SK Hynix Shares Jump on Expected Shareholder Return Plan

Shares of SK Hynix Inc. rose as much as 7.9% in Seoul on Wednesday, mirroring a rally among U.S. chipmakers. The surge follows a period of volatility where investors sold off shares due to concerns over AI hardware spending and a lack of specific guidance provided during a July 29 earnings call.

Market analysts and investors expect the company to announce a formal shareholder return program featuring share buybacks, cancellations, and special dividends. This anticipation follows the conclusion of a 25-day quiet period on August 4, which had been in effect since an American Depositary Receipt sale on July 10.

In April, the company pledged to expand its shareholder returns throughout 2026, targeting a net cash allocation of 100 trillion won, or approximately $70.2 billion. Rival chipmaker Samsung Inc. also saw its shares rise 6% during the market rally.