Memory-Chip Makers Cross $1 Trillion as AI Drives HBM Shortage

Overview

• Major memory makers Samsung, Micron and SK hynix have pushed past $1 trillion in market value after strong stock rallies tied to AI demand for high-bandwidth memory.
• A sharp UBS price-target increase for Micron triggered a large share jump that helped lift Micron into the trillion-dollar range and accelerated interest in the sector.
• SK hynix has reported a recent surge in profits and filed to list American Depositary Receipts in the U.S., a move that would broaden access for U.S. investors.
• Analysts and investors expect tight HBM supply and favorable pricing to last into about 2027, sustaining higher margins for the small group of firms that make HBM.
• The rapid revaluation is creating real company effects: workers at some firms have threatened strikes to claim a bigger share of AI-driven profits and firms face pressure to manage hiring and production plans.