Analysts see buying opportunity in chip giants

Apr 14, 2026, 09:18 am

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South Korea’s leading chipmakers, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, saw their share prices move in opposite directions on April 13, as institutional and foreign investor trading patterns drove market divergence.

According to the Korea Exchange, Samsung Electronics fell 2.43% to 201,000 won, while SK Hynix rose 1.27% to 1.04 million won. The two companies together account for roughly 40% of the KOSPI’s market capitalization, making them key indicators of overall market direction.

Analysts attributed the divergence to contrasting investor flows. Samsung Electronics faced heavy selling by institutions and foreign investors, while retail investors stepped in as buyers. In contrast, SK Hynix attracted strong net purchases from institutions and foreigners, with individuals taking profits.

This pattern reflects a broader trend in the Korean stock market since late February, when geopolitical tensions in the Middle East began to influence investor sentiment. Market direction has increasingly been driven by institutional and foreign flows rather than retail activity.

Despite short-term volatility linked to geopolitical risks, analysts remain optimistic about the long-term outlook for both companies. Expanding investment in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and improving memory market conditions are expected to support earnings growth.

Both firms are seen as key beneficiaries of rising AI demand. Samsung Electronics is expected to gain from growing demand for AI data centers in the United States, while SK Hynix is positioned to benefit from increased demand for advanced memory products, including high-bandwidth memory (HBM).

Strong memory pricing trends, along with rising demand for server-grade and high-value-added memory products, are also expected to underpin performance. Early earnings estimates reflect this optimism, with both companies projected to post significant year-on-year growth in revenue and operating profit for the first quarter.

Brokerages have responded by raising target prices. KB Securities set a target price of 360,000 won for Samsung Electronics and 1.9 million won for SK Hynix, reinforcing expectations for continued growth driven by AI-related demand.

Analysts note that memory chips are increasingly viewed as strategic assets in the global race for AI infrastructure, suggesting that favorable pricing trends could persist over the medium to long term.

#Samsung Electronics #SK Hynix #AI memory #semiconductor stocks #KOSPI