Samsung, SK Hynix investors demand bigger payouts from AI cash pile

Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix face growing investor pressure to return more of their record AI-driven cash via dividends or buybacks. The world's top memory chip makers have amassed reserves exceeding those of U.S. tech giants, yet their payout targets lag peers like Apple and TSMC. Investors warn that failing to commit to larger returns could signal doubts about AI earnings' durability, exacerbating the 'Korea discount' and further depressing shares, which have fallen sharply from June highs.