Samsung, SK Hynix stock targets lifted at Barclays on robust HBM demand - Investing.com

Barclays has raised price targets for Samsung and SK Hynix following strong demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM), highlighting the semiconductor industry's continued demand for high-performance stor... Read original →

Surging HBM demand is reshaping the memory ecosystem: upstream advanced packaging (e.g., CoWoS) capacity is tightening, forcing downstream AI chipmakers to pre-reserve HBM3E/4 supply and adopt a 'memory-first' design paradigm. While U.S.-led export controls don’t directly target HBM, equipment delays have inflated Samsung and SK Hynix’s capex, narrowing their supply chain safety margins. Micron is accelerating HBM3E ramp-ups tied to NVIDIA, while Taiwan, China-based players focus on stacking yield improvements to capture tier-2 clients. Over the next 18 months, HBM will shift from AI-training exclusivity to inference-standard inclusion, lifting per-GB ASPs by over 30% and igniting patent battles around TSV and hybrid bonding. Korean leaders retain a short-term edge, but geopolitical volatility makes customer diversification non-negotiable for survival.