Samsung shares hit record high on HBM4 AI memory chip reports

Samsung Electronics’ shares reached a record high on December 19, following reports that the company is negotiating a higher price for its latest AI memory chip, the HBM4.

The stock rose by up to 5.4% on the Korea Exchange after the market reopened post-holiday.

According to local media, Samsung aims to price the HBM4 at around US$700 per unit, a figure that suggests a significant increase from previous pricing.

Samsung declined to comment on the report.

The industry has seen a tightening in memory chip supply, which has benefited Samsung and SK Hynix, contributing to South Korea’s benchmark Kospi index rising 34% this year.

Samsung announced last week that it had begun mass production of HBM4 chips and shipped products to customers.

🔗 Source: Bloomberg

🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

### The reported price hike is tied to hoped-for wins with Nvidia

Some commentary links the reported price increase to Samsung’s bid to supply Nvidia’s next “Vera Rubin” AI platform, which is expected to use High Bandwidth Memory (HBM)4. Samsung’s announcement says it began mass production of HBM4 and shipped products to customers, while it does not name Nvidia 1.
For Samsung, the step matters because it has worked to close the gap with rival SK hynix, which holds over half the market for this type of advanced AI memory 2.
Samsung has promoted performance claims, yet analysts have earlier flagged manufacturing yields that trail peers. These shipments give a datapoint to track 3.

### This shift could reshape the AI memory market

Samsung’s HBM4 scale-up may affect rivals. Some reports expect Nvidia to source HBM4 for “Vera Rubin” from SK hynix and Samsung, excluding Micron, though Samsung has not confirmed customer names in its HBM4 update 4.
The pace tightens as Nvidia reportedly asks for the next step, denser 16-layer HBM, by late 2026. That request pushes memory makers to speed up product plans 5.
Supplier choices by one large AI-chip buyer can shift the AI supply chain. That raises spending on fabrication plants and R&D for memory makers that miss out 6.