SK Hynix Closes in on Samsung Electronics in Market Capitalization - 조선일보

Recently, SK Hynix's market capitalization has been rapidly closing in on that of its main rival, Samsung Electronics, with the gap narrowing significantly. As of May 29, 2026, SK Hynix's market cap s... Read original →

SK Hynix’s narrowing market cap gap with Samsung isn’t speculative—it’s the financial embodiment of a structural shift toward AI-optimized memory. With over 80% of the HBM3E/HBM4 market, SK Hynix now sits at the core of NVIDIA and Microsoft’s AI supply chains, while Samsung’s broad DRAM portfolio dilutes its agility. This dynamic forces upstream equipment makers like ASML to prioritize advanced packaging capacity and compels cloud providers to restructure procurement. Geopolitically, U.S.-ROK semiconductor alignment offers short-term tailwinds, but accelerated HBM2 alternatives from Taiwan, China could trigger new export controls. Samsung will likely divest non-core assets and refocus on GAA-based DRAM, yet its conglomerate inertia hampers rapid response. If HBM pricing stays elevated and CoWoS capacity remains constrained over the next 18 months, SK Hynix could surpass Samsung as Korea’s most valuable tech firm—ending decades of chaebol diversification dominance.