SEOUL — Samsung Electronics stock rocketed to an all-time peak on Feb. 19, fueled by news that the tech giant is pushing for a roughly US$700 price tag on its new HBM4 AI memory chips. That’s a potential 30 percent jump from previous models, according to the Chosun Ilbo newspaper, which cited industry sources.

The shares spiked 5.4 percent in early trading on the Korea Exchange. Samsung offered no comment on the report. HBM4 represents the latest high-bandwidth memory tech critical for AI applications.

Investors cheered the pricing signal amid easing fears of AI-related business disruptions. Nvidia, a key Samsung customer, saw its own shares rise Wednesday after Meta Platforms confirmed plans to buy millions of its AI processors over coming years. Apple, meanwhile, ramped up work on three new AI-focused wearable devices.

“This highlights the industry’s pricing power,” said Charu Chanana, chief investment strategist at Saxo Markets. She pointed to a still-tight AI memory market where Samsung appears to have clawed back use at the high end.

Memory chip shortages have lifted Samsung and rival SK Hynix, propelling South Korea’s Kospi index up 34 percent this year — the globe’s top-performing stock benchmark. Samsung, which trailed SK Hynix early in the AI boom, announced last week it began mass production of HBM4 and shipped initial commercial units to clients.

SK Hynix priced its HBM4 for Nvidia around the mid-$500 range in August, the Chosun Ilbo reported, citing unnamed industry figures. That vendor may now align closer to Samsung’s target. Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Masahiro Wakasugi estimated Samsung’s HBM4 could deliver operating profit margins of 50 to 60 percent at US$700 per unit.

“Price gaps between Samsung and SK Hynix should narrow by 2026 if Samsung ramps Nvidia supplies, as those deals command premiums over other customers,” Wakasugi wrote in a client note.

The rally reflects broader momentum in South Korea’s chip sector. Both majors have capitalized on explosive AI demand, with high-bandwidth memory emerging as a bottleneck. Nvidia’s Blackwell platform, for instance, relies heavily on such chips. Samsung’s aggressive pricing move suggests confidence in sustaining premium rates as production scales.

Trading volume surged with the stock’s ascent. The Kospi’s stellar run has drawn global attention, contrasting with choppier markets elsewhere. Analysts watch whether Samsung can maintain its HBM4 edge against SK Hynix, which pioneered key AI memory advances.

Samsung’s resurgence caps a turbulent period. The company lagged in early HBM3 development but invested heavily to catch up. Mass production news last week already buoyed sentiment. Thursday’s report amplified that optimism, pushing shares beyond prior records set amid the ongoing AI frenzy.