Samsung Group shares listed on the local stock market exceeded 700 trillion won ($693 billion) in terms of the total market capitalization for the first time. This year alone, it has increased by more than 200 trillion won.
The market capitalization of 23 Samsung Group stocks (including preferred stocks) listed on the KOSPI and KOSDAQ markets as of Dec. 24 was 719.13 trillion won, financial sources said on Dec. 27. This is the first time that the total market capitalization of a group in Korea has exceeded 700 trillion won.
The market capitalization of Samsung Group is 1.3 times larger than Korea's total budget (556 trillion won) for next year. It is more than four times higher than SK (171.261 trillion won), which ranks second in the group's market capitalization.
It increased 88.0% (336.534 trillion won) from March 19 (382.596 trillion won), when the KOSPI index was at its lowest point this year owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, it has surged 28.0% (157.36 trillion won) in just two months since Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee passed away on October 25 (561.82 trillion won).
This is because share prices of leading stocks, including Samsung Electronics, have risen significantly due to improved semiconductor business and expectations for dividends.
Accordingly, the Samsung share of the KOSPI's total market capitalization increased by 2.3 percentage points from 34.8 percent at the end of last year to 37.1 percent.