Semiconductor demand has been expanding alongside the spread of artificial intelligence (AI). As the ability to quickly store and transfer data has become as critical as computing performance in AI servers, demand for high bandwidth memory (HBM) has emerged as a key variable in the semiconductor industry cycle. With AI being adopted across on-device (edge) devices, autonomous mobility and robotics, the importance of semiconductors for high-performance computing and data processing is being emphasized across industries.
According to the financial investment industry on the 27th, Shinhan Asset Management's "SOL AI Semiconductor TOP2 Plus exchange-traded fund (ETF)," newly listed on the 17th of this month, is a product reflecting demand for concentrated investment in major domestic memory semiconductor companies such as Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) and SK hynix (000660.KS). The fund allocates 25% each to Samsung Electronics and SK hynix as a baseline, maximizing exposure to the leading semiconductor firms.
In addition, the fund holds a 15% weighting in SK Square (402340.KS), the holding company of SK hynix, bringing the combined exposure to related investments to 65%. SK Square, the intermediate holding company for SK Group's tech-related businesses, carries significant meaning as an indirect investment vehicle for SK hynix's rising corporate value.
The ETF also includes meaningful weightings in quality materials, parts and equipment stocks expected to benefit from the memory super cycle, such as Samsung Electro-Mechanics (009150.KS) at 17.97%, ISU Petasys (007660.KQ) at 7.09%, LEENO Industrial (058470.KQ) at 5.78% and Wonik IPS (240810.KQ) at 4.51%. The fund has been assessed as a structure that captures both large-cap semiconductor names and key value chain players. A Shinhan Asset Management official explained, "The fund is designed to allow more flexible participation in the upside momentum of large-cap semiconductor stocks through Samsung Electro-Mechanics and SK Square, which are included at meaningful weightings."
The initial response has been strong even as stock market volatility has widened amid the fallout from the Middle East conflict. Net purchases by individual investors totaled 162 billion won in the week following the listing. Net assets grew from 11 billion won on the listing date to 241.9 billion won. Kim Jung-hyun, head of the ETF business group at Shinhan Asset Management, said, "Memory chip production companies cannot easily expand capacity in a short period even amid explosively growing memory semiconductor demand and unprecedented supply constraints," adding, "Samsung Electronics and SK hynix are highly likely to stand at the center of this memory semiconductor super cycle."
