Samsung Electronics Sets All-Time R&D Record
Samsung Electronics invested a record 37.74 trillion won ($26.2 billion) in research and development last year, averaging 103.4 billion won daily—an unprecedented figure in the company's history.
The spending, up 7.8% from the previous year's 35.02 trillion won, represented 11.3% of revenue, marking the third consecutive year of double-digit R&D intensity. The investment has yielded tangible results, including the industry's first mass production and shipment of HBM4 chips, strengthening Samsung's position in the AI semiconductor race.
Ultra-Wealthy Investors Bet Big on Chipmakers
South Korea's super-rich are doubling down on semiconductors. Approximately 6,000 investors with financial assets exceeding 3 billion won collectively purchased 116.6 billion won of Samsung Electronics shares and 109.5 billion won of SK Hynix shares in January alone.
The buying spree follows stellar corporate performance. Samsung's fourth-quarter operating profit reached 20.07 trillion won, making it the first Korean company to surpass 20 trillion won in quarterly operating profit.
The wealthy investors also accumulated Nvidia shares worth 49.5 billion won in U.S. markets while selling Palantir and leveraged ETFs, suggesting caution at elevated valuations.
Analysts Urge Portfolio Diversification
Despite the KOSPI's climb toward the 5,500 level, research heads at major securities firms are warning of heightened volatility and recommending sector diversification.
Choi Hyun-jae, head of Yuanta Securities' research center, proposed a specific allocation: 60% in semiconductor ETFs, 20% in shipbuilding, defense, and nuclear sectors, 10% in securities and biotech, and 10% in KOSDAQ small and medium-cap component suppliers.
Defense, nuclear power, biotech, and domestic consumption stocks are emerging as alternative sectors amid expectations of rotation trading.
Meanwhile, Korea Investment & Securities posted net profit of 2.01 trillion won, becoming the first Korean brokerage to exceed 2 trillion won, underscoring the securities sector as a beneficiary of the bull market.
