Samsung, SK hynix near end of buybacks, leaving KOSPI without clear buyer

Samsung Electronics and SK hynix are nearing completion of their share buyback programs, which market watchers say could remove a key source of support for the KOSPI. Samsung has repurchased 74.69 percent of its planned shares and SK hynix 58.79 percent. The programs may end by mid-October, earlier than their scheduled deadlines in November. Analysts said further shareholder returns and third-quarter earnings could help fill the gap.

Samsung Electronics has repurchased 39.8 million shares over 20 trading days since Aug. 24, equal to 74.69 percent of its planned 53,285,968-share buyback.

The cumulative value of Samsung Electronics’ repurchases stands at 10.31 trillion won, while SK hynix’s buybacks total 24.39 trillion won.

SK hynix has bought back 14.15 million shares over 22 trading days since Aug. 20, completing 58.79 percent of its planned 24.07 million-share program.

Samsung Electronics planned to continue its buyback through Nov. 21 and SK hynix through Nov. 19, but both programs are expected to finish by mid-October at the current pace.

Between Aug. 20 and Friday, corporate investors bought a net 33.2 trillion won of shares, while foreign investors sold a net 18.45 trillion won and retail investors sold 14.96 trillion won.

Published Sep 20, 2026 3:01 pm KST

Corporate logos of Samsung Electronics, left, and SK hynix / Yonhap

Korea's stalling stock market could soon lose a key source of support as Samsung Electronics and SK hynix near the completion of their share buyback programs, market watchers said Sunday.

According to the Korea Exchange's corporate disclosure system, Samsung Electronics has repurchased 39.8 million shares over 20 trading days since Aug. 24. That amounts to 74.69 percent of its planned buyback of 53,285,968 shares. The cumulative value of the purchases stands at 10.31 trillion won ($7.41 billion).

SK hynix has also bought back 14.15 million shares over 22 trading days since Aug. 20, completing 58.79 percent of its planned repurchase of 24.07 million shares. The cumulative value of the purchases stands at 24.39 trillion won.

Samsung Electronics and SK hynix had planned to continue their buybacks through Nov. 21 and Nov. 19, respectively. At the current pace, however, both programs are likely to be completed by mid-October.

Samsung Electronics has been buying back an average of about 2 million shares a day. If that pace is sustained, the company is expected to complete the buyback in six to seven trading days.

SK hynix has also been repurchasing an average of about 650,000 shares a day, putting it on track to buy back the remaining 9.92 million shares within 15 to 16 trading days.

Samsung Electronics plans record shareholder return of up to $79.6 bil.

SK hynix to buy back $28.6 bil. worth of shares in 3 months before cancellation

Net purchases by corporate investors had previously accounted for only a small share of KOSPI activity. In the first half of this year, there were just 83 trading days when their net buying or selling exceeded 100 billion won.

But between Aug. 20, when SK hynix began its share buyback, and Friday, corporate investors bought a net 33.2 trillion won of shares. Over the same period, foreign and retail investors sold a net 18.45 trillion won and 14.96 trillion won, respectively, while institutional investors bought a net 274.9 billion won.

The expected end of the buybacks comes at a sensitive time for the market. A prolonged war in the Middle East, high U.S. Treasury yields, successive policy rate increases by major economies and concerns over a potential slowdown in artificial intelligence investments have weighed on equities.

"Buying by other corporations has been helping put a floor under the market amid heightened external uncertainty," said Lee Kyoung-min, an analyst at Daishin Securities. "But it would not be enough to prevent the index from falling if selling by foreign and institutional investors intensifies."

Attention is now turning to the third-quarter earnings season, which begins next month and could provide a catalyst for a shift in market flows. Strong results from major companies, including chipmakers, could help draw foreign investors back into Korean equities.

Investors are also watching for signs that Samsung Electronics and SK hynix could announce additional shareholder-return measures. Further dividends, buybacks or share cancellations after the current programs end could help offset concerns over a potential gap in market demand.

"I continue to maintain the view that Samsung Electronics will announce a much bigger buyback/cancellation program in January 2027," said Douglas Kim , CEO of Douglas Research Advisory, who publishes on Smartkarma .

三星电子和SK海力士的股票回购计划即将完成，市场观察人士表示，这可能会消除韩国综合股价指数（KOSPI）的一个关键支撑来源。三星已回购了计划股份的74.69%，SK海力士已回购了58.79%。这些计划可能在10月中旬结束，比原定的11月截止日期提前。分析师表示，股东的进一步回报和第三季度的盈利情况可能会弥补这一缺口。

自 8 月 24 日以来的 20 个交易日内，三星电子已回购了 3980 万股股票，相当于其计划回购的 53285968 股股票的 74.69%。

三星电子的股票回购累计价值为 10.31 万亿韩元，而 SK 海力士的股票回购总额为 24.39 万亿韩元。

SK海力士自8月20日以来，在22个交易日内回购了1415万股股票，完成了其计划的2407万股回购计划的58.79%。

三星电子计划将股票回购计划持续到 11 月 21 日，SK 海力士计划持续到 11 月 19 日，但按照目前的速度，这两个计划预计都将在 10 月中旬完成。

从 8 月 20 日至周五，企业投资者净买入 33.2 万亿韩元股票，而外国投资者净卖出 18.45 万亿韩元，散户投资者净卖出 14.96 万亿韩元。

发布于2026年9月20日下午3:01（韩国标准时间）

左图为三星电子，右图为SK海力士/韩联社

市场观察人士周日表示，随着三星电子和SK海力士的股票回购计划接近尾声，韩国停滞不前的股市可能很快会失去一个重要的支撑来源。

根据韩国交易所的企业信息披露系统，自8月24日以来的20个交易日内，三星电子已回购了3980万股股票，相当于其计划回购的53285968股股票的74.69%。此次回购的累计价值达10.31万亿韩元（约合74.1亿美元）。

自8月20日以来，SK海力士在22个交易日内回购了1415万股股票，完成了其计划回购的2407万股股票的58.79%。此次回购的累计价值达24.39万亿韩元。

三星电子和SK海力士原计划分别将股票回购计划持续到11月21日和11月19日。但按照目前的速度，这两个计划都可能在10月中旬完成。

三星电子平均每天回购约200万股股票。如果保持这一速度，预计该公司将在六到七个交易日内完成回购。

SK海力士也一直在平均每天回购约65万股股票，使其有望在15至16个交易日内回购剩余的992万股股票。

三星电子计划向股东返还高达 796 亿美元的巨额资金。

SK海力士将在注销前三个月内回购价值286亿美元的股票

此前，企业投资者的净买入量在韩国综合股价指数（KOSPI）的交易活动中占比很小。今年上半年，企业投资者净买入或净卖出量超过1000亿韩元的交易日仅有83个。

但从8月20日SK海力士开始股票回购到上周五，企业投资者净买入33.2万亿韩元股票。同期，外国投资者和散户投资者分别净卖出18.45万亿韩元和14.96万亿韩元，而机构投资者净买入2749亿韩元。

此次股票回购计划的预期结束正值市场敏感时期。中东旷日持久的战争、美国国债收益率居高不下、主要经济体接连加息以及对人工智能投资可能放缓的担忧，都对股市造成了压力。

大信证券分析师李京民表示：“在外部不确定性加剧的情况下，其他企业的买入行为帮助支撑了市场。但如果外国和机构投资者的抛售加剧，这不足以阻止指数下跌。”

目前市场焦点转向下个月即将开始的第三季度财报季，这可能成为市场资金流向转变的催化剂。包括芯片制造商在内的大型企业如果业绩强劲，或将有助于吸引外国投资者重返韩国股市。

投资者也在密切关注三星电子和SK海力士是否会宣布额外的股东回报措施。在现有计划结束后，进一步的分红、股票回购或注销等措施，或许有助于缓解市场对潜在需求缺口的担忧。

“我仍然认为三星电子将在 2027 年 1 月宣布一项规模更大的回购/取消计划，”道格拉斯研究咨询公司首席执行官道格拉斯·金（Douglas Kim）在 Smartkarma 上发表文章表示。