SK Hynix Posts Record Q3 Profit with 632% Surge, Unveils $75 Billion Shareholder Return Plan

SK Hynix delivered record third-quarter 2026 results, with revenue climbing 328% year-over-year to KRW 104.6 trillion, surpassing 100 trillion won in quarterly sales for the first time. Operating profit jumped 632% from a year earlier to 83.33 trillion won, equivalent to roughly $62.2 billion, on an operating margin of approximately 80%, sharply beating analyst expectations.

The South Korean memory chipmaker announced plans to return a total of 100 trillion won, or about $75.5 billion, to shareholders in 2026, combining more than 60 trillion won in buybacks with more than 30 trillion won in cash dividends. The Q3 dividend was set at 20,000 won per share, comprising a 10,000-won earnings component and a 10,000-won special dividend tied to gains from SK Hynix's indirect stake in Kioxia Holdings, with a second special dividend installment expected as part of the annual payout.

Management pointed to sustained AI memory demand and higher prices as the primary drivers of the quarter's outperformance. The company reiterated its view that a shortage in AI memory will persist through 2030 as adoption broadens beyond cloud providers to enterprises and physical AI applications such as robotics and autonomous driving, and guided for continued robust growth with HBM4 production expansion ahead.

Shares of SK Hynix closed 11% higher in South Korea on the day of the release and opened more than 9% higher in New York, where the company trades on the Nasdaq after listing earlier in 2026.