SK Hynix's Record Profit Misses Investors' Lofty AI Expectations

SK Hynix reported a record quarterly profit surge of 557% and net income up 1,242%, but results still fell short of market expectations, reinforcing concerns that the AI-driven semiconductor boom may be losing momentum. Operating profit of 60.5 trillion won missed estimates of 64.2 trillion won, while revenue of 79.3 trillion won also missed the 83.9 trillion won consensus. The report weighed on AI-chip sentiment, dragging Nvidia shares lower and adding to fears that lofty valuations across the chip supply chain could face pressure if demand growth normalizes. Despite the disappointment, SK Hynix highlighted multiyear contracts with about 10 customers and said AI memory demand remains strong, with broader supply constraints expected to persist. The article suggests the market is increasingly focused not just on record growth, but on whether margins and guidance can justify recent sector gains.