Add as a preferred source on GoogleSK Hynix Plans $75 Billion Shareholder Return After Record AI Quarter
The South Korean memory maker said HBM and DRAM supply is sold out through 2029, while demand for HBM is twice what it can currently supply.
SK Hynix plans to return about $75 billion to shareholders in 2026 after third-quarter revenue jumped 328% year over year and operating profit rose 632%, marking a record quarter for the South Korean memory-chip maker.
The return plan includes cash dividends, share buybacks and share cancellations. The company also declared a third-quarter dividend with a special payment tied to gains on its investment in Kioxia, a Japanese memory maker.
SK Hynix said its high-bandwidth memory (HBM) and DRAM output is sold out through 2029. HBM is a stacked form of memory used in hardware for training and running AI models; demand is currently twice the volume the company can supply. Long-term agreements cover more than half of its production capacity for 2027 and 2028.
Chief Financial Officer Kim Woo-hyun said customers are examining project feasibility and profitability more closely, but spending will continue. The results put the shareholder payout alongside continued pressure on memory supply for AI infrastructure.
John Kim
John Kim reports on the digital-asset business for TokenPost. Send corrections or tips to info@tokenpost.com.