The author is an analyst for NH Investment & Securities. He can be reached at jaemin.ahn@nhqv.com -- Ed.With the launch of Crimson Desert having been postponed to 2025, operating losses appear inevitable for Pearl Abyss in 2024. However, as Crimson Desert is an AAA-grade new game targeting the globa
The author is an analyst for NH Investment & Securities. She can be reached at jiyoony@nhqv.com -- Ed.C&C International’s 4Q23 results met consensus, if excluding incentive compensation. As of 1Q24, domestic and North America-focused orders are up 80% y-y. Backed by hit products from multiple indie
The author is an analyst for NH Investment & Securities. He can be reached at jaekwang.rhee@nhqv.com -- Ed.Both 4Q23 and 2023 earnings reached historic highs. This year, earnings should remain steady, with share price momentum being driven by an uptick in overseas orders. KAI is targeting 2024 aircr
The author is an analyst for Shinhan Securities. He can be reached at sokang@shinhan.com -- Ed.4Q23 review: New game and profitability disappointNCsoft registered operating profit of KRW3.9bn (-91.9% YoY, -76.7% QoQ, operating margin of 0.9%) on sales of KRW437.7bn (-20.1% YoY, +3.5% QoQ) for 4Q23,
Coway Co., Ltd., the “Best Life Solution Company,” has released its financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2023."We’re proud to have achieved such a successful 2023, even in the face of significant challenges present in both domestic and international markets. Our stable performanc
SK innovation reported on Feb. 6 that its revenue for the last year amounted to 77.2885 trillion won (US$58.2400 billion) with an operating profit of 1.9039 trillion won. Compared to the previous year, revenue and operating profit decreased by 0.98% and 51%, respectively.In the fourth quarter of las
U.S.-based Aptiv, Hyundai Motor Group’s partner in autonomous driving technology development, will stop funding for its joint venture with the Korean automaker Motional. After six years of preparations, the company’s commercialization of unmanned autonomous taxis (robotaxis) has been delayed and its
The sale of ECORBIT, which is considered the key element in the normalization of Taeyoung Engineering & Construction, is gaining momentum with the selection of lead managers. UBS and Citigroup Global Markets Securities, two global investment banks (IBs), have been assigned the task.According to sour
Kia Corp.’s market capitalization has outstripped Hyundai Motor’s. The automaker’s record-breaking earnings and strong shareholder return policy paid off handsomely, stock market experts say. Some of them believe that there is a remaining upside as the price-to-earnings ratio (PBR) is still below 1x
The author is an analyst for NH Investment & Securities. He can be reached at bk@nhqv.com -- Ed.The two terms that defined last year’s stock market were ‘new cold war’ and ‘supply chain reshaping’. In 2024, decoupling between DMs and EMs is to become a new market-defining feature. Today, the US’s bu
SK hynix has announced plans to release its 5th generation High Bandwidth Memory (HBM), named HBM3E, this year, and aims to launch HBM4 by 2026.Kim Chun-hwan, vice president of SK hynix, revealed these plans during his keynote speech at SEMICON Korea 2024, held at COEX in the Samseong neighborhood o
Samsung Electronics has forecasted a return to profit for its memory business in the first quarter. The company is confident in the continuous recovery of the memory industry, driven by the growth of the artificial intelligence (AI) market. Consequently, Samsung Electronics plans to significantly in
The author is an analyst for Shinhan Securities. She can be reached at hpark@shinhan.com -- Ed.4Q23 OP falls short due to inventory adjustments at distributorsAmorepacific posted consolidated operating profit of KRW20.7bn (-64% YoY) on sales of KRW926bn (-15% YoY) for 4Q23, missing our estimate (KRW
The government aims to prevent the manipulation of treasury stocks for the enhancement of controlling stakes without additional investments. To achieve this, it has prohibited the issuance of new shares for treasury stocks during corporate spinoffs and strengthened disclosure regulations, including
At the beginning of this year, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2024, the world’s largest consumer electronics and IT exhibition, brought into focus the trend of “on-device AI,” or artificial intelligence operating within the device. The emergence of devices equipped with this technology is injec
In 2023, Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corp. racked up more operating profit than Samsung Electronics, the country’s No. 1 company by market capitalization. The two automakers also posted a double-digit operating profit margin, higher than the company Tesla that is leading a global electric car boom
Samsung Biologics has made history by becoming the first in the domestic pharmaceutical and biotech industry to surpass 1 trillion won in annual operating profit. Following the achievement of 3 trillion won in annual sales in 2022 and surpassing 1 trillion won in quarterly sales in the third quarter
The author is an analyst for NH Investment & Securities. He can be reached at yk.choi@nhqv.com -- Ed.We lower our TP on Hyosung TNC to W440,000 to reflect both a slower-than-expected spandex industry recovery and underperforming fiber division earnings. But, we still see clearly improved fundamental
The author is an analyst for NH Investment & Securities. He can be reached at ys.jung@nhqv.com -- Ed.Offshore fixed-cost burden is weighing on 2024 earnings momentum, but the long-term profit outlook remains favorable. LPG and ammonia carrier orders are likely to exceed targets. Rising vessel prices
Samsung Biologics is expected to continue to post the highest growth rate in the global contract development manufacturing organization (CDMO) industry this year after posting record-high business results in 2023.A consensus forecast for Samsung Biologics’ revenue growth was 22 percent last year, ac