What if you bought SK hynix at the chip super-cycle peak?
This uses real historical data to show what would have happened if you had made a lump-sum investment at SK hynix's peak on May 23, 2018 — the height of the memory super-cycle — and held it until now.
⚠️ Know the risk first
Chips are cyclical, so a downturn often follows the peak. SK hynix also corrected sharply after this high, so check the maximum drawdown and loss period below first.
⚠️ This asset is an individual stock chosen as of today, so past returns can look better than they really were (survivorship bias).
What happened that day
On May 23, 2018, SK hynix rose to about 95,300 won, marking the peak of the 2017–2018 memory super-cycle. Surging memory prices sent earnings and the stock flying together, but the industry then turned and the stock corrected sharply.
Why this date
To model 'buying at the hottest point of a boom, at the cycle's peak,' we set the assumed purchase to May 23, 2018, when SK hynix hit its super-cycle high.
Investment conditions
Asset · SK hynix (000660) · lump-sum, then held
Method · Lump-sum (all at once)
Period · 2018-05-23 ~ 2026-07-01
Amount · $7,407
As of · 2026-07-01
Key metrics
These results do not reflect taxes. Based on historical data.
Risk & recovery
As important as returns. This service does not hide maximum drawdown or loss periods.
Maximum drawdown (MDD)
-48.2%
Largest drop from peak
Longest loss period
19months
Months in loss: 33
Recovery period
12months
Growth over time
Invested principal (dashed) and portfolio value (solid). Values below match the calculation.
Total invested $7,407 → Final value $219,747 (+2866.6%), Maximum drawdown (MDD) -48.2%
Why this period and asset
On May 23, 2018, SK hynix rose to about 95,300 won, marking the peak of the 2017–2018 memory-chip super-cycle. Surging memory prices sent earnings and the stock flying together, but as a cyclical asset the industry then turned and the stock corrected sharply. It is a cyclical-asset lesson in 'buying at the top of a boom.'
Interpreting the result
For cyclical assets like semiconductors, where the industry rises and falls in cycles, 'when it looks best' is often the peak. In the metrics below, see the current value and return, but be sure to also check the maximum drawdown and loss period after the super-cycle peak.
Caveats & limits
As a single stock, be mindful of survivorship bias. Figures use adjusted close, exclude fees and taxes, and there is no FX variable since it is KRW-denominated. Chips are a highly cyclical industry, so past results do not guarantee the future.
Event fact sources
- SK hynix (000660) 2018 super-cycle peak ~95,300 won on 2018-05-23 (Korean market press)
- Coverage of the 2017–2018 memory super-cycle
Requested date vs actual trading date
The assumed purchase date is the event date (2018-05-23). If closed, it fills at the next trading day's close. As a KRW-denominated stock, there is no FX variable.
Data sources & limits
- Price data source: Yahoo Finance / FinanceDataReader
- Collected on: 2026-07-25
- Effective trading date: 2026-07-01
- Price basis: 調整後終値(配当・株式分割を反映)
- This asset is an individual stock chosen as of today, so past returns can look better than they really were (survivorship bias).
- Trading fees and taxes are not reflected — figures are pre-tax.
- Based on historical data; does not guarantee future returns.
Frequently asked questions
What is a super-cycle?
It refers to a boom where chip demand and prices rise sharply over several years. 2017–2018 was a classic one, and booms are often followed by a downturn.
Why May 23, 2018?
It is when SK hynix hit a peak of about 95,300 won near the super-cycle top. It models 'buying at the top of a boom.'
Why are cyclical assets risky?
When they look best is often the peak, so buying then can leave you exposed to the downturn that follows. Check the maximum drawdown metric below.
Does this page recommend buying SK hynix?
No. It only shows one past date's path and recommends no stock. You must recognize the risks of a single stock and a cyclical asset.
Related scenarios
📋 結果は過去のデータに基づくものです。過去のリターンは将来のリターンを保証しません。
📋 本サービスは投資アドバイスではなく、投資を理解するための教育目的で提供されています。
⚠️ 現在の代表的な資産を用いて計算しているため、当時の市場構成とは異なる場合があります。