Retail Investors Selling Samsung Electronics... Disposing of 1.2 Trillion Won in Two Months

Net Selling of 770 Billion Won This Month... Buying Naver, Kakao, SK Hynix
Foreigners Buying Over 1 Trillion Won and Moving in Opposite Direction

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Minwoo Lee] Individual investors have sold off more than 700 billion KRW worth of Samsung Electronics, the leading stock in the domestic market, since the beginning of this month. This is the exact opposite behavior of foreigners who are accumulating Samsung Electronics shares again. While realizing profits from the shares they bought during the stock market crash caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, they seem to be focusing on next-generation leading stocks such as Naver and Kakao.

According to the Korea Exchange on the 23rd, individual investors have net sold Samsung Electronics shares worth 771.8 billion KRW up to the previous day this month. This amount is more than twice that of 'KODEX Leverage,' which ranked second in net selling by individuals during the same period with 307.7 billion KRW. It is the largest monthly net selling amount of Samsung Electronics this year, totaling 1.2753 trillion KRW sold since last month.

This contrasts with the record-breaking buying spree seen until the first quarter. Previously, individual investors bought shares worth 1.2769 trillion KRW in January, 1.6006 trillion KRW in February, and 4.9687 trillion KRW in March, totaling 7.8362 trillion KRW in the first quarter. However, net buying shrank to 436.8 billion KRW in April and 593.1 billion KRW in May.

There is an analysis that individual investors focused on next-generation leading stocks such as Naver and Kakao after realizing profits. Since the beginning of this month, they have net bought Naver and Kakao shares worth 643 billion KRW and 637 billion KRW, respectively. SK Hynix, the second-largest domestic market capitalization stock whose price has been somewhat sluggish compared to Samsung Electronics, was also accumulated with about 643 billion KRW.

Foreign investors showed the opposite trend. Up to the previous day this month, they have net bought Samsung Electronics shares worth 1.0439 trillion KRW. This is the largest monthly amount this year. This contrasts with the total 7.105 trillion KRW sold from January to May. This is interpreted as due to the earnings surprise recorded in the second quarter this year and the expectation that growth will continue in the semiconductor and mobile (IM) businesses, which contribute significantly to profits in the third quarter.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.