Semiconductors, Memory and SSDs Specialist, Objective Analysis

Jim Handy

Semiconductors, Memory and SSDs Specialist

Objective Analysis

Objective Analysis offers third-party independent market research and data for the semiconductor industry and investors in the semiconductor industry.

Semiconductors, Memory and SSDs

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>SK hynix announced their second-highest revenue and operating profit for the first quarter of 2025</li>
<li>Much of the company's performance is the result of its first-mover advantage and excellent execution in the HBM market</li>
<li>Two issues threaten the company: AI growth may stall, and tariff changes could interfere with the company's global supply chain</li>
</ul>


SK hynix announced their second-highest revenue and operating profit for the first quarter of 2025
Much of the company's performance is the result of its first-mover advantage and excellent execution in the HBM market
Two issues threaten the company: AI growth may stall, and tariff changes could interfere with the company's global supply chain


SK Hynix Earnings Highlights Strong AI Dependence and Tariff Concerns

Technology / Semiconductor / Internet Research

Nicolas Baratte

<ul>
<li>Same as last quarter: very strong AI / Server demand, capacity sold out for 12 months, HBM3E 12Hi becomes majority in 2Q25. HBM is the only driver. </li>
<li>Everything else remains weak. The conundrum remains: there is only 1 driver: AI / HBM. SK Hynix is the leading vendor, 12-18 months ahead of competitors. Is it sustainable? </li>
<li>The market thinks not sustainable and the stock is very cheap at 5x 2025 4x 2026 EPS. SK Hynix still trades like a cyclical stock – is it?</li>
</ul>


Same as last quarter: very strong AI / Server demand, capacity sold out for 12 months, HBM3E 12Hi becomes majority in 2Q25. HBM is the only driver. 
Everything else remains weak. The conundrum remains: there is only 1 driver: AI / HBM. SK Hynix is the leading vendor, 12-18 months ahead of competitors. Is it sustainable? 
The market thinks not sustainable and the stock is very cheap at 5x 2025 4x 2026 EPS. SK Hynix still trades like a cyclical stock – is it?


SK Hynix: Record-High Profits, the Stock Gets Cheaper.

Tracking developments across tech supply chains, Tech Supply Chain Tracker

Tech Supply Chain Tracker

Tracking developments across tech supply chains

<ul><li>Dassault Systèmes CEO highlights European automaker struggles and growth readiness in US and Asia in January 2025.</li><li>SK Hynix achieves impressive 70% yield in HBM4 testing, signaling advancements in memory technology.</li><li>China's tungsten export controls cause market price fluctuations, disrupting global supply chains. Foxconn partners with Sonora in Mexico for innovative smart city project.</li></ul>

Dassault Systèmes CEO highlights European automaker struggles and growth readiness in US and Asia in January 2025.SK Hynix achieves impressive 70% yield in HBM4 testing, signaling advancements in memory technology.China's tungsten export controls cause market price fluctuations, disrupting global supply chains. Foxconn partners with Sonora in Mexico for innovative smart city project.

Tech Supply Chain Tracker (28-Feb-2025): Jan 2025 notebook shipment update

<ul><li>TSMC implements restrictions on Chinese IC firms to follow US semiconductor controls, limiting access to advanced chip technologies.</li><li>Estonian defense delegation seeks collaboration with Taiwan on drones, highlighting growing partnership between the two countries.</li><li>ASE faces leadership uncertainty after chairman's heir tragically passes away, impacting the future direction of the semiconductor giant.</li></ul>

TSMC implements restrictions on Chinese IC firms to follow US semiconductor controls, limiting access to advanced chip technologies.Estonian defense delegation seeks collaboration with Taiwan on drones, highlighting growing partnership between the two countries.ASE faces leadership uncertainty after chairman's heir tragically passes away, impacting the future direction of the semiconductor giant.

Tech Supply Chain Tracker (09-Feb-2025): TSMC tightens restrictions on Chinese IC firms.

Founder/CEO of ROK Advisory, ROK Advisory LLC

Ken S. Kim

Founder/CEO of ROK Advisory

ROK Advisory LLC

ROK is an independent research advisory firm. We guide you to minimize the information gap between foreign and local investors in Northeast Asia with a focus in Korea, Taiwan and Japan.

Independent Research Advisory Firm

<ul>
<li>As we hit Chinese New Year break,  we want to examine if Hynix's earnings and investor call met investor expectations</li>
<li>6 key questions going in and where we are post <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sk-hynix-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16955:1" rel="noopener">SK Hynix (000660 KS)</a> reporting and before <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/samsung-electronics-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:191:1" rel="noopener">Samsung Electronics (005930 KS)</a> reports early February</li>
<li>The consensus is that the key questions were not answered.  Well, not all answered and some remains to be seen. </li>
</ul>


As we hit Chinese New Year break,  we want to examine if Hynix's earnings and investor call met investor expectations
6 key questions going in and where we are post SK Hynix (000660 KS) reporting and before Samsung Electronics (005930 KS) reports early February
The consensus is that the key questions were not answered.  Well, not all answered and some remains to be seen. 


South Korea

SK Hynix Inc. provides products and services for the electronic components industry. The Company manufactures semiconductors, such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM), NAND flash memory, and static random access memory (SRAM) chips.

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SK Hynix (000660 KS)

SK Hynix Earnings Highlights Strong AI Dependence and Tariff Concerns

SK hynix reported strong Q1 results driven by HBM market success. But the company faces challenges from a potential AI growth slowdown, and the...

Jim Handy

SK Hynix: Record-High Profits, the Stock Gets Cheaper.

Strong AI and server demand driving SK Hynix's success, but market questions sustainability of HBM as stock remains undervalued.

Nicolas Baratte

Tech Supply Chain Tracker (28-Feb-2025): Jan 2025 notebook shipment update

January 2025 notebook shipment update; Dassault Systèmes CEO comments on European automakers, SK Hynix achieves 70% yield in HBM4 testing, China's...

Tech Supply Chain Tracker

Tech Supply Chain Tracker (09-Feb-2025): TSMC tightens restrictions on Chinese IC firms.

TSMC restricts Chinese IC firms, Estonia looks to collaborate with Taiwan on drones, ASE deals with leadership uncertainty, Taiwan's software...

Tech Supply Chain Tracker

Did Hynix Meet Expectations ?

Where are we on Hynix post earnings (pre Deep Seek)? 6 questions that investors wanted to know going into 4Q24 earnings call

Ken S. Kim

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

SK Hynix Earnings Highlights Strong AI Dependence and Tariff Concerns

​SK hynix reported strong Q1 results driven by HBM market success. But the company faces challenges from a potential AI growth slowdown, and the...

Jim Handy

SK Hynix: Record-High Profits, the Stock Gets Cheaper.

​Strong AI and server demand driving SK Hynix's success, but market questions sustainability of HBM as stock remains undervalued.

Nicolas Baratte

Tech Supply Chain Tracker (28-Feb-2025): Jan 2025 notebook shipment update

January 2025 notebook shipment update; Dassault Systèmes CEO comments on European automakers, SK Hynix achieves 70% yield in HBM4 testing, China's...

Tech Supply Chain Tracker

Tech Supply Chain Tracker (09-Feb-2025): TSMC tightens restrictions on Chinese IC firms.

TSMC restricts Chinese IC firms, Estonia looks to collaborate with Taiwan on drones, ASE deals with leadership uncertainty, Taiwan's software...

Tech Supply Chain Tracker

Did Hynix Meet Expectations ?

Where are we on Hynix post earnings (pre Deep Seek)? 6 questions that investors wanted to know going into 4Q24 earnings call

Ken S. Kim

SK hynix reported strong Q1 results driven by HBM market success. But the company faces challenges from a potential AI growth slowdown, and the...

Strong AI and server demand driving SK Hynix's success, but market questions sustainability of HBM as stock remains undervalued.