysts' average net profit estimate at 63.55 trillion won.
  • SK hynix has cemented its leadership in the HBM market by moving early to develop the advanced memory chips, becoming a key supplier to Nvidia as demand for AI accelerators has surged.
  • According to market research firm Counterpoint Research, SK hynix accounted for 58 percent of the global HBM market by revenue in the first quarter, maintaining its position as the industry's leading supplier. Its longtime rival Samsung Electronics and Micron Technology each held a 21 percent share.
  • The company's HBM leadership helped propel it past Samsung Electronics to become South Korea's most valuable listed company by market capitalization for the first time in 25 years in June.
  • The company plans to use the funds to expand investments in key production facilities, including the semiconductor cluster in Yongin, south of Seoul, the ramp-up of its M15X fabrication plant in Cheongju and next-generation HBM manufacturing capacity.
  • Mass production shipments of HBM4 to major customers began in the second quarter.