SK Hynix Outperforms Samsung in Annual Profit for the First Time

TLDR

• SK Hynix surpassed Samsung Electronics in operating profit for the first time in 2025.
• The company posted a record operating profit of 47.2 trillion won, exceeding Samsung’s 43.6 trillion won in 2025.
• SK Hynix maintains leadership in high-bandwidth memory (HBM), a critical chip for AI processors and servers.
• Despite competition from Samsung and Micron, SK Hynix retains its dominant position in the HBM market.
• Analysts predict SK Hynix’s leadership in HBM will continue, driven by high demand for AI-related memory solutions.

SK Hynix has surpassed Samsung Electronics in operating profit for the first time in 2025, marking a key milestone in its growth. This achievement highlights SK Hynix’s dominance in the high-bandwidth memory (HBM) market, crucial for AI chipsets.

SK Hynix’s Strategic Lead in High-Bandwidth Memory

According to a report by CNBC, SK Hynix’s success is largely attributed to its leadership in HBM, a specialized chip vital for AI processors and servers. The company posted a record operating profit of 47.2 trillion won in 2025, surpassing Samsung’s 43.6 trillion won. HBM is in high demand due to its use in advanced AI applications, including those by Nvidia.

According to MS Hwang from Counterpoint Research, SK Hynix’s “quality and supply of HBMs” have been pivotal in supporting the AI infrastructure boom. Despite competition from Samsung and Micron, SK Hynix has retained its market lead in this area.

While Samsung has recently regained the top spot in memory revenue rankings, SK Hynix remains a dominant force in HBM production. Analysts expect this leadership to continue, especially with the growing demand for memory chips in AI servers. Despite this, Samsung is catching up with the launch of its HBM4 chips, which analysts predict will increase its competitiveness in the AI market.

Will SK Hynix’s $10B Investment in AI Add More Pressure to Samsung?

As we had reported earlier, SK Hynix has also announced plans to launch a new U.S.-based company focused on AI solutions, committing $10 billion to the venture. This new entity, tentatively called the “AI Company,” will focus on accelerating AI development and forming strategic partnerships with U.S. investors.

SK Hynix plans to restructure its California-based subsidiary, Solidigm, to separate its AI business from its SSD operations. The U.S. move signals SK Hynix’s ambition to strengthen its AI presence globally, as it expands its footprint beyond memory solutions.

The new AI-focused company will play a central role in advancing SK Hynix’s global push into AI, aligning with the growing demand for AI-driven memory technologies. SK Hynix’s expertise in HBM and other AI technologies positions the company as a key player in this rapidly expanding market.