April 20, 2024

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[THE INVESTOR] SK hynix is waning faster than expected, said Hana Financial Investment on Dec. 17 downgrading the recommendation to a “hold” from a “buy” and lowering the target price to 62,000 won (US$54.78) from 78,000 won.

Its monthly earnings are sliding rapidly. Exports of memory semiconductors last month fell 14.4 percent from the previous month, and slow demand will extend suppliers’ DRAM and NAND inventory to 3 to 4 weeks, said analyst Kim Gyeong-min.

Its quarterly earnings will hit the bottom in the second quarter, later than expected, and its operating profit in the first quarter will come in at 3.7 trillion won and decline to 3.6 trillion won in the second quarter. Easing tensions from trade conflicts or a shift in DRAM price in the second quarter may trigger readjustment in recommendation, added the analyst.

By Hwang You-mee (glamazon@heraldcorp.com)