SK Hynix just became the third Asian company to cross the $1 trillion market cap threshold. The South Korean memory chipmaker’s shares surged 11-13% on May 27, powered by an AI chip boom that shows no signs of cooling off.
The stock has climbed more than 250% year-to-date in 2026. Over the past year, some reports peg the gains at over 1,000%.
The “Sam-nix” phenomenon
South Korean retail investors have a name for themselves now: “Sam-nix,” a nod to their aggressive accumulation of SK Hynix shares. These local traders have collectively poured nearly ₩20 trillion, roughly $13.2 billion, into net purchases of the stock.
That buying spree has served as a counterweight to foreign investors who have been taking profits on the way up.
