Ideas
Samsung still cheap; positive reports continue
Samsung Electronics remains a core large-cap semiconductor leader: positive reports continue, and on PER/EPS the stock still looks cheap despite the rally. If Samsung and SK hynix hold up, they are key supports for the KOSPI.
SK hynix: HBM4, supplier advantage, not peak
SK hynix is seeing aggressive foreign targets, including JPMorgan raising its target to 1.25 million won. The company is expected to maintain HBM4 market share, and the memory supply-demand environment remains favorable to suppliers, with the view that the stock is not yet at its peak.
Semiconductor equipment/materials outperform on earnings visibility
Within the semiconductor rally, equipment, materials, and component stocks are outperforming large caps. Lee argues institutions are rotating into them because earnings are visible and forward PER remains manageable, unlike more expensive KOSDAQ areas.
Strong institutional buying supports KOSDAQ
Lee stresses that KOSDAQ institutional net buying is extremely strong, exceeding 1 trillion won and repeatedly absorbing pullbacks, which supports the KOSDAQ market.
Robot valuations too rich for institutions
Korean robot stocks have stretched valuations, with Rainbow Robotics at PSR 600x and even SPG at PER 260x. Lee says this makes institutional buying burdensome and helps explain rotation toward semiconductor equipment/materials.
Daeduck earnings improving, forward valuation attractive
Daeduck Electronics is cited as a representative semiconductor materials/parts name where earnings are visibly improving; even after the rally, forward PER and future earnings growth make it attractive enough for institutional buying.
KOSPI upside if won breaks 1,400
Foreign and institutional selling in KOSPI is mostly valuation-driven rotation, not a broad exodus. If USD/KRW stabilizes and breaks below 1,400, foreigners could return to buying and potentially lead a KOSPI rally.
SK Telecom: stake value, foreign buying
SK Telecom is hitting an all-time high. Lee sees two drivers: the market is revaluing its stake in SK Group affiliates, especially SK hynix, and the company is securing funds from a US AI-related sale; foreign investors have been steadily buying.
Refiners benefit from oil price strength
S-Oil and GS Holdings are rising because oil prices hit four-month highs on Iran-related supply risk; Lee presents refiners as beneficiaries of the oil move.
Iran risk fuels WTI crude rally
WTI crude rose to about $65 and a four-month high as the probability of US military intervention against Iran increased; this geopolitical risk is fueling oil prices.
Spring Festival boosts Korean tourism stocks
With China's nine-day Spring Festival approaching, expectations are high that a large share of Chinese tourists will come to Korea, lifting tourism-related names such as Lotte Tour Development, Seobu T&D, and SK Networks.
Apple iPhone/foldable lift smartphone components
Korean smartphone component stocks are strong after Apple's iPhone 17 sales showed a positive surprise, and expectations are building for Apple's foldable phone this year.
Biotech sentiment weak after ABL/HLB setbacks
The biotech sector is weak as ABL Bio's Sanofi pipeline setback and HLB's FDA delay have further damaged trust and investor sentiment after the earlier Alteogen issue, hitting biotech broadly.
ABL Bio hurt by Sanofi deprioritization
ABL Bio is under pressure because Sanofi excluded/deprioritized the Parkinson's brain antibody candidate based on ABL's GrabBody platform. Lee calls it clearly bad news, though he thinks the market reaction may be excessive because the program is not formally terminated.
HLB FDA delay extends uncertainty
HLB fell as its FDA approval was placed in Class 2, delaying the decision to around July and extending uncertainty; the stock dropped about 28% over two days.
Construction weak on disappointing housing measures
Korean construction stocks declined after the government's housing supply measures disappointed; Lee says the plan mostly added detail to the September 30 announcement and lacked strong new measures.
This 815 Money Talk (815머니톡) video, published January 30, 2026,
features Lee Dong-geun
discussing 005930.KS, 000660.KS, Korean semiconductor equipment/materials stocks, ^KQ11, Korean robotics stocks, 277810.KQ, 058610.KQ, 353200.KS, ^KS11, 017670.KS, 010950.KS, 078930.KS, WTI, 032350.KS, 006730.KQ, 001740.KS, Korean smartphone component stocks, XBI, 298380.KQ, 028300.KQ, Korean Construction Stocks.
16 trade ideas extracted by AI with direction and confidence scoring.
Speakers:
Lee Dong-geun
· Tickers:
005930.KS,
000660.KS,
Korean semiconductor equipment/materials stocks,
^KQ11,
Korean robotics stocks,
277810.KQ,
058610.KQ,
353200.KS,
^KS11,
017670.KS,
010950.KS,
078930.KS,
WTI,
032350.KS,
006730.KQ,
001740.KS,
Korean smartphone component stocks,
XBI,
298380.KQ,
028300.KQ,
Korean Construction Stocks
