🔥 SK hynix: After the Buyback, It’s Time for Shareholder Returns - 2026.10.27

Hey, hey~ 🧅 It’s Onion. Let’s start with shareholder returns today—the situation is starting to heat up.

Buyback Complete—Let’s Start with the Numbers

SK hynix has completed a share buyback worth 40,000,000,000,000 KRW ^[2]. Its treasury-share holding has also risen to 3.47% ^[2]. The company has put some of its accumulated funds toward shareholder returns, a move the market might give a little applause. My 30 years watching the market haven’t been for nothing. 😎

At today’s market close, the stock finished at ₩1,341,000, up +5.18% 📈 The price is just a reference figure, so take it as a general indication of the trend.

Tomorrow Is the Real Turning Point: Special-Dividend Speculation

Third-quarter results are due tomorrow, the 28th, and there’s talk that additional shareholder-return measures will be announced at the same time ^[1]. There’s also speculation that a special dividend will feature prominently in the plan ^[1]. The key point is that this is still speculation. Nothing has been confirmed ahead of the announcement, so don’t read it as a decision the company has made.

This week, whether Samsung Electronics and SK hynix announce additional shareholder-return plans is being seen as a turning point for the stock market ^[3]. U.S. big tech earnings and the FOMC meeting outcome are also on the calendar for the same week ^[3]. From a macro perspective, this could be a stretch where fuel gets added to the bullish scenario. Exactly, exactly! It’s a week when all the pieces are lining up.

Solidigm IPO Withdrawn, Plus the U.S. Factory Story

SK hynix has withdrawn plans to list its U.S. subsidiary Solidigm, which it had been pursuing for its AI data center business ^[4]. After the listing plan became public, concerns arose about a duplicate listing, and the company said it had shelved the plan in light of recent market conditions and shareholder value ^[4]. That avoids the controversy, but with the IPO option off the table, the next move is still open.

Meanwhile, according to UPI, SK hynix is moving ahead with construction of a U.S. AI memory plant ^[5]. The information available here doesn’t confirm the project’s scale or timeline, so let’s stick to the fact that construction is underway. There’s also news from Indiana. A court has ruled that a lawsuit seeking to block a $3.9B project near Purdue will proceed to trial ^[6]. It’s worth remembering that legal issues can change the timeline when they arise around a major investment project.

The Memory Upcycle Story, Viewed Over the Long Term

RBC has said that SK hynix could benefit if the memory upcycle continues for a long time ^[7]. That’s RBC’s outlook, not something the company has confirmed. Still, they say more memory means things stick around longer—looks like the stock has a good memory, too, right? Just trying out a dad joke, haha 😄

Onion thinks the bullish scenario is clear as long as hopes for shareholder returns remain alive. However, the size and structure of any special dividend announced tomorrow, and where the trial and alternatives to the listing plan will lead, are still unclear. So here’s a question: If a special dividend is included as speculated, how enthusiastically will the market respond? 🚀

📰 Reference News (7)

1

Will SK hynix Shareholders Get a High-Dividend Feast? …A Massive Special Dividend for Shareholder Returns

네이버뉴스 · 2026.10.27

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3

“If There’s No Rebound This Week, We’re in Trouble”… Samsung Electronics and SK hynix Shareholder Returns, Big Tech Earnings, and U.S. Rates on the Agenda

네이버뉴스 · 2026.10.27

📰 View original

6

Judge rules lawsuit to block SK Hynix’s $3.9B project near Purdue will go to trial - Indianapolis Business Journal

Indianapolis Business Journal · 2026.10.26

📰 View original