SK hynix Inc. is set to enjoy sound earnings for the third quarter on an industrywide boom, analysts said Sunday, although the company's latest move to join the acquisition of Japanese Toshiba Corp.'s memory business will have no direct impact for the time being.

According to the data compiled by Yonhap Infomax, the financial arm of Yonhap News Agency, on 21 brokerage houses, SK hynix is expected to post an operating profit of 3.7 trillion won ($3.26 billion) in the July-September period, rising sharply from 726 billion won posted a year earlier.

Its operating profit came to 3.05 trillion won in the second quarter.

"Due to the development of smartphone features equipped with dual-lens and biometric cameras, or high-end driver IC, the role of mobile dynamic random-access memory chips has become more significant," said Noh Geun-chang, a researcher at HMC Investment. 



"The rising demand for server DRAM chips will lead to a supply shortage through the first half of next year," Noh added.

Analysts added the outlook over the fourth quarter also remains bright due to the rising demand from Apple.

"Due to the demand for Apple's new products, the fourth quarter is expected to be a high season," said Lee Soon-hak, a researcher at Hanwha Investment & Securities Co.

SK hynix's move to join the acquisition of Japanese Toshiba Corp.'s memory business, however, is expected to have only a limited impact on SK hynix's performance for the time being, although the deal was important in terms of securing potential growth.

Earlier this week, Toshiba agreed to sell stakes in its memory business to a consortium that includes South Korea's No. 2 chipmaker and US investment firm Bain Capital. Apple and other US tech firms have also reportedly joined the consortium.

"While SK hynix cannot receive major benefits immediately, it is significant that Chinese companies have been prevented from joining the deal," said Lee Seung-woo, a researcher at Eugene Investment & Securities Co.

The brokerage house analyst said the deal was also important as it established deeper partnership with global tech giants, saying the potential value of the deal should not be underestimated. (Yonhap)