SK Square reported its highest-ever quarterly and first-half earnings for 2026, driven by steep profit growth at SK Hynix, in which it holds a 20.0% stake, alongside a portfolio overhaul focused on AI and semiconductors and continued shareholder returns. The company posted second-quarter consolidated revenue of ₩328.5 billion, operating profit of ₩19.24 trillion, and net income of ₩18.68 trillion. Revenue fell 7.6% from a year earlier, but operating profit rose 1,273.8% and net income increased 1,190.5%. For the first half, operating profit reached ₩27.51 trillion and net income came to ₩27.05 trillion, roughly eight times the year-earlier levels of ₩3.05 trillion and ₩3.06 trillion respectively. The earnings surge helped lift SK Square's market capitalization to about ₩147 trillion as of the Aug. 13 close, up from about ₩24 trillion at the end of the second quarter last year, pushing it to third on the KOSPI by market value excluding Samsung Electronics preferred shares. Its NAV discount (gap between portfolio value and market capitalization) improved to 38% from 50.1%, and the company is targeting below 30% and a PBR (price-to-book ratio) of at least 1x by 2028. SK Square has also sold InCross and OneStore this year to sharpen its focus on AI and semiconductors, while continuing treasury-share buybacks and cancellations. President Kim Jung-kyu said the company will keep communicating with shareholders while preparing AX (AI transformation) innovation and new semiconductor investments.