SK Hynix Shatters Records with 137% Q4 Profit Surge on AI-Driven Demand

SK Hynix reported a seismic 137% jump in fourth-quarter profit as artificial intelligence applications fueled unprecedented demand for its high-bandwidth memory chips. Revenue soared to ₩32.8 trillion ($24.5 billion), marking a 34% quarterly increase, while net income climbed 21% to ₩15.2 trillion - both all-time highs for the South Korean semiconductor giant.

The full-year picture proved equally remarkable, with record-breaking figures across all metrics: ₩97.1 trillion in revenue, ₩47.2 trillion operating profit, and ₩42.9 trillion net income. These results represent a ₩30 trillion revenue leap from 2024, with profits more than doubling year-over-year. The company's operating margin reached an enviable 49%, demonstrating remarkable pricing power in premium memory segments.

High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) emerged as the clear growth driver, with sales more than doubling annually. SK Hynix has staked its claim as the sole supplier capable of simultaneously shipping both HBM3E and next-generation HBM4 products, having initiated mass production last September. The company also noted accelerating demand for customized HBM solutions tailored to specific AI accelerator designs.

While NAND flash memory faced sluggish demand in the first half, the division rebounded strongly with 321-layer QLC product development and enterprise SSD shipments. DRAM operations similarly flourished, with full production of cutting-edge 1cnm process nodes and the introduction of 256GB DDR5 modules targeting hyperscale data center clients.