Updated
Updated · Yahoo Finance · Aug 20
SK Hynix Seen Adding $130 Billion in Returns as 40 Trillion Won Buyback Lifts Shares
Updated
Updated · Yahoo Finance · Aug 20

SK Hynix Seen Adding $130 Billion in Returns as 40 Trillion Won Buyback Lifts Shares

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Finance · Aug 20

Summary

  • JPMorgan estimates SK Hynix could deliver at least 180 trillion won, or about $130 billion, in additional shareholder returns through 2027, on top of the 40 trillion won buyback unveiled Wednesday.
  • The forecast follows SK Hynix raising its payout commitment to more than half of cumulative free cash flow for 2025-2027, from a previous ceiling of up to 50%.
  • Shares jumped as much as 13% in Seoul after the company said it would repurchase and retire up to 24 million shares in what it called South Korea's largest-ever stock cancellation.
  • That rebound also lifted the Kospi and helped Samsung Electronics rise as much as 10%, with local media saying Samsung may announce a shareholder return program exceeding 100 trillion won this month.
  • The stronger payout outlook comes after a sharp selloff in memory stocks tied to worries about AI spending durability and Chinese competition, with SK Hynix still down more than 40% from its June peak.

Insights

Will SK Hynix's record $29 billion buyback successfully mask underlying fears of an AI spending slowdown and rising Chinese competition?
Could this aggressive cash payout force Samsung into a massive 100 trillion won counter-move to retain semiconductor investors?