Even if the market shakes, the semiconductor cycle is just beginning | Kim Jang-yeol, Head of Unistory Asset Management [Today's Stock Focus]

Watch on YouTube ↗  |  May 19, 2026 at 11:00  |  42:45  |  3PRO TV (삼프로TV)
Speakers
Kim Jang-yeol — Reporter, The Bell

Summary

Kim Jang-yeol, Head of Unistory Asset Management, discusses the semiconductor investment landscape amid market volatility. He focuses on Samsung Electronics' labor union issue as a catalyst for a catch-up rally, and highlights smaller-cap opportunities in the PCB supply chain, ALD equipment, and laser annealing. The overall message is that the semiconductor cycle still has room to run, but near-term risks require patience.

  • Kim Jang-yeol expects a Samsung Electronics catch-up rally if labor union negotiations are resolved.
  • He introduces Neotis as a small-cap beneficiary of growing PCB demand for high-end servers.
  • Jusung Engineering's ALD technology is seen as a long-term winner across semiconductors, displays, and solar.
  • I/O Technics' laser annealing equipment is critical for advanced chip manufacturing and has strong moat.
  • The speaker advises investors to understand the underlying technology before holding through volatility.
  • KOSPI valuation at 8x earnings provides a floor, but foreign buying remains absent.
  • The US market rotation from hardware to software is noted but not a core thesis.
  • The semiconductor cycle is still in its early to mid phase, but near-term corrections are possible.
Trade Ideas
Kim Jang-yeol Reporter, The Bell 4:18
Union resolution triggers Samsung catch-up rally
Samsung Electronics is lagging SK hynix due to labor union issues. Once the union negotiations are resolved, Samsung will likely catch up with a rally. The current safety margin (0.75 of consensus target of 34M won, i.e., ~25.5M won) makes it attractive. The speaker personally would buy at that level.
Kim Jang-yeol Reporter, The Bell 17:45
PCB drill bit demand boosts Neotis
Neotis, a small-cap Korean company, produces drill bits (cutting tools) used in PCB manufacturing. As high-end servers require harder CCL materials, drill bit consumption increases. Neotis has demonstrated demand visibility via a third-party capital increase for capacity expansion. It offers alpha potential within the PCB supply chain, albeit with high volatility.
Kim Jang-yeol Reporter, The Bell 24:41
ALD technology drives long-term growth
Jusung Engineering has a proprietary ALD (atomic layer deposition) technology that has evolved into ALG, providing a strong moat in semiconductor, display, and solar applications. The company is a key beneficiary of the perovskite/solar trend and has a long-term target of 30x 2028 PE from Korea Investment & Securities. Despite near-term volatility, the technology leadership justifies a long-term hold.
Kim Jang-yeol Reporter, The Bell 32:03
Laser annealing essential for advanced chips
I/O Technics specializes in laser annealing equipment, which is critical for repairing crystal damage in advanced semiconductor nodes. The technology is used across DRAM, NAND, HBM, and foundries (Samsung, SK hynix, TSMC). Although the stock trades at high multiples (near 40x forward PE), the technological moat and expansion potential support long-term holding.
Up Next

This 3PRO TV (삼프로TV) video, published May 19, 2026, features Kim Jang-yeol discussing 005930.KS, Neotis, 036930.KQ, 039030:KR. 4 trade ideas extracted by AI with direction and confidence scoring.

Speakers: Kim Jang-yeol  · Tickers: 005930.KS, Neotis, 036930.KQ, 039030:KR