Even in the first quarter of this year, when volatility in Korea's stock market increased due to the fallout from the U.S.-Iran war, many individual investors were found to have made profits. In particular, profit-taking was active, centered on large-cap semiconductor stocks such as Samsung Electronics and SK hynix.
Shinhan Investment & Securities said on the 11th that an analysis of the investment performance of individual clients who sold domestic stocks in the first quarter showed that 80% recorded revenue. The average revenue size of profitable clients was 8.48 million won. By contrast, investors who saw losses recorded an average loss of 4.96 million won.
By month, January—when the market's upward trend was strong—had the largest average revenue at 6.92 million won. It was followed by February at 5.94 million won and March at 3.98 million won. In March, when market volatility expanded due to the U.S.-Iran war's impact, the average loss for loss-making clients was also the largest at 4.49 million won.
In the Korea Exchange's main board, Samsung Electronics was tallied as the stock that delivered both revenue and losses to the largest number of investors. Among clients who sold Samsung Electronics, those who made revenue earned an average of 7.14 million won, while loss-making investors recorded an average loss of 1.73 million won.
In addition to Samsung Electronics, SK hynix, Doosan Enerbility, Hyundai Motor, and HANMI Semiconductor also had many profitable investors. By contrast, the stocks with the most loss-making investors were Hyundai Motor, SK hynix, Doosan Enerbility, and Hanwha Solutions, in that order. Shinhan Investment & Securities analyzed that large-cap stocks that led this year's KOSPI gains—such as semiconductors, nuclear power, and defense—offered high profit opportunities while also increasing loss risks due to volatility.
In the KOSDAQ market, Woori Technology was found as the stock that delivered revenue to the largest number of investors. It was followed by EcoPro, Hyulim Robot, Alteogen, and Jeju Semiconductor. By contrast, the stock with the most loss-making investors was Hyulim Robot. Woori Technology, EcoPro, Alteogen, and Hyundai Movex were also included among stocks with many loss-making investors. Given the characteristics of KOSDAQ theme stocks—robots, biotech, and secondary batteries—the timing of buying and selling appears to have led to large differences in investment performance.
By age group, the revenue size of older investors stood out. Investors aged 70 and older had the highest average revenue at 18.73 million won, followed by those in their 60s at 10.11 million won and their 50s at 7.32 million won. Investors in their 20s had an average revenue of 1.43 million won. By gender, male investors' average revenue was 7.39 million won, higher than female investors' 3.86 million won.
A Shinhan Investment & Securities official said, "In an environment where the domestic stock market is hitting a record high, it was confirmed that individual investors moved systematically to realize revenue through domestic stocks."