CNBC host Jim Cramer criticized the global AI data center supply chain’s reliance on South Korean chipmakers SK Hynix Inc. and Samsung Electronics, arguing that retail investors borrowing money through margin trading increasingly dictate their share prices and sideline institutional investors. His comments came as SK Hynix filed to buy back and cancel 40 trillion won, or $29 billion, of treasury shares through November. The Nvidia supplier’s U.S.-listed ADR (American depositary receipt) rose nearly 6% in premarket trading after a 9.2% drop in the prior session, while its South Korean listing fell 9.75% in Seoul before recovering 7% in after-hours trading, according to The Chosun Daily. SK Hynix also pledged to direct more than 50% of free cash flow generated from 2025 to 2027 toward shareholder returns. Cramer compared the move with volatility at Micron Technology and noted that SanDisk and Western Digital have also used buybacks to reassure investors concerned about AI demand. As of the source’s cited figures, SK Hynix’s U.S.-listed ADR was down 8.46% since its July listing, up 1.03% over the past month and 9.86% over five days. Its Korean shares were up 130.41% year to date, down 18.57% over the month and up 470.34% over the year. Benzinga’s Edge Stock Rankings showed strong short-, medium- and long-term price trends and a good growth score.