[Edaily Reporter KIM YOON-JEONG ] The KOSPI is fluctuating around the 5,900 level on the afternoon of the 29th. While SamsungElectronics fell nearly 5% despite confirming its highest-ever quarterly earnings and announcing a cash dividend of 30 trillion won, SK hynix rose by about 2%, showing mixed performance among major semiconductor stocks. Market observers attribute the pressure on SamsungElectronics’ stock price to the lack of concrete details regarding additional shareholder return measures and profit-taking following the previous day’s sharp rally.

According to MP Doctor on the 29th, as of 1:34 p.m., the KOSPI index stood at 5,920.06, down 92.38 points (1.54%) from the previous trading day. The index opened at 6,017.22, up 4.78 points (0.08%) from the previous session, and rose as high as 6,100.11 during the session, but after fluctuating, it turned lower. The intraday low was 5,817.92.
In the KOSPI market, retail investors and foreign investors are net buyers of 234.2 billion won and 228.1 billion won, respectively. In contrast, institutional investors are net sellers of 694.0 billion won.
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 3.21%.
In contrast, SK hynix(000660)is trading at 1,524,000 won, up 37,000 won (2.49%) from the previous trading day. SKSQUARE(402340)is also up 30,000 won (3.26%) to 951,000 won.
SamsungElectronics announced today that it posted 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.
SamsungElectronics also decided today 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 return budget of 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 related expectations were already reflected in the stock price, coupled with the lack of a concrete implementation plan for additional shareholder return measures. SamsungElectronics disclosed its third-quarter revenue and operating profit through preliminary earnings on the 8th, and the 30 trillion won cash dividend finalized that day was in line with market expectations. The fact that SamsungElectronics’ stock price surged 9.01% the previous day is also cited as a factor that increased pressure for profit-taking.
Analyses regarding the timing of the shareholder return announcement have also emerged. Hong Ra-hee, Honorary Director of the Leeum Museum of Art, plans to gift 11,158,000 shares of SamsungElectronics stock to SamsungElectronics Chairman Jay Y. Lee on the 12th of next month.
Kang Jin-hyuk, a senior analyst at Shinhan Investment Securities, noted, “The gift tax will be calculated based on the average stock price from September 12 to January 12 of next year,” adding, “This could lead to a delay in the announcement of aggressive shareholder return measures.”
Among the top KOSPI stocks by market capitalization, LG Energy Solution(373220)(-7.45%), SamsungElectroMechanics(009150)(-2.14%), Samsung Life Insurance(032830)(-1.08%), and SAMSUNG BIOLOGICS(207940)(-0.95%) are down. On the other hand, KB Financial Group(105560)(1.10%), HyundaiMotor(005380)(1.01%), and SAMSUNG C&T CORPORATION(028260)(0.62%) are up.
By sector, finance (0.89%), securities (0.51%), medical and precision instruments (0.39%), and transportation and warehousing (0.21%) are rising. Conversely, sectors such as construction (-5.63%), machinery and equipment (-5.27%), entertainment and culture (-3.76%), information technology (IT) services (-3.31%), and chemicals (-2.33%) are down.
The KOSDAQ market is also showing a decline in the 2% range. At the same time, the KOSDAQ index stands at 752.42, down 18.86 points (2.45%) from the previous trading day. The index opened at 767.78, down 3.50 points (0.45%) from the previous close, and fell as low as 741.96 during the session.
In the KOSDAQ market, retail investors are net buyers of 182.7 billion won. In contrast, foreign and institutional investors are net sellers of 106.5 billion won and 63.4 billion won, respectively.
The top 10 stocks by market capitalization are all trading lower. Rainbow Robotics(277810)(-6.43%), ECOPRO BM CO., LTD.(247540)(-5.13%), WONIK IPS Co.,Ltd.(240810)(-4.32%), SIMMTECH Co., Ltd.(222800)(-3.84%), ECOPRO CO., LTD(086520)(-3.26%), JUSUNG ENGINEERING Co.,Ltd.(036930)(-3.23%), LEENO Industrial Inc(058470)(-2.99%), Alteogen Inc.(196170)(-2.02%), HLB INC.(028300)(-1.85%), EO Technics Co., Ltd.(039030)(-1.67%), SAM CHUN DANG PHARM CO. LTD(000250)(-1.53%), and others are down.