SK Hynix has joined the for the first time, alongside Micron Technology, as a global rally in memory-chip stocks accelerates on surging demand tied to artificial intelligence. The move reflects investor expectations that the AI boom will keep high-end memory chips in tight supply and support stronger pricing and profits for years to come, according to Bloomberg and other reports.
Shares of SK Hynix jumped sharply, pushing the South Korean chipmaker’s market capitalization to about 1,680 trillion won, or roughly $1.12 trillion, as it became the latest memory company to cross the milestone. Bloomberg reported that Micron also moved above $1 trillion in market value as chip shares extended their surge, while the BBC noted that both firms are benefiting from booming AI chip demand.
The rally is being driven by a simple imbalance: demand for advanced memory chips used in AI systems is outpacing supply. According to Bloomberg, investors are betting that this shortage will lead to a long-lasting revaluation of the memory-chip industry, which has traditionally been cyclical and volatile. Analysts and portfolio managers cited in Bloomberg coverage said demand for AI chips is still outrunning supply, helping lift the entire sector.
The gains have had a major impact in South Korea, where SK Hynix’s rise helped push the KOSPI index to record highs. Bloomberg reported that South Korean stocks have surged dramatically this year, with gains in the country’s benchmark market far outpacing earlier boom periods. The rally has also reflected broader strength in global technology shares, even as other parts of the market have moved more cautiously.
Samsung Electronics reached the same trillion-dollar threshold earlier this month, according to the reports, making South Korea the first country outside the United States to have more than one company in the club. That puts the country’s chip sector at the center of the global AI supply chain, especially for high-bandwidth memory, a critical component in advanced AI processors.
The fast rise in valuations has prompted analysts to raise price targets. Bloomberg cited UBS projecting Micron could more than double over the next 12 months, while another Seoul-based analyst told Reuters that memory-chip demand could keep exceeding supply through 2028. For now, the story is one of extraordinary market enthusiasm, but also of a sector whose fortunes are increasingly tied to whether AI demand continues to grow as quickly as investors expect.
