As Korea's stock market capitalization topped 6,000 trillion won for the first time, SK Group recorded the largest increase among the top 10 conglomerates. The number of listed companies in the so-called "1 trillion club" with market caps exceeding 1 trillion won also hit an all-time high.
According to FnGuide on the 3rd, as of the 30th, the total market cap of listed companies under the top 10 conglomerates was 3,832 trillion 6,471 billion won, up 65% from the end of last year (2,315 trillion 1,898 billion won). Among them, SK Group had the highest growth rate in market cap, followed by Samsung and Hanwha Group.
What separated the group rankings was whether they had listed semiconductor companies in a super-boom. Thanks to the surge of SK hynix and Samsung Electronics, SK Group and Samsung Group saw the largest increases in market cap.
As of the 30th, the combined market cap of SK Group's listed companies was 1,139 trillion 7,587 billion won, a 89.6% jump from the end of last year (601 trillion 122 billion won). With demand for artificial intelligence (AI) rising, the semiconductor cycle entered a super-boom, sharply lifting SK hynix's share price.
As SK hynix's share price climbed, shares of SK Square—the group's AI and semiconductor investment holding company that owns 20% equity in SK hynix—also jumped. In addition, SK eternix, SK Telecom, and SK Innovation also surged, significantly boosting the group's market cap.
Samsung Group's market cap grew 68%, from 1,002 trillion 4,979 billion won at the end of last year to 1,684 trillion 1,052 billion won as of last month, the second-highest growth rate. Samsung Electronics, a beneficiary of the semiconductor boom, played a major role. Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Samsung SDI, and Samsung E&A also soared, and the market caps of financial names Samsung Life Insurance and Samsung Securities increased.
Hanwha Group's total market cap (173 trillion 7,212 billion won) rose 50% from the end of last year (115 trillion 6,744 billion won). Following the outbreak of war in Iran, shares of defense-related affiliates such as Hanwha Aerospace and Hanwha Systems climbed.
This year's market cap rankings for the top 10 groups were the same as last year, while the rest of the groups' growth rates were below 50%. POSCO Group (46.5%), Hyundai Motor Group (46.0%), HD Hyundai Group (44.6%), Shinsegae Group (42.9%), Lotte Group (42.3%), GS Group (39.3%), and LG Group (26.9%).
Meanwhile, as of the 29th, there were a total of 405 listed companies (including preferred shares) in the "1 trillion club." This is the first time the number of 1 trillion club listings has exceeded 400.
By market, there were 267 on KOSPI, 137 on KOSDAQ, and 1 on KONEX. There were 79 listed companies with market caps of 10 trillion won or more.