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Samsung Heavy Industries is significantly undervalued relative to HD Hyundai Heavy Industries despite similar capacity. The company is the global leader in FLNG (floating LNG) construction with the Delphin project and other pending orders, providing a clear catalyst to close the valuation gap. Current market cap gap (≈30%) makes catch-up likely.
The shipbuilding sector is in a super-cycle driven by strong order backlogs, rising ship prices, LNG carrier demand, and potential demand from US naval/commercial shipbuilding. Earnings have not yet peaked, and the cycle still has room to run. Korean shipbuilders are well-positioned to benefit from growing LNG exports from the US and global energy security concerns.
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has the largest dock capacity among Korean shipbuilders, with 14 docks (currently 10 active) and a 2026 revenue target of over 24 trillion won. It can eventually reach 30 trillion won if all docks run fully. The company is also expanding into low-value ship segments overseas to compete with China, which will further drive orders for domestic equipment suppliers.
The shipbuilding sector is in a super-cycle driven by strong order backlogs, rising ship prices, LNG carrier demand, and potential demand from US naval/commercial shipbuilding. Earnings have not yet peaked, and the cycle still has room to run. Korean shipbuilders are well-positioned to benefit from growing LNG exports from the US and global energy security concerns.
Ship equipment suppliers such as Oriental Precision & Engineering and Sejin Heavy Industries are seeing renewed growth as major shipbuilders expand production and outsource more modules. The spillover effect is expected to be sustained because large shipbuilders are shifting to overseas production for low-value ships, creating continuous demand for domestic equipment.
Chinese shipbuilder margins are exceptionally high
Chinese shipbuilders, particularly the one listed in Singapore, generate 30% operating margins by focusing on simple, repeatable vessel types, a stark contrast to the complex product mix of Korean yards. With Japan fading, the global market is consolidating into a China–Korea duopoly, making selective Chinese shipbuilding investments attractive for their profitability and focused order books.
Korean shipbuilding equipment stocks such as Korea Carbon are now very cheap (PER around 8x) and can provide plus alpha on top of a base position in large shipbuilders. However, they cannot decouple from shipbuilder sentiment, so they work as an add-on once shipbuilders recover.
Ship equipment suppliers such as Oriental Precision & Engineering and Sejin Heavy Industries are seeing renewed growth as major shipbuilders expand production and outsource more modules. The spillover effect is expected to be sustained because large shipbuilders are shifting to overseas production for low-value ships, creating continuous demand for domestic equipment.
Eom Kyeong-ah has 8 trade ideas tracked on Buzzberg across 8 tickers since April 2026. Ranked #1063 on the Buzzberg Alpha leaderboard. Most covered: 010140.KS, 042660.KS, 009540.KS.
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