SK Telecom, Mirae Asset Securities, and LIG Defense & Aerospace were featured in the fourth week of July as top analyst picks by Money Today's securities desk. On July 20, Kim Aram of Shinhan Investment Securities published a report forecasting SK Telecom's stock could overshoot before Anthropic's IPO, expected as early as October. On July 22, Kim Hyun-soo of Sangsangin Securities projected Mirae Asset Securities would post a record Q2 profit but warned of Q3 volatility tied to SpaceX valuation fluctuations. The same day, Choi Kwang-sik and Lee Jun-beom of Daol Investment Securities upgraded LIG Defense & Aerospace to 'preferred stock' status, citing an export backlog of ₩14.2 trillion and ongoing CAPEX expansion through 2030. The reports reflect heightened investor interest in Korean stocks exposed to global AI and defense sector developments.
SK Telecom Positioned for Gains Ahead of Anthropic IPO
Kim Aram of Shinhan Investment Securities stated in the July 20 report that SK Telecom's stock price has significant upside potential before Anthropic's IPO, expected as early as October. Anthropic's valuation increased from $18 billion in 2024 to $965 billion by May末, representing approximately 50-fold growth. Kim noted that Anthropic is likely to list at an even higher valuation, citing SpaceX's precedent of raising its enterprise value to $2 trillion immediately after merging with xAI. SK Telecom's stake in Anthropic is valued at approximately ₩434.3 billion, representing an estimated 0.3% equity position. SK Telecom closed the week at ₩100,000, up 11.48% from the prior week's closing price. Kim highlighted additional growth drivers beyond the Anthropic stake, including data center demand supporting core telecom operations and fundamental recovery. The analyst projected SK Telecom's operating profit for the year at ₩1.099 trillion, matching pre-hacking incident levels from 2024. Starting in Q4, tax-free dividends are expected to attract foreign investor inflows.
Mirae Asset Securities Faces Q3 Volatility from SpaceX Stake
Kim Hyun-soo of Sangsangin Securities projected on July 22 that Mirae Asset Securities would achieve a record Q2 profit but warned of heightened Q3 volatility due to SpaceX valuation fluctuations. The analyst maintained a 'neutral' rating and lowered the target price to ₩43,000 from ₩88,800 set on May 12. Mirae Asset's Q2 consolidated net profit attributable to controlling interests is expected to reach ₩2.582 trillion, up 540.3% year-over-year, driven by SpaceX stake revaluation. In Q1, SpaceX was valued at $800 billion, contributing approximately ₩600 billion in valuation gains. By June末, SpaceX's valuation peaked at $2.25 trillion after listing at $1.75 trillion, raising Mirae Asset's stake value to an estimated ₩5.4 trillion. However, SpaceX's valuation declined to $1.58 trillion on July 21, creating potential for Q3 losses. Kim stated that if SpaceX-related earnings volatility stabilizes, the rating could be upgraded to 'buy' based on Mirae Asset's core business competitiveness. Mirae Asset Securities closed at ₩36,900 on July 24, down 7.87% from the prior week.
LIG Defense & Aerospace Upgraded on Export Backlog and CAPEX Plans
Choi Kwang-sik and Lee Jun-beom of Daol Investment Securities upgraded LIG Defense & Aerospace to 'preferred stock' status on July 22, citing the longest growth trajectory in the defense sector. The analysts maintained a 'buy' rating but lowered the target price to ₩980,000 from ₩1.1 million to reflect Q2 operating profit forecasts. LIG Defense holds an export backlog of ₩14.2 trillion and has committed to production capacity expansion ensuring growth through 2030. Following the December Gumi 2 House facility investment, the company announced plans in June for Gumi 3 House and Gimcheon 2 House expansions funded by the National Growth Fund's industrial capital. The analysts noted ongoing expectations for new Cheongung-2 procurement contracts in the Middle East and Bigung missile sales to the U.S., with potential pipeline additions including Malaysia's Haeseong and Indonesia's Cheongung-2 within three months. LIG Defense closed at ₩762,000 on July 24, up 1.74% from the prior week, with consecutive gains on July 23 and 24 amid rising U.S.-Iran tensions.
FAQ
What did Kim Aram's report say about SK Telecom's stock movement before Anthropic's IPO?
Kim Aram of Shinhan Investment Securities stated on July 20 that SK Telecom's stock price has significant upside potential and could overshoot before Anthropic's IPO, expected as early as October. The analyst noted SK Telecom closed the week at ₩100,000, up 11.48% from the prior week, and highlighted the stock had fallen 29% from its peak, leaving room for further gains.
Why did Mirae Asset Securities receive a lowered target price despite record Q2 profit expectations?
Kim Hyun-soo of Sangsangin Securities lowered Mirae Asset Securities' target price to ₩43,000 from ₩88,800 on July 22 due to heightened Q3 volatility from SpaceX valuation fluctuations. SpaceX's valuation declined from a June末 peak of $2.25 trillion to $1.58 trillion on July 21, creating potential for Q3 losses after strong Q2 gains from the SpaceX stake.
What factors led Daol Investment Securities to upgrade LIG Defense & Aerospace to 'preferred stock' status?
Choi Kwang-sik and Lee Jun-beom of Daol Investment Securities upgraded LIG Defense & Aerospace to 'preferred stock' on July 22, citing an export backlog of ₩14.2 trillion and ongoing CAPEX expansion through 2030. The analysts highlighted facility investments including Gumi 2 House (December), Gumi 3 House, and Gimcheon 2 House (June) funded by the National Growth Fund, ensuring long-term production capacity growth.
