SK Hynix Posts Record $60.4 Billion Q3 Operating Profit, Unveils $72.5 Billion Shareholder Return Plan

SK Hynix posted record third-quarter earnings that beat market expectations and announced a large-scale shareholder return plan.

In a regulatory filing on Oct. 28, SK Hynix reported consolidated third-quarter revenue of $75.8 billion and operating profit of $60.4 billion. That was up 327.9% and 632.1%, respectively, from a year earlier. From the previous quarter, revenue rose 31.9% and operating profit increased 37.6%. The operating margin was about 79.7%.

The results also topped market forecasts. Brokerages had projected third-quarter revenue of $71.2 billion and operating profit of $55.8 billion. Actual revenue and operating profit both exceeded estimates by more than $4.3 billion.

SK Hynix said it will pursue a total shareholder return program worth $72.5 billion for fiscal 2026. It plans to allocate more than $21.8 billion to cash dividends and more than $43.5 billion to share buybacks and cancellations.

The company first approved a third-quarter cash dividend of $14.50 a share. That includes a special dividend of $7.25 tied to gains from its Kioxia investment, bringing the total dividend payout to $10.1 billion.

SK Hynix also approved a $14.5 billion share buyback. Of that, treasury shares worth $7.2 billion acquired for shareholder returns will be canceled in full.