[Edaily Reporter Yun Junghoon ]SKSQUARE(402340)achieved record-high earnings for both the quarter and the first half of the year, driven by strong performance at SK hynix(000660)and a portfolio restructuring focused on AI and semiconductors. Its market capitalization has grown approximately sixfold in just one year, propelling it to third place on the KOSPI.

SKSQUARE announced on the 14th that it recorded a consolidated operating profit of 19.2354 trillion won and a net profit of 18.6750 trillion won for the second quarter of 2026. This marks the company’s highest-ever quarterly earnings. Revenue for the same period totaled 328.5 billion won.

Cumulative operating profit for the first half of this year reached 27.5137 trillion won, while net profit stood at 27.0498 trillion won. This represents an increase of approximately eightfold compared to the same period last year (operating profit of 3.0543 trillion won, net profit of 3.0594 trillion won), marking the highest-ever half-year profits in the company’s history.

The company explained that this result stems from its efforts to enhance corporate value, including the rapid earnings growth of its major subsidiary, SK hynix; a business restructuring centered on AI and semiconductors; and a consistent shareholder return policy.

Driven by this improved performance, both the stock price and corporate value surged significantly. As of the closing price on the 13th, SKSQUARE’s market capitalization stood at approximately 147 trillion won, a nearly six-fold increase from the roughly 24 trillion won recorded at the end of the second quarter of last year. During the same period, its ranking by market capitalization on the KOSPI (excluding SamsungElectronics(1P)) rose 20 spots from 23rd to 3rd.

The net asset value (NAV) discount rate—a key indicator of the holding company discount—has also improved. As of the 13th, the NAV discount rate stood at 38%, down 12.1 percentage points from 50.1% at the end of the second quarter of last year. A lower NAV discount rate indicates that the value of the company’s portfolio is being more highly valued by the market. SKSQUARE is pursuing a “value-up” goal to reduce its NAV discount rate to 30% or lower and achieve a price-to-book ratio (PBR) of 1 or higher by 2028.

Behind these results lies the rapid “portfolio rebalancing” the company has undertaken. Following the sale of its digital advertising subsidiary, Incross Co.,Ltd., to SKNetworksCo.,Ltd. in the first half of this year, SKSQUARE transferred the app marketplace One Store to NEXUS in June. By divesting non-core assets, the company has also secured investment capital to focus on the AI and semiconductor sectors.

The company is also strengthening shareholder returns. Following the full cancellation last month of the 40 billion won worth of treasury stock acquired in the first half of the year, it plans to purchase and cancel an additional 70 billion won worth of treasury stock by early next year. By continuing to buy back and cancel treasury stock every year since its inception, the company is fulfilling its promise to enhance shareholder value.

SKSQUARE plans to accelerate new investments across the entire semiconductor value chain and its company-wide AI transformation (AX). Through its overseas investment arm, TGC Square, it is also making proactive investments in AI and semiconductor companies in the U.S. and Japan.

Centered on its “AI Innovation” organization, established earlier this year, the company is also enhancing its competitiveness by introducing AI agents into its investment decision-making and portfolio value-enhancement processes.

Kim Jeong-kyu, President of SKSQUARE, said, “We will actively communicate with shareholders to enhance corporate value while preparing for AX innovation and new investments in semiconductors.”