"Who's the Next Emperor Stock?"... Record Bull Market Pushes Number of Emperor Stocks to All-Time High of 11

Samsung Electro-Mechanics and SK Square Join Emperor Stocks This Month
Rising Target Prices Draw Attention to Next Potential Emperor Stocks

As the KOSPI index surpassed the 8,000-point mark during trading for the first time in history, the ongoing stock market rally has increased the number of so-called “emperor stocks”—those trading above 1 million won per share—to 11. This is the highest number ever recorded for the KOSPI.

According to the Korea Exchange on May 17, as of May 15, there were a total of 11 stocks listed on the KOSPI market with share prices exceeding 1 million won.

Specifically, the stocks are as follows: Hyosung Heavy Industries at 3,745,000 won, SK hynix at 1,819,000 won, Doosan at 1,614,000 won, Samyang Foods at 1,444,000 won, Korea Zinc at 1,426,000 won, Samsung Biologics at 1,419,000 won, Hanwha Aerospace at 1,216,000 won, HD Hyundai Electric at 1,179,000 won, SK Square at 1,098,000 won, Taekwang Industrial at 1,011,000 won, and Samsung Electro-Mechanics at 1,010,000 won.

Two stocks joined the ranks of emperor stocks this month. On May 13, Samsung Electro-Mechanics closed at 1,029,000 won, making it an emperor stock. Its share price was only 832,000 won at the end of last month but surged by 24% this month alone. This surge was attributed to its first-quarter results exceeding expectations, as well as rising expectations for improved earnings due to a sharp increase in demand for multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCC) used in artificial intelligence (AI) servers.

SK Square, the largest shareholder of SK hynix, also became an emperor stock on May 6 by closing at 1,089,000 won. The ongoing rally in semiconductor stocks, fueled by expectations of continued growth in AI demand, drove up SK hynix’s share price and, in turn, attracted strong buying interest in SK Square.

The securities industry is now turning its attention to which stock will be the next emperor stock. Currently, the KOSPI stock with a closing price closest to 1 million won is LIG Defense & Aerospace, which closed at 834,000 won as of May 15. Expectations for improved earnings at LIG Defense & Aerospace are rising due to a surge in missile demand, including for the Cheongung-II, following the Iran war. According to financial information provider FnGuide, the average target price for LIG Defense & Aerospace set by securities firms is currently 1,078,824 won.

The next candidate is LG Innotek, with a current share price of 732,000 won, the second highest after LIG Defense & Aerospace. Expectations of improved earnings due to increased production for North American clients have pushed up the target price set by the securities industry to as high as 1 million won.

Hyundai Motor Company also broke through the 770,000 won mark for the first time during trading on May 15, showing a strong upward trend and emerging as a potential emperor stock candidate. Investor interest surged after Boston Dynamics, a robotics affiliate of Hyundai Motor Group, released an operational video of its humanoid robot “Atlas.” Recently, Eugene Investment & Securities set its target price for Hyundai Motor Company at 1 million won.

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and Samsung SDI are also considered potential emperor stocks if their share prices continue their upward momentum, as the target prices set by the securities industry are 1,040,000 won and 1,000,000 won, respectively.

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