View of the Yeouido financial district in Seoul. Reporter Oh Seung-hyun
Eight out of 10 Korean retail investors profited from domestic stock trading in the first quarter of this year, despite heightened market volatility caused by the U.S.-Iran conflict. The gains were driven by profit-taking in large-cap stocks led by semiconductors, including Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) and SK hynix (000660.KS), amid a rally in market-leading shares.
According to Shinhan Securities on Tuesday, 80% of retail investors who sold Korean stocks in the first quarter recorded gains. The average profit among these investors was 8.48 million won. By contrast, 20% posted losses, with an average loss of 4.96 million won.
Monthly average profits declined gradually, from 6.92 million won in January to 5.94 million won in February and 3.98 million won in March, reflecting increased market volatility from the U.S.-Iran conflict. Losses were also largest in March, with an average loss of 4.49 million won.
By stock, Samsung Electronics was the single name that delivered both the most gains and the most losses to retail investors. Customers who profited from Samsung Electronics posted average gains of 7.14 million won, while those who lost money recorded average losses of 1.73 million won.
Following Samsung Electronics, the stocks that brought profits to the largest number of investors were SK hynix (5.94 million won), Doosan Enerbility (034020.KS) (2.06 million won), Hyundai Motor (005380.KS) (3.41 million won) and Hanmi Semiconductor (042700.KS) (2.54 million won). On the other hand, stocks with the most loss-making investors after Samsung Electronics were Hyundai Motor (1.37 million won), SK hynix (2.46 million won), Doosan Enerbility (590,000 won) and Hanwha Solutions (009830.KS) (810,000 won).
In the KOSDAQ market, Woori Technology (032820.KQ) delivered the largest average gain at 2.36 million won, followed by Ecopro (086520.KQ) (2.5 million won), Hyulim Robot (090710.KQ) (1.4 million won) and Alteogen (196170.KQ) (2.09 million won). Stocks with the most loss-making investors included Hyulim Robot (700,000 won), Woori Technology (570,000 won), Ecopro (1.04 million won), Alteogen (2.58 million won) and Hyundai Movex (319400.KQ) (900,000 won). The data shows that returns on robotics, biotech and secondary battery theme stocks varied widely depending on the timing of trades.
By age group, older investors posted larger gains. Investors aged 70 and above recorded the highest average profit at 18.73 million won, followed by those in their 60s at 10.11 million won and 50s at 7.32 million won. Investors in their 40s averaged 3.98 million won, those in their 30s 2.21 million won, and those in their 20s 1.43 million won. By gender, male investors posted an average profit of 7.39 million won, outpacing female investors at 3.86 million won.