Foreign investors have expanded their stake in SK Hynix past the halfway mark, driving a divergence in trading dynamics between South Korea’s two memory chipmakers, according to recent exchange data. Foreign ownership of SK Hynix reached 50.74% on August 11, climbed to 50.83% the following day, and hit 50.96% by August 13, fueled by consecutive days of net buying.
SK Hynix Foreign Ownership Surpasses half
According to market data, foreign buyers picked up 559,854 shares of SK Hynix on August 12 and another 649,842 shares on August 13, steadily lifting their stake above 50%.
Institutional Buying Cushions Samsung Electronics
Trading patterns for Samsung Electronics showed a distinct contrast during the same sessions. According to market figures for August 13, foreign investors net-sold 401,379 shares of Samsung, while domestic institutional buyers stepped in to absorb 5,544,777 shares. Consequently, Samsung’s foreign ownership exhaustion rate remained essentially flat, moving from 46.71% to 46.70%.
The split in buying forces means the two companies are operating under different market mechanisms. When international capital drives one stock while domestic institutions anchor the other, the velocity of price movement and liquidity shifts accordingly.
Valuation Comparison: SK Hynix Versus Samsung Electronics
Valuation metrics illustrate a gap in how the market prices each company’s earnings potential. Based on estimated financial forecasts, SK Hynix trades at a price-to-earnings ratio (PER) of 4.71x, compared to Samsung Electronics at 5.74x. According to financial calculations, SK Hynix trades at a lower multiple relative to the profit it generates.
Market Capitalization Thresholds
To match Samsung Electronics’ market capitalization based on closing prices, SK Hynix would require a significant upward revaluation. Based on an estimated share count—derived by dividing total market capitalization by the share price—SK Hynix shares would need to reach roughly 220만 원 to equal Samsung’s total market value.
With SK Hynix trading at 164만 5,000원, achieving parity would require a 33.5% increase from that price point. For context, SK Hynix previously reached a 52-week high of 300만 2,000원, a threshold the stock has crossed in prior trading cycles.