Kiwoom Securities on the 14th lowered its target price from 140,000 won to 125,000 won, saying that SK Hynix will record below market expectations in the fourth quarter of this year due to falling DRAM prices.
However, from the end of this year, the company maintained its "buy" of its investment opinion, believing that a shift in stock prices will emerge due to expectations of an improvement in the DRAM industry.
"SK Hynix's operating profit in the third quarter of this year will rise 59% from the previous quarter to KRW 4.3 trillion, which meets market expectations, but its fourth-quarter operating profit will fall 16% from the previous quarter to KRW 3.6 trillion, falling short of market expectations,"said Kiwoom Securities.
Kiwoom Securities explained, "Sales in the third quarter will increase 16% to KRW 12 trillion, which will increase due to increased DRAM shipments and soaring NAND shipments.".
The outlook for stock prices is also cloudy. This is because NAND prices have been falling recently, and uncertainties about demand for semiconductors remain.
Kiwoom Securities said it believes that China's YMTC's entry into the market, which has recently become visible, will further accelerate the pace of decline in NAND prices, adding that SK Hynix's short-term stock price adjustment will continue.
Kiwoom Securities said, "However, SK Hynix's stock price will turn upward as expectations for an improvement in the DRAM business are rising from the end of this year.".
Reporter Lee Ji-sun stockmk2020@gmail.com