Samsung rose as much as 4.8% to a record high on Monday, but trailed SK Hynix's 12% jump as analysts pointed to looming strike risk.
The potential workers' strike is seen weighing on South Korea's most valuable company even as global investor optimism about artificial intelligence lifts chip stocks.
The divergence highlights how company-specific labour concerns may blunt Samsung's gains relative to its domestic rival during the broader AI-driven semiconductor rally.
With workers demanding a bigger share of AI profits, is Samsung's biggest threat now from within?
As Samsung faces a production blackout, will tech giants be left scrambling for AI chips?