SK Hynix Inc. surpassed Samsung Electronics Co. in market capitalization on Monday, June 22, becoming South Korea's most valuable listed company for the first time since 2000. The shift is driven by strong demand for AI memory chips.
The shift in market capitalization between SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics underscores the significant impact of the artificial intelligence boom on the semiconductor industry, highlighting investor preference for companies focused on AI-critical components.
SK Hynix Inc. surpassed Samsung Electronics Co. in market capitalization on Monday, June 22, becoming South Korea's most valuable listed company for the first time since 2000. SK Hynix's shares traded up 5.7% to bring its market capitalization to 2,082.5 trillion won ($1.35 trillion), compared with gains of 0.4% in Samsung Electronics to 2,081.3 trillion won.
The shift highlights SK Hynix's emergence as a dominant supplier of high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips essential for AI systems, benefiting significantly from the global AI boom. The company's shares have surged over 340% this year, significantly outperforming Samsung Electronics, which has a broader business portfolio including logic chips and consumer electronics.
Analysts note that the rise of customized AI memory has fundamentally changed industry economics, allowing SK Hynix to establish market leadership. This achievement marks a significant turnaround for SK Hynix, which was once on the verge of collapse in the early 2000s due to debt.