Investment Strategy Brief — 2026-05-14
Here is a quick breakdown of the latest brokerage analysis for our holdings. We’re seeing strong momentum in the semiconductor, securities, and gaming sectors. With an unusual spike in target price upgrades, I’ve mapped out the investment direction for our key holdings.
Investment Strategy Brief — 2026-05-14
Reports on Large Caps and Key Holdings
SK Hynix — Buy / Target Price 2.8 Million KRW (KB Securities)
On May 12, 2026, KB Securities maintained a "Buy" rating on SK Hynix, noting that the pace of earnings estimate upgrades is outpacing the stock's rise. They significantly raised the target price from 2.0 million KRW to 2.8 million KRW, citing higher DRAM memory prices compared to the same period last year as a key driver.
Citigroup also issued a target price of 3.1 million KRW for SK Hynix on the same day, emphasizing that "supply is failing to keep up with demand, and the AI memory boom is continuing."
Citigroup also set a target price of 460,000 KRW for Samsung Electronics, assessing their pricing power in memory semiconductors as being at an all-time high.
Mirae Asset Securities — Buy Sentiment Prevails / Potential Valuation Gains from SpaceX IPO
Following Mirae Asset Securities' entry into the "1 Trillion KRW Club" this year, opinions are split: Kiwoom Securities maintains a positive outlook, citing "expected valuation gains upon the SpaceX IPO," while Korea Investment & Securities suggests a "Neutral" rating, citing persistent valuation burdens.
The stock price has tripled this year, emerging as the top securities stock in Asia, with some even evaluating it as having surpassed the "Nomura of Korea."
Kakao — Record-Breaking Q1 Earnings
Kakao reported that its Q1 2026 revenue rose 11% year-on-year to 1.9421 trillion KRW, with operating profit also reaching its highest level ever for a first quarter. This marks a new record for both revenue and operating profit for a first quarter.
Market Overview — Unusual Surge with 1,331 Target Price Upgrades
According to Maeil Business Newspaper, the number of target price upgrade reports issued by brokerage firms recently reached 1,331, an unusual situation where upgrades now outnumber maintenance reports. The trend suggests that the growth spurred by semiconductor earnings estimates is spreading to sectors like securities and defense.
Bio and Tech Growth Stock Analysis
Alteogen — Included in 2026 Promising Stocks
In a deep-dive analysis report on promising stocks for 2026, Alteogen was selected as one of 9 stocks benefiting from AI, bio, energy, aviation, and tourism. It is evaluated as a company with strong mid-to-long-term growth momentum.
K-New Drug Development — 2 Domestic Drugs Approved in 2026
According to a Chosun Ilbo report, as of April 2026, the 42nd and 43rd domestic new drugs have been approved consecutively, accelerating the R&D capabilities of Korean pharmaceutical and biotech companies. The speed of domestic new drug releases, previously limited to one or two per year, is notably increasing.
Industrial and Energy Sector Strategy
Krafton — 'Subnautica 2' Hype Begins in Earnest
Krafton's new title, 'Subnautica 2', has begun pre-downloads after surpassing 5 million wishlists ahead of its early access launch. It is gaining speed in the global PC gaming market, currently ranking #1 in Steam sales.
In Q1 2026, Krafton reported record quarterly revenue of 1.3714 trillion KRW and an operating profit of 561.6 billion KRW, and had previously announced a 1 trillion KRW shareholder return policy. The success of Subnautica 2 is expected to positively impact annual performance.
Corning (Nvidia Investment) — Focus on Overseas Industrial Ties
According to Maeil Business Newspaper, Nvidia has decided to invest $3.2 billion in Corning, fueling a surge in demand for AI infrastructure optical communication. Investors should watch the industrial sector broadly for potential indirect benefits to domestic optical cable and materials stocks.
Hanwha Ocean — Profitability Expected to Improve
Hanwha Ocean stated in a conference call note that expectations for their performance are rising from the fourth quarter onwards, driven by normalized operations and strong orders, with continued growth projected for 2026. However, latest brokerage target price data should be verified separately at this time.
Overall Investment Direction
As of May 2026, the Korean stock market maintains strong momentum centered on the AI memory semiconductor boom. While major domestic and international brokerages like Citigroup and KB Securities are competitively raising target prices for SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics, the bullish sentiment is spreading to the securities and defense sectors.
- Semiconductors (SK Hynix, Samsung Electronics): Supply shortages + explosive AI demand → "Buy" recommendation holds strong.
- Mirae Asset Securities: Expectations for SpaceX IPO and solid earnings → Mixed "Buy/Neutral" ratings; debate on further upside continues.
- Krafton: 'Subnautica 2' success becoming visible → Need to confirm short-term momentum.
- Kakao: Achieved record Q1 earnings → Monitoring sustainability of performance for the second half.
- Hanwha Ocean, Bio Sector: Awaiting further data (check for latest brokerage target prices).
⚠️ This briefing is based on public news and summarized brokerage report information; all investment decisions must be made based on your own judgment and responsibility.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
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