The share price of domestic semiconductor blue chip Samsung Electronics was strong in early trading on the 22nd. Crossing 160,000 won intraday, Samsung Electronics, including preferred shares, saw its total market capitalization exceed 1,000 trillion won for the first time among Korea corporations.
As of 10:02 a.m., Samsung Electronics was trading at 154,300 won, up 4,800 won (3.21%) from the previous session. It rose to 160,000 won intraday, hitting a 1-year high.
At the same time, the preferred stock Samsung Electronics (preferred) was also up 1.90% at 112,500 won. Including Samsung Electronics preferred shares, total market capitalization comes to 1,005.1973 trillion won.
As recently as early last year, Samsung Electronics shares were moving sideways in the low 50,000 won range, but they traced an upward curve on the back of the "semiconductor super cycle" that began in earnest in the second half of last year. In the fourth quarter of last year, it posted 20 trillion won in operating profit, achieving its best-ever results.
In the securities industry, Samsung Electronics' strong earnings are expected to continue for the time being. Kim Dong-Won, a KB Securities researcher, said, "As memory rises to the center of the artificial intelligence (AI) industry structure, and amid a structural transition to a memory-centric era that combines system design capabilities, the benefit strength for Samsung Electronics, which has both memory and foundry businesses, will become even more pronounced."