AI memory demand boom lifts SK Hynix Q2 profits up 557% year over year; first half surpasses 100 trillion won

SKHY-9.12%
DRAM-4.18%
Key Takeaways
  • SK Hynix announced record Q2 2026 operating profit of 60.5426 trillion Korean won on July 29, increasing 557% year-over-year.
  • SK Hynix Q2 revenue reached 79.3187 trillion won, up 257% year-over-year, with first-half cumulative revenue exceeding 100 trillion won.
  • TrendForce predicts Q3 DRAM prices will increase 58-63% and NAND flash memory prices may increase 70-75% due to AI demand prioritization.

SK Hynix’s parent company announced its Q2 earnings on July 29, setting a new historical high: Q2 operating profit was 60.5426 trillion won (up 557% year over year), Q2 revenue was 79.3187 trillion won (up 257% year over year), and cumulative revenue for the first half of the year for the first time exceeded 100 trillion won. Despite the record-breaking performance, SK Hynix’s stock fell after the earnings release because investors expected even stronger results.

SK Hynix Q2 Financial Highlights: 60.5 Trillion Won Operating Profit, Up 557% YoY

According to SK Hynix’s Q2 earnings report dated July 29, 2026, the key financial figures are as follows:

Q2 Operating Profit: 60.5426 trillion won, up 557% year over year

Q2 Revenue: 79.3187 trillion won, up 257% year over year

First-Half Milestone: cumulative revenue for the first half of the year exceeded 100 trillion won for the first time

Stock Performance After the Earnings Release: SK Hynix’s stock continued to fall after the earnings release (because investors expected stronger performance)

Samsung Electronics Q2 Guidance: operating profit of about 89.4 trillion won, revenue of about 171 trillion won

Samsung HBM4: commercialized launch—sales have already exceeded $1B within four months

TrendForce Q3 Forecast and IDC Shortage Warning

Based on the latest forecasts from TrendForce and IDC, the outlook for the memory market looks two-sided: TrendForce expects Q3 DRAM contract prices to rise 58%-63%, and NAND flash memory prices could rise 70%-75%, driven by manufacturers prioritizing supply of HBM and server memory rather than consumer-grade products; global DRAM supply is expected to grow by about 16%, and NAND by about 17%, both below historical averages.

IDC, meanwhile, issued a warning that, as more and more memory chips are used in AI accelerators instead of personal computers and smartphones, an “unprecedented memory chip shortage” could occur, continuing through 2027; in the worst case, global smartphone shipments could decline by as much as 5.2%.

FAQ

What are SK Hynix’s key Q2 financial figures?

According to SK Hynix’s Q2 earnings report dated July 29, 2026, Q2 operating profit reached 60.5426 trillion won (up 557% year over year), Q2 revenue reached 79.3187 trillion won (up 257% year over year), and cumulative first-half revenue exceeded 100 trillion won for the first time.

Why did SK Hynix’s performance hit a record high, yet its stock still fell after the earnings release?

According to the original text, because investors had previously expected results to be even stronger, and AI-driven expectations have been sustained for months—showing that market expectations for the AI chip industry have reached extremely high levels, and even historic performance was not enough to exceed expectations.

What does TrendForce predict for Q3 memory prices?

According to TrendForce’s report, Q3 DRAM contract prices will rise 58% to 63%, and NAND flash memory prices may rise 70% to 75%. Manufacturers will prioritize supplying HBM and server memory instead of consumer-grade products.

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