"Samsung Electronics to Post 170 Trillion Won in Operating Profit This Year, Aiming for Global Top 6"... Inventory-Short APR Shows Dominant Growth [Stocktopia]

[Financial News] On the morning of February 5, here is a summary of key reports from major securities firms.
Samsung Electronics is projected to achieve 170 trillion won in operating profit this year, which would place it around sixth in the world after Nvidia, Google and Apple. APR’s target price has been raised to 360,000 won after it delivered record quarterly results in the fourth quarter of last year. Lotte Chilsung is expected to stage a turnaround this year, backed by fixed-cost reductions and improving earnings contributions from its overseas subsidiaries.
◆Samsung Electronics (005930)― KB Securities / Kim Dong-won, Head of Research
- Target price: Not provided
- Investment opinion: Not provided
KB Securities projected that Samsung Electronics’ operating profit will reach 170 trillion won this year, putting it at about sixth place globally after Nvidia, Aramco, Google, Microsoft and Apple. Kim Dong-won, Head of Research at KB Securities, estimated that all memory products, including DRAM and NAND flash memory, are effectively sold out through next year. He stressed that because Samsung Electronics, which has the world’s largest memory production capacity, will find it realistically difficult to expand short-term memory supply through next year, its maximum production capacity will directly translate into its strongest competitive edge.
◆APR (278470)― Hyundai Motor Securities / researcher Ha Hee-ji
- Target price: 360,000 won (raised from 330,000 won)
- Investment opinion: Buy
Hyundai Motor Securities raised its target price for APR to 360,000 won, noting that the company posted record quarterly results in the fourth quarter of last year, with revenue and operating profit up 124.2% and 227.9% year-on-year, respectively. Researcher Ha Hee-ji noted that simultaneous growth in both online and offline channels in the United States was encouraging, and that online demand in Japan remained solid for both cosmetics and devices. Ha added that, as APR is now visibly facing inventory shortages amid excess demand worldwide, the brand is likely to maintain its dominant growth trajectory.
◆Lotte Chilsung (005300)― NH Investment & Securities / researcher Joo Young-hoon
- Target price: 160,000 won (maintained)
- Investment opinion: Buy
NH Investment & Securities said it expects Lotte Chilsung to stage an earnings turnaround this year, maintaining its target price of 160,000 won and a “Buy” rating. Researcher Joo Young-hoon explained that fourth-quarter results fell short of expectations due to one-off costs, including labor expenses and provisions. However, he assessed that fixed-cost reductions, together with rising contributions from overseas subsidiaries, should drive an earnings rebound this year. He also judged that, as investor interest in stocks related to real estate development has been increasing recently, attention to the company’s Seocho site is also likely to keep rising.

sms@fnnews.com Seong Min-seo Reporter