NEW YORK – SK Hynix made a strong debut on Wall Street Friday, with its shares climbing nearly 13% after completing the largest U.S. initial public offering by a foreign company, as investor enthusiasm for artificial intelligence continued to drive demand for advanced semiconductor manufacturers.
The South Korean memory chipmaker’s American depositary receipts (ADRs) opened at $170 after being priced at $149 a day earlier and closed at $168.01, up 12.8%. The offering of 177.9 million ADRs raised approximately $26.5 billion, setting a record for a foreign company’s U.S. share sale.
The listing comes as investors continue to pour capital into companies supplying the chips needed to power artificial intelligence infrastructure.
AI boom strengthens demand for memory chips
SK Hynix has emerged as one of the world’s leading producers of high-bandwidth memory (HBM), a key component used in advanced AI processors and data centers.
The company recently partnered with Nvidia to supply advanced memory chips as demand for AI computing infrastructure expands globally.
Growing investment in artificial intelligence has tightened supplies of memory chips and driven prices higher, boosting profitability across the semiconductor industry.
The rising cost of memory components has also affected downstream technology manufacturers. Apple recently announced price increases for several Mac and iPad models, citing higher memory chip costs.
Strong financial performance supports expansion
The United States represented SK Hynix’s largest market last year, accounting for 68.8% of company revenue.
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The company reported revenue of just under $65 billion in 2025, while profit approximately doubled to about $28 billion.
To support future growth, SK Hynix is planning to build its first U.S. manufacturing facility in Indiana as part of its broader expansion strategy.
The company is also participating in a major semiconductor investment initiative in South Korea alongside Samsung Electronics and the South Korean government.
The partners have announced plans to invest a combined 800 trillion won (approximately $518 billion) to develop a new semiconductor manufacturing hub in the country’s southwest region, supporting efforts to expand high-tech production beyond the Seoul metropolitan area.
IPO market regains momentum
SK Hynix’s listing comes during a resurgence in the U.S. initial public offering market.
According to Renaissance Capital, 48 IPOs raised a combined $104.8 billion during the second quarter, making it the strongest quarter for IPO proceeds in five years. The total was boosted significantly by SpaceX’s $75 billion capital raise, while many newly listed companies have benefited from strong investor interest in artificial intelligence-related businesses.
Semiconductor rally reshapes equity markets
The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence has transformed semiconductor manufacturers into some of the world’s most valuable publicly traded companies.
Demand for AI chips has driven sharp gains across the sector, with memory chip producers benefiting from constrained supply and rising prices.
Micron Technology’s stock more than tripled in 2025 and is on pace to more than triple again in 2026, while Nvidia has become one of Wall Street’s most influential companies following years of strong gains fueled by AI demand.
The growing market capitalizations of leading semiconductor companies have also increased their influence on major U.S. stock indexes, helping drive broader market gains.
Despite the strong Wall Street debut, SK Hynix shares listed in Seoul edged down 0.3% on Friday.
This report is based on reporting by The Associated Press.
Article Topics: SK Hynix | Artificial Intelligence | Semiconductors | IPO | Nvidia | Memory Chips | U.S. Markets
