How SK Hynix's Shareholder Returns, Moderna's Vaccine, and Foundry Industry Shifts May Affect the Korean Stock Market

This is expected to contribute to enhancing corporate value as well as to overall market stability.

At the same time, easing US long-term interest rates are significantly reducing valuation pressure on growth stocks. Analysts say these two factors together form a very stable combination for the market.

Alongside the recovery of the memory chip industry, shareholder-friendly policies are expected to serve as a key factor raising investment appeal.

This move could be an important factor in firmly establishing a floor for the Korean stock market and is likely to have a positive effect on improving foreign investor flows.

Concerns that previously weighed on the market, such as delayed shareholder returns and surging interest-rate pressure, are gradually easing, raising overall market stability. This is creating an environment in which investors can approach the market with greater confidence.

Accordingly, at this point it is necessary to screen for oversold stocks and undervalued names and look for investment opportunities. With market sentiment sufficiently formed, a strategy focused on the value of individual stocks is judged to be effective.

Moderna's personalized mRNA cancer vaccine under development successfully met its primary endpoint in a Phase 3 trial, drawing significant market attention. This was the direct cause of the surge in Moderna's share price.

This achievement clearly shows that mRNA therapy technology is not limited to COVID-19 vaccines and could expand into cancer treatment platforms. It is expected to prompt a reassessment of the overall value and potential of mRNA technology.

When investing in biotech companies, securing clinical data is the most important screening criterion. Investors should pay particular attention to companies whose clinical data is meaningful and that are likely to lead to technology exports or licensing deals. Such companies can receive strong market demand expectations.

It is also important to carefully check whether a company has global partnerships and the schedule of upcoming follow-up clinical events. This information serves as a key indicator for judging a company's growth potential and investment appeal.

Manager Sung Ha-jun pointed to DND Pharmatech and LegoChem Biosciences as biotech stocks worth watching based on clinical data, advising that their price movements should be closely monitored.

This reflects a situation in which demand exceeds supply, with utilization of the Pyeongtaek 4nm line reaching nearly 100%.

Through the price increase, Samsung Electronics is expected to significantly improve the profitability of its foundry division, which is likely to have a positive effect on the foundry sector as a whole.

In its Q2 earnings release, Samsung Electronics said it would formalize mass production of its second-generation 2nm process in the second half of the year, which is expected to benefit equipment, materials, and design house partners. Introducing next-generation processes will strengthen technological leadership and have a positive effect across the entire ecosystem.

In particular, demand for foundry logic chips tied to HBM (high-bandwidth memory) production continues to grow, so partners with technical capabilities in this area are expected to grow alongside Samsung.

The company is now pursuing a change in its business structure by expanding into a platform business leveraging its own IP (design assets) and architecture.

Recently, it demonstrated advanced chiplet design capabilities by winning a turnkey project worth 40 billion won for a US AI fabless company, based on 4nm technology for data center use. It is securing growth momentum by diversifying into high-performance semiconductor design, including combining HBM with AI accelerators.

Considering strengthened cooperation with Samsung Foundry and its business expansion drivers, the current point is analyzed as a valid buying opportunity.

The presented target price is 33,500 won and the stop-loss is 24,000 won.