The memory chip sector is surging after industry leader SK Hynix reported record-breaking third-quarter revenue and profits, significantly beating expectations. The company cited explosive demand for AI-related memory like HBM and DDR5 and announced a massive 100 trillion won (~$75.5B) shareholder return plan for 2026. This blowout report and its bullish forecast, which anticipates memory shortages persisting through 2030, has triggered a global rally in semiconductor stocks, lifting peers like Samsung and Micron.