SK hynix’s $45bn shareholder return plan lifts chip stocks

South Korean semiconductor stocks rose in early trading Wednesday as SK hynix Inc.’s announcement of an additional 60 trillion won ($45 billion) in shareholder returns improved investor sentiment toward the sector.

Shares of SK hynix were trading at 1.394 million won ($1,046) as of 9:23 a.m., up 3.95 percent from the previous session. SK square Co., which holds a stake in SK hynix, rose 5.07 percent.

Samsung Electronics Co. climbed 5.63 percent to 234,500 won, Samsung Electronics preferred shares rising 8.12 percent, Samsung Life Insurance Co. 8.24 percent and Samsung C&T Corp. 7.31 percent.

Materials, components and equipment stocks on the secondary Kosdaq also rallied.

Jusung Engineering Co. went up 4.35 percent, EO Technics Co. up 4.43 percent, Leeno Industrial Inc. up 4.23 percent, Wonik IPS Co. up 3.41 percent, and Simmtech Co. up 4.1 percent.

Semiconductor stocks have recently been rising as investor sentiment recovered following Anthropic PBC’s filing for an initial public offering (IPO).

Major artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure stocks also gained overnight on the New York stock market following news that Anthropic and Broadcom Inc. had signed a $63 billion AI semiconductor deal.

On the Kospi, buying interest in related stocks intensified after SK hynix announced additional shareholder return measures worth 60 trillion won before the opening of the regular trading session.

Including its recently completed 40 trillion won share buyback, the company’s total shareholder returns this year will reach 100 trillion won.

SK hynix also continued its streak of record earnings, with third-quarter operating profit exceeding 83 trillion won.

Samsung Electronics is scheduled to release its detailed third-quarter earnings results on Thursday.

Amid the continuing semiconductor supercycle driven by expanding AI infrastructure, Samsung’s Device Solutions (DS) division, which oversees its semiconductor business, is expected to have generated nearly 110 trillion won in operating profit, accounting for almost all of the company’s total operating profit.

“Korean stocks opened higher, supported by gains in U.S. semiconductor stocks following positive news involving Anthropic and Broadcom, as well as easing interest-rate and oil-price pressures amid reduced Middle East tensions,” said Han Ji-young, an analyst at Kiwoom Securities Co.

Han said the semiconductor sector’s medium- to long-term leadership remains closely tied to memory market conditions. However, she added that SK hynix’s shareholder-return plan could improve short-term investor sentiment and market flows across the broader Kospi, making the company’s latest results more significant than in the past.

Separately, shares of Korean platform giant Naver Corp. surged in early trading following news that the company had signed a computing infrastructure procurement agreement worth approximately 12 trillion won with global asset manager Brookfield Corp.

Naver shares were trading at 185,900 won as of 9:31 a.m., up 6.66 percent from the previous session.

The stock opened 3.9 percent higher and climbed as much as 7.23 percent to 186,900 won at one point.

Naver disclosed on Tuesday that it had signed a $9 billion agreement with Brookfield to secure computing infrastructure.

Under the agreement, a separate company funded by a special-purpose investment vehicle established by Brookfield will acquire graphics processing units (GPUs), which Naver Cloud Corp. will use to provide services to its customers.

“The agreement is positive because it formalizes a structure involving substantial external capital investment amid volatility in global AI financing markets,” said Jung Hae-chang, an analyst at Daishin Securities Co.

Jung assessed that the agreement had eased concerns over financing in the neocloud sector, which had intensified following recent bond market instability involving U.S. neocloud company CoreWeave Inc., while also reducing uncertainty surrounding financing costs and structures.

However, Jung emphasized the importance of gaining greater visibility into subsequent customer contracts and the profits attributable to Naver after returns are distributed to investors.

“The finalization of the business structure has laid the groundwork for a rise in Naver’s share price,” said Kim Hye-young, an analyst at Daol Investment & Securities Co. “With AI factory revenue expected to be gradually reflected in earnings starting in the first quarter of next year, the company could announce new orders before the end of this year.”

Kim added that Naver’s shares could begin a sustained rally once additional contracts are disclosed and revenue becomes more visible.

Korean robotics stocks also rose sharply in early trading Wednesday amid growing expectations for discussions on physical AI cooperation following news that a senior director of Nvidia’s robotics division will visit the country next month.

Rainbow Robotics Co. was trading 10.67 percent higher at 389,000 won as of 9:15 a.m. Robotis Inc. also climbed 7.7 percent, while Doosan Robotics Inc. gained 6 percent.

The gains appeared to reflect expectations that potential discussions on physical AI cooperation during the visit of Madison Huang, Nvidia’s senior director and the eldest daughter of Nvidia Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jensen Huang, could benefit Korean robotics companies.

Madison Huang has been confirmed to attend Nvidia AI Day Seoul 2026, scheduled for November 9?10 at COEX in Seoul.

Huang oversees product marketing for Nvidia’s Omniverse and robotics businesses.

In April, she met with representatives from Samsung Electronics, SK hynix and Hyundai Motor Co. to discuss potential cooperation in physical AI and robotics.

In August, she also visited LG Electronics Inc.’s research and development campus in Yangjae, southern Seoul, where she inspected the company’s robot data factory development site.