"Must Buy Samsung and SK hynix": High-Net-Worth Individual Investors Flock to Bull Market, Betting Over 100 Million Won

30% of Last Month's Large Orders Concentrated in Samsung Electronics and SK hynix

Recently, as the KOSPI rally broke through the 7,000 mark and continued to hit new record highs, major retail investors have poured into the stock market.

According to the Korea Exchange on May 10, the number of large orders placed by individual investors exceeding 100 million won in the Korea Exchange market last month totaled 113,158. This is the highest monthly figure on record for orders of over 100 million won. The previous all-time high was 113,301 orders in January 2021. Thus, the record was broken for the first time in about five years and three months.

This represents a 16.8% increase compared to March, which saw 1,021,744 orders. Last month, the KOSPI surged by around 30% on hopes for the end of the war in Iran and strong earnings from major semiconductor stocks, which appears to have improved investor sentiment as the index broke the 7,000 mark for the first time this month.

From the beginning of this month through May 7, the average daily number of large orders (over 100 million won) placed by individuals was 83,067, up 53% compared to last month's daily average of 54,234.

On the 8th, as the KOSPI turned to an upward trend in the late session and closed just below the 7,500 mark, hitting a new all-time high, a dealer was working in the dealing room at Seoul Hana Bank headquarters. Photo by Yonhap News

Recently, the trend of large individual orders has centered on major semiconductor stocks. Last month, the stock with the highest number of large individual orders was Samsung Electronics, with a total of 204,025 such orders. SK hynix followed, with 142,668 orders. Combined, these two stocks accounted for 30% of the total 1,193,158 large orders last month. Looking at the top stocks for large orders from the beginning of this month through May 7, Samsung Electronics and SK hynix maintained their first and second positions, with 47,418 and 32,628 orders, respectively.

Both Samsung Electronics and SK hynix hit all-time highs, surpassing 2.7 million won and 16.8 million won respectively, leading to a surge of buying interest. Recently, securities analysts have been raising their target prices for Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, predicting a prolonged boom in the memory semiconductor sector. Most recently, SK Securities raised its target prices for Samsung Electronics and SK hynix to 5 million won and 30 million won, respectively.

However, some experts have cautioned that, given the recent sharp rise in semiconductor stocks, investors should be careful about blindly chasing these rallies.

Meanwhile, the KOSPI has risen by about 78% so far this year, the highest growth rate among major global stock indices. After surpassing the 7,000 mark for the first time ever on May 6, the KOSPI closed at 7,498.00 on May 8, coming just shy of closing above the 7,500 mark.

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