The stocks most heavily bought by high-return investors trading at Mirae Asset Securities (006800.KS) on Monday morning were Samsung Electronics (005930.KS), SK hynix (000660.KS), and SK Square (402340.KS), in that order. As Samsung Electronics fell on profit-taking despite posting its best-ever second-quarter earnings, the "top stock traders" are seen to have bought semiconductor large-caps on the dip.
According to Mirae Asset Securities, the stock most heavily bought through 11 a.m. by "top stock traders" — those ranking in the top 1% by investment return over the past month among the firm's stock trading clients — was Samsung Electronics. As of 1:31 p.m., Samsung Electronics traded at 289,000 won, down 9.12% from the previous session.
Samsung Electronics disclosed that its second-quarter operating profit on a consolidated basis came to a preliminary 89.4 trillion won, up 1,810.3% from a year earlier. Following the first quarter, it marks a record high for a third consecutive quarter. Second-quarter operating profit alone exceeded double the company's full-year operating profit for last year. However, with earnings expectations already elevated, profit-taking emerged and the stock weakened. Kim Seok-hwan, an analyst at Mirae Asset Securities, said, "What matters is expectations," adding, "Despite record-high second-quarter earnings, Samsung Electronics shares are weakening on profit-taking."
The second-largest net buy was SK hynix. SK hynix traded at 2.151 million won, down 8.19%. As the leading semiconductor stocks underwent a simultaneous correction, the top 1% of investors bought Samsung Electronics and SK hynix together, continuing their buying stance toward artificial intelligence (AI) memory leaders. Daishin Securities raised its target price for SK hynix to 3.9 million won on Monday. With SK hynix's American depositary receipts (ADRs) set to list on the Nasdaq on the 10th, the firm cited expectations of broader access for global investors and the resolution of a valuation discount versus competitors.
Third place went to SK Square. SK Square traded at 1.318 million won at the same time, down 11.84%. The value of its SK hynix stake and expectations for shareholder returns appear to have supported investor sentiment. Yuanta Securities maintained its target price of 2.1 million won and a "buy" rating on SK Square, explaining that the value of its holdings could rise following the SK hynix ADR listing, and that any additional dividend income could be used as funding for shareholder returns such as share buybacks and cancellations.
Fourth place in net buying went to Hanwha Ocean (042660.KS). Hanwha Ocean traded at 88,900 won, plunging 23.43%. Shares fell sharply on Monday as expectations for an order retreated after Germany's ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) was selected as the preferred bidder for Canada's next-generation submarine acquisition program, the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP). However, if negotiations with TKMS fall through, Hanwha Ocean, as the runner-up candidate, retains the right to begin negotiations, and some investors appear to have viewed the decline as a buying opportunity.
Meanwhile, the top net-sold stocks on the day were Doosan Enerbility (034020.KS), D&D Pharmatech (347850.KS), Hyundai E&C (000720.KS), Hyundai Mobis, and SKC, in that order. In the previous session, the top net-bought stocks were SK hynix, Samsung Electronics, and Samsung Electronics preferred shares (005935.KS), in that order. The top net-sold stocks were Kia (000270.KS), Hanwha Ocean, and SK Eternix (475150.KS), in that order.
Mirae Asset Securities compiles the trading of investors ranking in the top 1% by return over the past month among its clients and discloses the data on its mobile trading system (MTS) on a real-time, previous-day, and recent five-day basis. This statistical data is simple information guidance unrelated to the opinions of Mirae Asset Securities and does not guarantee investment or returns suited to each individual investor. In addition, theme stocks may be subject to abnormal volatility and require caution.
