TMTPOST -- Samsung Electronics Co. shares surged on Monday after the tech giant unveiled an unexpected plan to repurchase approximately 10 trillion won ($7.2 billion) of its own stock over the next year. The stock climbed as much as 7.3% during Seoul trading, building on a 7.2% rally from Friday, when anticipation of the news began lifting the market. Despite the boost, Samsung shares remain down about 27% this year, weighed by concerns that its memory chip business is lagging in the rapidly evolving artificial intelligence market. Analysts see the buyback as a potential turning point for the stock. Some have also speculated that it could aid the founding family in consolidating control. Meanwhile, rival SK Hynix Inc. has seen its shares rise by about 24% this year, driven by strong investor interest in its AI-focused chip technology. “The unexpected buyback is a welcome surprise,” JPMorgan Chase & Co. analyst Jay Kwon commented in a research note. “It signals that Samsung’s management is taking proactive measures to stabilize the share price. However, the company's ability to restructure and implement a strategy to regain its technological edge will be the key driver for long-term performance.”