[Click e-Stock] "Naver, More Expectations for Next Year... Target Price Raised"

Korea Investment & Securities Issues 'Buy' Rating and 390,000 KRW Target Price... Closing Price on 27th at 337,000 KRW

[Asia Economy Reporter Kum Boryeong] Korea Investment & Securities has expressed greater expectations for NAVER next year, issuing a 'Buy' investment rating with a target price of 390,000 KRW. The target price was raised from the previous 320,000 KRW. The closing price on the 27th was 337,000 KRW.

According to Korea Investment & Securities on the 28th, NAVER's influence in the domestic e-commerce market is expected to gradually expand over time. NAVER's basic strategy in the e-commerce market has been ecosystem expansion through securing various sellers, and the number of new Smart Store startups has increased due to COVID-19. More than 90 brand stores of famous brands are currently operating through NAVER. From the second half of the year, NAVER plans to expand its business into the fresh food sector through cooperation with Homeplus, GS Retail, and others.

Next year, full-scale business expansion in Japan is also expected to begin. Researcher Jeong Hoyoon of Korea Investment & Securities stated, "From next year, when the merger of LINE and Yahoo Japan is completed, the merged corporation's business expansion in Japan will also accelerate. The relatively slow business expansion of LINE compared to Kakao was due to Japan's conservative social structure and LINE's lack of cash, but Yahoo Japan holds about 1 trillion yen in cash assets, which is expected to enable business expansion into various sectors such as fintech and commerce."

Researcher Jeong added, "In particular, next year, the internet bank LINE Bank is scheduled to launch in Japan, and like Kakao in Korea, the fintech portfolio connecting Pay, securities firms, and banks will be completed in Japan, which should be noted."

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