Samsung, SK Hynix Rise After Nvidia’s $96.22 Billion Quarter Fuels AI Memory Demand

Samsung Electronics Co. and SK Hynix Inc. rose in early trading on Aug. 27 after Nvidia Corp.’s stronger-than-expected fiscal second-quarter results and upbeat sales outlook boosted expectations for sustained demand for memory chips such as high-bandwidth memory amid expanding artificial intelligence investment.

At 9:07 a.m., Samsung Electronics was up 3.25% at 269,750 won. SK Hynix rose 5.81% to 1.786 million won. Samsung Electronics preferred shares gained 1.18% to 201,000 won, while SK Square climbed 3.78% to 1.102 million won and Samsung Electro-Mechanics advanced 3.46% to 1.376 million won.

Nvidia’s earnings release overnight lifted South Korean chip stocks. The company said on Aug. 26 that fiscal second-quarter revenue reached $96.22 billion, up 106% from a year earlier and more than $4 billion above the $92.17 billion analyst consensus compiled by LSEG. Revenue hit a record for a 13th straight quarter.

Profitability also beat market expectations. Adjusted earnings per share were $2.22, topping Wall Street’s $2.10 estimate. Gross margin was 75%, and operating margin was 66.5%.

Growth in Nvidia’s AI business was even more pronounced. Data-center revenue climbed to $89 billion, up 117% from a year earlier and 18% from the previous quarter, accounting for about 92% of total sales. Revenue from hyperscalers more than doubled to $48.7 billion from $24.2 billion a year earlier. Revenue from cloud providers and enterprises also increased to $40.3 billion from $16.9 billion over the same period, indicating a broader customer base.

Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang said the AI industry has entered a new phase of growth. AI computing is now generating real revenue, he said, adding that the number of AI labs and startups is rising rapidly. He also expressed confidence in Nvidia’s next-generation AI chip, Vera Rubin, which has entered full-scale production, describing it as a key product that will support future demand for AI infrastructure.

Nvidia’s outlook also topped expectations. The company guided for fiscal third-quarter revenue of $108 billion, above the market forecast of about $104 billion. It also projected fiscal 2028 revenue growth of about 70% and said the increase could be even stronger if supply conditions improve.

The outlook is also positive for South Korean memory makers such as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. AI accelerators require large volumes of high-performance memory, including HBM, meaning stronger Nvidia AI chip sales could drive additional memory demand.

U.S. semiconductor stocks also rose after the results. Nvidia, which fell 1.59% in the regular session, jumped more than 4% in after-hours trading. Micron rose 3.76%, while SK Hynix’s American depositary receipts gained 4.36%.