Samsung and SK Hynix Hit Record Highs as Nvidia Earnings Confirm AI Chip Demand

TLDR

• Nvidia reported record quarterly revenue of $68.1 billion, up 73% year over year, beating Wall Street estimates
• Samsung Electronics jumped over 7% to a record high of 217,500 won following the earnings report
• SK Hynix surged over 7% to a record high of 1,053,500 won on the same day
• Samsung is close to becoming the exclusive supplier of HBM4 memory chips for Nvidia’s next-gen Vera Rubin processors
• SK Hynix announced a new partnership with SanDisk to develop flash memory storage built for AI workloads

Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix both hit record highs on Thursday after Nvidia reported strong quarterly earnings that beat Wall Street expectations.

Nvidia posted record quarterly revenue of $68.1 billion, up 73% year over year. Earnings per share came in at $1.62, ahead of the $1.54 estimate.

Full-year revenue for Nvidia reached $215.9 billion, a 65% increase. The company also gave an upbeat outlook for the current quarter.

Samsung shares jumped over 7% to 217,500 won, a record high. SK Hynix also rose over 7%, reaching a record 1,053,500 won.

The gains pushed South Korea’s broader KOSPI index up over 3%, also to a record high. Both chipmakers were among the biggest drivers of that move.

The reason for the rally is straightforward. Nvidia builds advanced AI processors, and it needs large amounts of memory chips to do so. Samsung and SK Hynix are the two largest memory chip makers in the world.

When Nvidia signals strong demand, it points to more orders flowing through its supply chain. That includes both Samsung and SK Hynix.

Samsung’s Potential Exclusive HBM4 Deal

Samsung is now reported to be close to landing an exclusive deal to supply High Bandwidth Memory 4 chips for Nvidia’s next-generation Vera Rubin processors. That would be a major contract for the company.

Samsung also launched its S26 smartphone series on Wednesday. Smartphones remain a key part of Samsung’s revenue alongside its chip business.

SK Hynix Expands With SanDisk Partnership

SK Hynix announced a partnership with SanDisk to develop high bandwidth flash memory. The company says this storage architecture is designed specifically for AI applications.

SK Hynix also confirmed plans to invest 21.6 trillion won, roughly $15.07 billion, to build a new production facility in Yongin, South Korea.

Memory chip prices rose through late 2025 due to an AI-driven supply shortage, which boosted revenue for both companies. That trend is expected to continue.

Samsung is up around 70% year to date in South Korea. SK Hynix has gained more than 60% over the same period.

For US investors, Samsung trades over the counter in the United States. Both companies can also be accessed through ETFs such as the iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (EWY), which rose 3% on Thursday.

Nvidia stock carries a Strong Buy consensus on TipRanks, based on 34 Buy ratings and one Sell over the last three months. The average price target of $267.48 implies around 37% upside from current levels.

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