Asian technology shares jumped in early trading on Feb. 26, 2026 after Nvidia posted stronger-than-expected fiscal fourth-quarter results, easing worries about a cooling artificial-intelligence cycle. Major Korean chipmakers Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix led gains, while Japanese tech names and index measures also climbed. The market reaction reflected investor confidence that continued data-center demand will sustain chip and memory suppliers. Several analysts said the beat reinforced demand visibility across the regional supply chain.
Key Takeaways
- Nvidia reported fiscal Q4 revenue of $68.13 billion, a 73% year-over-year increase, topping analysts’ estimate of $66.21 billion.
- Over 91% of Nvidia’s sales now come from its data center unit, underscoring GPU-driven AI demand.
- South Korea’s SK Hynix rose more than 2% in early trade; Samsung Electronics climbed roughly 5%.
- Components names jumped: LG Innotek surged nearly 14% and Seoul Semiconductor rose about 13% intraday.
- In Japan, the TOPIX Information & Communication index gained 2.6%; Trend Micro, Sony Group and SoftBank added 5.95%, 3.86% and 5%, respectively.
- Not all chips advanced: Japanese test and MCU suppliers saw declines—Advantest fell 2.35% and Renesas was down 1.75%.
Background
The past year has seen enormous capital flow into AI-related infrastructure as cloud providers expand data-center capacity and enterprises prototype generative AI applications. That shift elevated demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM), advanced logic wafers and specialized power components, concentrating revenue growth in a handful of GPU and memory suppliers. Nvidia emerged as the primary beneficiary: its data-center GPUs are the backbone of many training and inference clusters, creating direct links to memory vendors and foundry partners.
Market participants had signaled concern in recent weeks about whether AI momentum might slow once initial buying sprees and inventory rebuilds passed. Regional supply chains—from South Korea’s memory makers to Japan’s materials and component suppliers—are exposed to cyclical ordering patterns from hyperscalers. Against that backdrop, a materially stronger quarter from Nvidia offers reassurance to investors betting on sustained capex for next-generation data-center builds.
Main Event
Trading on Feb. 26 opened with broad gains across Asian tech names after Nvidia disclosed Q4 revenue that beat consensus. In Seoul, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix posted notable upticks as investors priced in incremental orders for memory and packaging services tied to GPU deployments. SK Hynix, a key supplier of HBM used in AI accelerators, rose more than 2% while Samsung—long a partner to Nvidia—advanced roughly 5%.
Japan’s software and hardware-linked names also rallied. The TOPIX Information & Communication index climbed 2.6%, supported by a 5.95% jump in Trend Micro, more than 3% gains at Sony Group and a nearly 5% rise for SoftBank Group. Some market strategists highlighted potential second-order winners in Japan, including firms exposed to gallium nitride (GaN) and silicon carbide (SiC) components that underpin next-generation power and RF systems.
The move was not uniform. Test-equipment and certain automotive-focused chip makers lagged: Advantest fell 2.35% and Renesas dipped 1.75%, reflecting sector-specific headwinds and different demand drivers compared with data-center infrastructure. Overall, the session underscored a rotation into semiconductor infrastructure and memory exposure tied directly to AI workloads.
Analysis & Implications
Nvidia’s 73% year-on-year revenue gain and the concentration of sales in its data-center business strengthen the case that AI remains a multi-year investment theme rather than a short-term trading story. For suppliers such as SK Hynix and Samsung, higher server-build activity translates into sustained demand for HBM and advanced packaging, supporting revenue visibility for the next several quarters. This narrowing of revenue sources toward data centers also increases the sensitivity of regional suppliers to ordering cycles of a few hyperscale customers.
Investors may increasingly differentiate between companies that supply infrastructure (memory, wafers, power components) and those focused on software or services. Several portfolio managers, per market commentary, still favor semiconductor infrastructure names because they participate directly in hardware buildouts and can see clearer backlog and order flow. That said, concentration risk rises as a small number of platforms—chiefly Nvidia—account for a large share of compute demand.
Regionally, the rally highlights South Korea and Japan as primary beneficiaries in the near term. Korean memory producers and foundry-related suppliers should capture the bulk of chip-level spending, while Japanese firms that make GaN and SiC components, test equipment and certain software security products could see follow-through as investors rebalance. However, macro risks, inventory cycles at cloud providers and potential regulatory or geopolitical restraints on supply chains remain downside factors.
Comparison & Data
| Company / Index | Intraday move (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Samsung Electronics | +5% |
| SK Hynix | +2%+ |
| LG Innotek | +14% |
| Seoul Semiconductor | +13% |
| TOPIX Information & Communication | +2.6% |
| Trend Micro | +5.95% |
| Sony Group | +3.86% |
| SoftBank Group | +5% |
| Advantest | -2.35% |
| Renesas | -1.75% |
The table summarizes approximate intraday moves reported after markets opened on Feb. 26, 2026. Numbers capture the initial rally following Nvidia’s earnings release and may diverge from end-of-day performance. The pattern shows a clear tilt toward memory, power-component and infrastructure suppliers versus some test-equipment and MCU-related names that serve different end markets.
Reactions & Quotes
This is a positive read through for many of the Asia supply chain players including SK Hynix, Samsung, and many others given the explosion of data center demand.
Dan Ives, Wedbush Securities
Dan Ives framed Nvidia’s beat as affirming demand for data-center components across Asia, noting the “read through” effect to suppliers. His comment captured investor sentiment that stronger GPU demand lifts order prospects for memory, packaging and related services.
The current setup still favors semiconductor infrastructure names over software; Nvidia remains really the king of the infrastructure for all of this.
Dan Niles, Niles Investment Management
Dan Niles emphasized a structural preference for hardware suppliers that participate directly in data-center buildouts. That stance reflects expectations of clearer near-term revenue visibility for infrastructure vendors compared with many software businesses.
Flows will continue to favor AI-linked names, suggesting potential upside for Japanese GaN and SiC plays as investors position for sustained data-center buildouts.
Andrew Jackson, ORTUS Advisors
Andrew Jackson highlighted potential beneficiaries beyond memory and GPUs, pointing to companies in Japan that make GaN and SiC components used in power and thermal management. His view signals that investors are already scanning secondary supply-chain wins from prolonged data-center expansion.
Unconfirmed
- Whether the accelerated order pace will translate into multi-quarter backlog growth for all suppliers remains unverified by company-level disclosures.
- Specific incremental contract volumes from hyperscalers to individual memory or component suppliers have not been publicly confirmed.
- Longer-term pricing trends for HBM and advanced packaging are uncertain and could shift if hyperscalers alter build plans.
Bottom Line
Nvidia’s fiscal Q4 beat on Feb. 26, 2026 provided a clear near-term catalyst for Asian tech stocks, validating investor hopes that AI-driven data-center spending will continue to support chip and memory makers. The rally favored infrastructure-linked names—memory suppliers, packaging firms and certain Japanese component manufacturers—while firms tied to other end markets showed mixed performance.
Looking ahead, the durability of the rally will depend on order flow from hyperscalers, inventory dynamics and macroeconomic conditions. Market participants should monitor company-level guidance and sequential order disclosures to distinguish transient trading reactions from sustained structural demand for AI infrastructure.
Sources
- CNBC (news report)
- NVIDIA Investor Relations (official company financial disclosures)