The title Samsung Electronics has registered a rise of 4,77%, reaching 83.500 won (about $60), the highest since August 2024, contributing to a 0,68% increase in the Kospi index. The rise was supported by rumors that Samsung reportedly exceeded Nvidia's requirements for the provision of high-bandwidth memory chips (Hbm) intended for data center for artificial intelligence.
Samsung passes Nvidia's qualification tests: What does it mean?
According to South Korean media, the 12-layer HBM3E chip It recently passed Nvidia's qualification tests, although Samsung has not yet released an official statement. Passing the tests means the chips can be used in artificial intelligence accelerators, which are essential for training models such as ChatGpt e DeepSeek, allowing Samsung to compete directly with Sk Hynix e Micron in the high-end segment.
According to analysts of Goldman Sachs, the approval represents a positive development, confirming Samsung's ability to meet the highest HBM industry standards and increasing the likelihood that NVIDIA will also approve the company's future HBM4 chips.
Samsung shares rise on AI demand
Not surprisingly, Samsung shares have gained about 20% in September alone (56% year-to-date). foreign investors have purchased over $2 billion in shares this month, driven by the prospect of growing demand for artificial intelligence and a reduction in the supply of basic memory chips.
After nearly 19 months of development and a series of delays, rumors of Nvidia's imminent passing of the tests have further fueled investor interest. Citigroup analyst, Peter Lee, expects an official announcement by the end of September or beginning of October.
Constraints and competition in the HBM chip market
Samsung is not new to the game: it already supplies HBM3E chips to Amd e Broadcom, but Nvidia's approval represents a major milestone. However, supplying Nvidia this year it could be limited, as Sk Hynix and Micron have already met much of the demand.
SK Hynix was the first to mass-produce HBM3E chips and has already completed HBM4, sending its stock price to record highs. Samsung and Micron are still working on their own versions, but Samsung's progress with HBM3E marks a significant advance in the technology race.
Samsung Strengthens Foundry with Tesla, Nvidia Invests in Intel
Samsung is not limited to memory chips: the previously struggling foundry division has received a major boost thanks to a multi-year agreement worth 16,5 billion of dollars with Tesla, valid until 2033, for the supply of next-generation chips for electric vehicles. The chips will be produced at Samsung's new factory in Taylor, Texas, with production scheduled to start in 2026.
The agreement allows Samsung to strengthen its foundry division and compete more effectively with TSMC in the global market for semiconductorsFor Tesla, the contract reduces exposure to tariffs and potential supply chain disruptions, simplifying logistics thanks to the factory's proximity to its headquarters in Austin, Texas.
In parallel, Nvidia announced a $5 billion investment in Intel, collaborating on the development of next-generation chips for PCs and servers. Rumors also suggest the acquisition of Intel common stock at $23,28 per share, giving Nvidia a stake of over 4%. Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, commented: “This historic collaboration tightly integrates NVIDIA’s artificial intelligence and accelerated computing technology with Intel CPUs and the broad x86 ecosystem, merging two world-class platforms into one.”
