M Mohan
Private Equity at IncVangal, Former Microsoft Ventures Director
SK hynix's 'insane' earnings set up a sharp move higher in the shares. x.comÂ
SK hynix's expected widening supply-demand gap makes the 2028 downcycle implied by its valuation seem impossible. SK hynix management says its shares are undervalued relative to earnings and cash flow, and that assessment rings true. x.com x.comÂ
SK hynix remains a buying opportunity, with its US ADR premium over Korean shares now at an all-time low of 32.66%. x.com x.comÂ
SK hynix's exceptional margins and contracted capacity underpin a bullish outlook despite shares sitting around half their June high. Q3 operating margin reached 80%, up from 47% a year ago; long-term deals with 14 customers cover over half of 2027-28 capacity, and management expects demand to exceed supply through 2030. x.comÂ
SK hynix's reported growth and shareholder returns make its low earnings multiple stand out. Revenue rose 328% year over year and operating profit 632%, with shareholder returns worth about 9.5% of market cap, yet the stock trades at roughly 3.0 times estimated 2027 earnings. x.comÂ
SK hynix's dividend delivers far less value to holders of its premium-priced US ADRs than buybacks would. The ADR premium destroys a third of the yield, and income taxes push the total value lost versus buybacks above 50%; the dividend decision is atrocious for US holders. x.com x.comÂ
SK hynix's earnings and buybacks could drive a tripling by 2027 before a re-rating, on Jonah Lupton's assumptions. Its Q3 report expects memory demand to outpace supply through 2030 as advanced processes and fab lead times constrain growth. It plans about KRW 100 trillion in FY2026 shareholder returns, including KRW 60 trillion or more in share acquisitions or cancellations; the buybacks would first reduce shares outstanding. x.com x.com x.com x.com x.com x.comÂ
SK hynix's ADR listing drawing leveraged ETFs is peak-cycle behavior, because the juiced vehicles always arrive after the demand is already in the price. A report in the thread notes the ADRs priced at a 3% premium as Wall Street readies a wave of leveraged ETFs on what is the biggest chip listing ever. x.comÂ
SK hynix should reprice strongly because its blowout earnings make the case that memory is structurally different now. At the current earnings pace, it would earn back its entire market cap in two years; buybacks and dividends also return cash to shareholders and add to value. x.comÂ
A new sell-side forecast for SK hynix's Q4 operating profit strengthens its low-valuation case. The report looks for a 40% sequential rise to $88B, up 560% year over year. SK hynix might earn over $350B in operating profit in 2027 against an $800B market cap, or about 2x EV/operating profit after accounting for cash and its Kioxia stake. It could afford to buy back half its shares over three years. x.comÂ