SK hynix reported a record ₩104.6155 trillion in third-quarter revenue and ₩83.3338 trillion in operating profit on October 28, 2026, as artificial-intelligence infrastructure drove sales of advanced memory. The South Korean chipmaker’s operating margin reached 80%, while net profit was ₩39.7756 trillion. Its revenue exceeded ₩100 trillion in a quarter for the first time.

Revenue rose 32% quarter over quarter and 328% year over year; operating profit increased 38% and 632%, respectively. Net profit nevertheless declined 58% from the second quarter. These are the company’s preliminary K-IFRS results, subject to completion of its independent financial review.

HBM4 becomes the centerpiece of AI memory

The company attributed the quarter partly to stronger HBM4 shipments, server DDR5 and 321-layer NAND enterprise SSDs. It expects HBM4 to surpass HBM3E in both revenue and shipment volume during the fourth quarter, supported by its planned M15X production ramp. Those expectations are guidance, not completed fourth-quarter results. Earlier BitcoinVersus.Tech HBM4 coverage tracked the transition from development to manufacturing readiness.

SK hynix says it has signed long-term supply agreements with 14 major customers, covering more than half of its expected 2027–2028 production capacity. The company anticipates that global memory demand could exceed supply through 2030, citing AI spending and slow fab-construction timelines. That is SK hynix’s outlook, not a guaranteed shortage.

Expanding fabs while returning cash

The company plans to expand advanced DRAM, M15X and Yongin capacity while pursuing approximately ₩100 trillion in 2026 shareholder returns through dividends and buybacks, including gains from its Kioxia investment. Actual future investment and payouts remain subject to company decisions and market conditions.

For AI data centers, the central question is increasingly how much memory can be manufactured and delivered, not simply how many GPUs are ordered. The results add context to earlier reporting on memory-centric AI racks and HBM-driven pressure on broader DRAM supply. Global HBM competition and manufacturing yields will help determine whether today’s demand outlook holds.

Editor’s Note: All financial figures are attributed to SK hynix’s October 28, 2026 preliminary earnings release. The official video, HBM4 product photo, and original company financial infographic are three distinct in-story media items; the featured cover and donation QR are separate. To support independent reporting, donate 5,000 sats by scanning the QR code below.

Scan the QR code using a compatible Bitcoin wallet while viewing the article on a second screen.