[R&E] KOSPI Surpasses the 6,300 Mark and the Return of AI and Nuclear Power, Entering a Phase of Structural Revaluation for 'K-Assets'

[R&E: Research & Epoch]

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Market Overview: Key Indicators and Trends

On February 27, 2026, the South Korean capital market reached a historic turning point. On the previous day, despite a record-breaking earnings announcement by NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA), the New York stock market took a breather as profit-taking sales emerged due to wariness of the peak, resulting in a 1.18% drop in the NASDAQ index. However, the domestic stock market broke through this downward pressure with overwhelming supply and demand, leaving a phenomenal scorecard of KOSPI 6,307.27 (+3.67%) and KOSDAQ 1,188.15 (+1.97%).

Behind this explosive growth lies the strong cohesion of the artificial intelligence (AI) value chain and policy momentum. While the Bank of Korea's Monetary Policy Board removed market uncertainty by freezing the base interest rate at 2.50% per annum for the sixth consecutive time, it added confidence in fundamental strength by revising the 2026 GDP growth forecast upward to 2.0%. In particular, the passage of the 3rd amendment to the Commercial Act by the National Assembly, which laid the institutional foundation for the 'Corporate Value-up' program, including the mandatory cancellation of treasury shares, was a key factor in attracting strong net buying from foreigners and institutions. Despite the USD/KRW exchange rate soaring to 1,433.4 won and volatility expanding, a unique market condition unfolded where the export competitiveness of major domestic industries drove the index.

Key Industry Issues and Insights

The semiconductor sector remained a safe zone from the tech stock correction in the New York stock market on the previous day. Samsung Electronics (KS: 005930) and SK Hynix (KS: 000660) jointly hit new highs, solidifying their status as market leaders. In particular, the fact that SK Hynix (KS: 000660) initiated the global standardization of hybrid bonding with SanDisk, decided to make an additional investment of 21.6 trillion won in the Yongin Y1 Fab, and advanced the cleanroom operation timeline to February 2027 forecasts a strong trickle-down effect for materials, parts, and equipment companies. Accordingly, Hanmi Semiconductor (KS: 042700) demonstrated the robustness of AI semiconductor demand by surging close to the upper limit price.

In the energy and construction sectors, the revaluation of the nuclear power industry stands out. Hyundai E&C (KS: 000720) saw its target price upgraded to 200,000 won alongside an analysis that it has secured the capacity to simultaneously construct 10 nuclear power plants by 2030, and Daewoo E&C (KS: 047040) also attracted market attention as its nuclear power division value was estimated at 3 trillion won. KEPCO (KS: 015760) recorded an operating profit of about 2 trillion won in the fourth quarter, falling short of market expectations, but its stock price is expected to maintain an upward trend toward the 70,000 won mark due to the confirmation of a dividend of 1,540 won per share and the resolution of uncertainty through the reflection of nuclear power post-processing costs.

The leap forward in the automotive and consumer goods sectors is also notable. Hyundai Motor (KS: 005380) broke its 52-week high, proving the effectiveness of an investment strategy utilizing the disparity rate between common and preferred stocks. Silicon2 (KQ: 257720) in the cosmetics sector recorded a symbolic performance of surpassing 1 trillion won in annual sales, and YG Entertainment (KQ: 122870) in the entertainment sector fired a signal flare for an earnings rebound as its fourth-quarter operating profit surged 2,156.3% year-on-year. On the other hand, the petrochemical sector, including Lotte Chemical, is undergoing a structural improvement through 'selection and concentration' such as restructuring and mergers.

Market Signals

• Acceleration of AI Infrastructure Expansion: SK Hynix (KS: 000660)'s 21.6 trillion won investment in the Yongin Fab and the expansion of NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA)'s long-term purchase contract size to 95.2 billion dollars (+210%) are key indicators guaranteeing the long-term growth of the next-generation memory supply chain such as HBM.

• Record-High Value of Nuclear Power: As the value of the nuclear power business of Hyundai E&C (KS: 000720) and Daewoo E&C (KS: 047040) is revalued, securing the capability to simultaneously construct 10 nuclear power plants by 2030 signifies a transition to a 'sustainable growth industry' beyond simple construction.

• Institutionalization of Shareholder Returns: The passage of the amendment to the Commercial Act centered on the mandatory cancellation of treasury shares and the announcement by KT&G (KS: 033780) to cancel 11 million treasury shares serve as powerful drivers for resolving the chronic undervaluation of the domestic stock market.

Epoch View: Investment Implications

The breakthrough of the 6,300 mark by the KOSPI confirmed today implies beyond a simple index rise that the core portfolio of South Korean industries has simultaneously secured three pillars: 'growth potential (AI and semiconductors)', 'stability (nuclear power and automobiles)', and 'institutional trust (Value-up)'. In particular, the domestic stock market showing independent strength despite the volatility of the New York stock market is evidence that the core position of South Korean companies within the global supply chain has been further strengthened.

Going forward, the market is highly likely to see a deepening of 'K-shaped' divergence by sector. The concentration of capital into AI high-end memory materials, parts, and equipment companies with clear earnings growth and large-cap construction stocks possessing nuclear power export momentum is analyzed to persist. On the other hand, a conservative approach is essential for the secondary battery and electric vehicle sectors, where sluggish demand continues, and the petrochemical sector, which has entered a restructuring phase. In conclusion, a strategy aiming for qualitative improvement of the portfolio by selecting a group of stocks that simultaneously possess 'earnings visibility' to overcome the uncertainty of the global macroeconomic environment and 'willingness for shareholder returns' is effective.

This content was written through News Epoch's proprietary AI algorithm, which tracks and analyzes public data from research centers of major domestic securities firms in real-time.
 We state that it is an objective summary based on collected data and does not constitute an investment solicitation or recommendation for specific stocks.