[Edaily Reporter KIM YOON-JEONG ] Although SamsungElectronics confirmed its highest-ever quarterly earnings and announced a cash dividend of 30 trillion won, its stock price is falling by nearly 5%. This is attributed to the fact that both the earnings and the scale of shareholder returns were in line with market expectations, as well as profit-taking following the previous day’s sharp rise. The KOSPI also rose to the 6,100 level early in the session before turning lower and slipping to the 5,800 level.

According to MP Doctor on the 29th, as of 10:59 a.m., the KOSPI was trading at 5,870.70, down 141.74 points (2.36%) from the previous trading day. The index opened at 6,017.22, up 4.78 points (0.08%) from the previous session, rose as high as 6,100.11 during the session, and then fluctuated before turning lower. The intraday low was 5,817.92.
In the stock market, foreign investors are the only net buyers, with net purchases totaling 426.6 billion won. In contrast, retail investors and institutional investors are net sellers, with net sales of 67.5 billion won and 454.7 billion won, respectively.
SamsungElectronics(005930), the company with the largest market capitalization, is trading at 230,000 won, down 12,000 won (4.96%) from the previous trading day. Although it rose to 249,000 won early in the session, it later turned lower and extended its losses. SamsungElectronics(1P)(005935)is also down 3.05%.
SamsungElectronics announced today that it recorded third-quarter consolidated revenue of 195.2532 trillion won and operating profit of 107.4405 trillion won. These figures represent year-over-year increases of 126.9% and 783.1%, respectively. Both revenue and operating profit set new all-time highs for the fourth consecutive quarter.
By business division, the Device Solutions (DS) division, which handles semiconductors, posted revenue of 147.1 trillion won and operating profit of 106.5 trillion won. In contrast, the Device Experience (DX) division, which handles smartphones and home appliances, posted an operating loss of 800 billion won.
SamsungElectronics announced today that it has decided to pay a cash dividend of 4,601 won per share for both common and preferred shares. The total dividend payout amounts to approximately 30 trillion won. Of this year’s total shareholder returns, estimated at 90 trillion to 110 trillion won, the remaining funds—excluding the 35 trillion won already disbursed or finalized—amount to 55 trillion to 75 trillion won. Specific additional shareholder return measures, including share buybacks and cancellations, are scheduled to be finalized at a board meeting in late January of next year.
The decline in the stock price despite the announcement of record-breaking earnings and a large-scale dividend is attributed to the fact that expectations regarding earnings and shareholder returns were already reflected in the stock price, and the announcement today offered limited additional positive news. SamsungElectronics had already disclosed its third-quarter revenue and operating profit through a preliminary earnings announcement on the 8th, and the 30 trillion won cash dividend finalized today was in line with market expectations. Furthermore, since no specific implementation plan was presented for the remaining shareholder return funds, the announcement is interpreted as failing to meet market expectations. Profit-taking pressure following the stock’s 9.01% surge the previous day also appears to have contributed to the decline.
Han Ji-young, an analyst at KIWOOM Securities, stated before the start of regular trading that day, “Just as SK hynix’s conference call the previous day provided a catalyst for a shift in market sentiment, key points to watch during SamsungElectronics’ conference call include the scale of long-term supply agreements (LTAs), pricing negotiation conditions, and the status of medium- to long-term volume sales,” adding “We need to watch whether this will further restore confidence in the semiconductor sector’s future earnings and whether the direction of shareholder returns—such as an expansion of cash dividends—will become clearer,” she noted.
Meanwhile, SK hynix(000660)is trading at 1,505,000 won, up 18,000 won (1.21%) from the previous trading day, and SKSQUARE(402340)is trading at 948,000 won, up 27,000 won (2.93%).
Among the top KOSPI stocks by market capitalization, LG Energy Solution(373220)(-9.37%), SamsungElectroMechanics(009150)(-5.97%), HyundaiMotor(005380)(-2.53%), Samsung Life Insurance(032830)(-1.44%), and SAMSUNG C&T CORPORATION(028260)(-0.15%) are down. In contrast, SAMSUNG BIOLOGICS(207940)(0.58%) and KB Financial Group(105560)(0.39%) are on the rise.