SK hynix and Ping An Post Record Results, Powered by AI Boom and Operating Efficiency

Key Facts

SK hynix posted revenue of 104.6155 trillion won in the third quarter of 2026, surpassing the 100 trillion won mark for the first time, in results the company attributed to demand for AI memory. Operating profit was 83.3338 trillion won, up 38% from the previous quarter and 632% year on year, according to the official results table. Operating profit exceeded the market estimate of 76.96 trillion won, while revenue reached 104.62 trillion won, topping expectations of 98.23 trillion won, according to estimates compiled by FnGuide and reported by the Korea JoongAng Daily. The figures place the company at the heart of a wave of spending on AI infrastructure that has lifted demand for advanced memory chips.

Not all profit measures moved in the same direction: net profit was 39.7756 trillion won, up 216% from the same period last year but down 58% from the second quarter. The results therefore reflect quarterly growth in revenue and operating profit alongside a quarterly decline in net profit. On products, the company said DRAM sales growth came with higher sales of server DDR5 memory and the start of HBM4 shipments. In NAND, the expansion of enterprise solid-state drive sales built on 321-layer TLC technology supported activity. The company’s net cash rose to 98.7 trillion won at the end of the quarter, adding the liquidity level it disclosed to the backdrop of its financial results.

SK hynix shares moved in the Korean market after the results, surging 11.4% in trading on October 28, while the KOSPI rose 6.8% at the close, according to the Associated Press. The stock had closed at $145.36 on October 27, according to EL7 data. The company also announced a shareholder-return program of about 100 trillion won during fiscal 2026. The program includes cash dividends of at least 30 trillion won, as well as share buybacks and cancellations worth at least 60 trillion won. The announcement links strong operating results with the company’s plan to direct part of its resources to shareholders.

On the outlook, SK hynix said it expects memory demand to exceed supply through 2030, citing the complexity of advanced processes and the long time required to build new production facilities. The company expects HBM4 to surpass HBM3E in shipment volume and revenue during the fourth quarter of 2026, becoming the dominant product. It plans to raise M15X plant operations to full capacity by the end of 2026 to increase HBM4 production. The company said the full start of operations at the first phase of the Yongin complex, together with faster investment in domestic and overseas infrastructure, will lead to a significant increase in investment during 2027. These plans extend the company’s response to rising demand for advanced memory, according to its disclosure.

In a different sector, Ping An Group reported results for the first half of 2026, not the first nine months, with operating profit after tax attributable to shareholders of the parent company reaching 84.196 billion yuan, up 8.3% year on year. Revenue came to 615.351 billion yuan, up 12.6% from the same period a year earlier. Net profit attributable to shareholders of the parent company was 92.585 billion yuan, up 36.1%. New business value in the life and health segment rose 11.2% to 24.847 billion yuan. Retail customers totaled 253 million, up 0.9% since the start of the year, according to the group’s statement.

Ping An said its AI-powered services handled inquiries, consultations and processing in 88% of its business scenarios during the first half. It added that the group’s average daily token consumption exceeded 120 billion in June 2026. The company announced an interim cash dividend of 0.98 yuan per share, up 3.2% from the previous year. These indicators present a picture of the group’s first-half results, including revenue and profit growth, an expanding customer base and use of AI-powered tools. The 8.3% operating profit growth rate is not a result for the first nine months, but applies to the period ended in the first half of 2026.