Why is SK Hynix stock surging today?

SK Hynix stock surged 6.8% to 1,362,000 won on Tuesday amid reports that the memory chip maket was planning to unveil bumper shareholder return plans with its third-quarter earnings due on Wednesday.

SK Hynix also tracked gains in the overnight U.S. session, which saw a broad recovery in AI-linked semiconductor names, with Anthropic’s IPO filing serving as a key sentiment catalyst that revived confidence in sustained AI infrastructure investment.

South Korean media outlet Dong-A Ilbo reported the chipmaker is considering a special dividend distribution of approximately 16 trillion Korean won, or about $12 billion. SK Hynix said it will reveal more details on shareholder returns along with its Q3 earnings.

The payout is expected to be funded largely by SK Hynix’s sale of its stake in Japanese memory chip maker Kioxia.

SK Hynix is set to release its full Q3 2026 results before 9:00 a.m. Seoul time on October 28, with market consensus pointing to record quarterly revenue in the range of approximately 96 to 99 trillion won and operating profit exceeding 75 trillion won.

The broader South Korean market also advanced on Tuesday, with the KOSPI soaring 3.8%. GDP data also showed South Korea’s economy grew more than expected in Q3.