SK Hynix Increases Fixed Dividend by 25%, Announces New Shareholder Return Policy and Value-Up Plan

• Shareholder return policy to be implemented from 2025 to 2027, with fixed annual dividends raised by 25% to KRW 1,500 per share.
• Value-Up Plan introduces “CapEx Discipline” and other measures to maintain investment balance and enhance company value.
• “Aligning shareholder returns with growth momentum while ensuring financial stability for long-term development,” says SK Hynix.

On November 27, 2024, SK Hynix unveiled its shareholder return policy and corporate Value-Up Plan for 2025–2027. The company aims to balance robust shareholder returns with a focus on financial health and sustained growth.

25% Dividend Increase and Shareholder Return Commitment

Under the new policy, SK Hynix will maintain its existing principle of allocating 50% of cumulative free cash flow (FCF) to shareholder returns. The company has announced a 25% increase in fixed annual dividends, raising the minimum dividend per share from KRW 1,200 to KRW 1,500. This adjustment is expected to increase total annual cash dividends to approximately KRW 1 trillion.

"Through this dividend increase, we aim to reward shareholders who have supported us during our journey to become a global leader in AI-oriented memory solutions," SK Hynix stated. The company also emphasized its commitment to balancing shareholder returns with financial health, even amid changing market conditions in the memory sector.

Financial Health Goals

To ensure financial stability, SK Hynix has introduced two key financial health objectives:

1. Achieving Net Cash: Ensuring that liquid assets exceed debt.
2. Maintaining Optimal Cash Reserves: Preparing sufficient annual funding for future growth investments.

As part of these goals, 5% of annual FCF will be prioritized for strengthening the company’s financial structure. By the end of the three-year policy in 2027, SK Hynix plans to deliver additional shareholder returns within the scope of maintaining financial stability. If operational performance significantly improves, the company may consider early shareholder returns before the policy period concludes.

Value-Up Plan: Enhancing Corporate Value

SK Hynix also announced its Value-Up Plan, focusing on strategic investment and technology leadership:

• CapEx Discipline: The company has set its annual capital expenditure at an intermediate level of approximately 30% of average revenue. This approach is designed to reduce uncertainty, enable swift decision-making in response to market changes, and ensure stable cash flow generation.

• AI-Driven Leadership: As demand for high-end memory products rises in the AI era, SK Hynix is developing a future technology roadmap to strengthen its position as a leader in AI memory markets.

• Comments from SK Hynix CFO

  CFO Kim Woo-hyun noted, “Having adeptly navigated a downturn, we are now poised to achieve record-breaking performance, surpassing even the peak of 2018. Aligning our shareholder returns with the company’s growth trajectory and maintaining financial stability will pave the way for long-term growth with our shareholders.”

  Looking Ahead

  With its new shareholder return policy and Value-Up Plan, SK Hynix is positioning itself to meet the challenges and opportunities of the evolving memory and AI industries. By combining disciplined investment strategies and financial stability measures, the company aims to deliver sustainable growth and maximize shareholder value.