'Samsung Electronics and SK hynix' stock roller coaster leaves retail investors with tougher choices

[Financial News] Samsung Electronics and SK hynix surged intraday on expectations for AI semiconductors, but gave back much of those gains late in the session, adding to volatility. As hopes for stronger earnings and the burden of profit-taking pulled in opposite directions, investors remain divided over whether the stocks have more room to rise or are due for a short-term correction.
According to the industry on the 23rd, the share prices of Samsung Electronics and SK hynix have recently swung between gains and losses, increasing volatility. Expectations for stronger results were lifted by expanded investment in AI data centers and rising demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM), but profit-taking after the sharp rally also weighed on the stocks.
Retail investors are also split. Some expect further gains, citing improvement in the AI semiconductor industry and foreign buying, while others remain cautious, saying much of the optimism may already be reflected in share prices.
The two stocks had shown strong gains during trading the previous day, only to give back much of the advance by the close.

According to the Korea Exchange, Samsung Electronics closed at 265,000 won, up 0.58% from the previous day. At one point during the session, it jumped 6.56% to 276,000 won, briefly moving above the 270,000-won mark, but later surrendered part of those gains as profit-taking set in.
SK hynix ended trading at 1.83 million won, down 0.33% from the previous day. It had surged as much as 9.26% to 2.006 million won intraday, reclaiming the 2 million-won level for the first time in four trading days since the 15th, but late-session selling pushed it back into negative territory.
Sentiment toward domestic semiconductor stocks was also supported by the strength of chip shares on Wall Street overnight. In the New York stock market, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) rose 0.74%, the Standard & Poor's 500 Index (S&P 500 Index) gained 0.89%, and the NASDAQ Composite Index advanced 1.29%.
SK hynix's American Depositary Receipt (ADR) also closed up 13.75% at $171.94, fueling expectations for strength in domestic semiconductor shares.
Investor sentiment was also influenced by reports that Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, and others are scheduled to meet NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang in Silicon Valley this week. Market watchers said expectations for expanded cooperation in memory semiconductors and AI infrastructure were reflected in share prices. However, as profit-taking increased late in the session, the two stocks failed to hold onto their intraday gains.
Meanwhile, SK hynix will release its second-quarter earnings on the 29th, while Samsung Electronics will do so on the 30th. Whether expanded investment in AI data centers and rising demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) have actually translated into stronger earnings will be a key factor in determining the direction of both stocks.


[email protected] Han Seung-gon Reporter