Editor’s Note
Institutional investors rotated into bio, medical devices, robotics, and new growth stocks on the 24th, while taking profits in recently strong semiconductor equipment and materials sectors. Despite sustained AI-driven semiconductor demand expectations, short-term surges prompted a supply-demand rebalancing. Key net buys included PharmaResearch, Olix, Hanamaterials, Kosess, Jenix, LS Marine Solution, Taekwang, Hans Biomed, Neuromeka, and D&D Pharmatech. Healthcare names such as T&L, Pumtech Korea, Hans Biomed, D&D Pharmatech, PharmaResearch, and Olix also saw broad buying.
On the 24th, institutional investors in the KOSDAQ market expanded their buying in bio, medical devices, some robotics, and new growth industry stocks, while taking profits in semiconductor equipment and materials sectors that have recently shown strength.
Expectations for the semiconductor industry driven by increased AI investment remain, but a rebalancing of supply and demand is occurring following short-term surges.
According to the Korea Exchange, PharmaResearch and Olix were among the top net buys by institutions on this day. Buying spread to include Hanamaterials, Kosess, Jenix, LS Marine Solution, Taekwang, Hans Biomed, Neuromeka, and D&D Pharmatech.
In the healthcare sector, T&L, Pumtech Korea, Hans Biomed, D&D Pharmatech, PharmaResearch, and Olix were evenly included in the buying targets. Aesthetic medical device and bio-new drug development companies are receiving institutional funds as their mid-to-long-term growth potential is recognized.
In the semiconductor sector, material company Hanamaterials, semiconductor packaging equipment maker Kosess, semiconductor design company ADTechnology, and material company Duck San Hitech Metal were among the net buys. Rather than selling off the entire sector, selective buying is continuing, focusing on stocks with high potential for earnings improvement.
Other stocks in the net buy list include LS Marine Solution (submarine cable business), Taekwang (fittings), Neuromeka (robotics), Seobu T&D (hotel/real estate development), Hantec (plant), SAMG Entertainment (content), Vinatech and Sangshin EDP (EV materials), and JS Link (logistics solutions).
Conversely, institutions engaged in large-scale profit-taking, mainly in the semiconductor equipment sector. Stocks like TES, PSK, Wonik IPS, TSE, Simmtech, Jusung Engineering, PSK Holdings, Gigavis, Komico, VM, HPSP, Jeju Semiconductor, Fadu, GNC Energy, and Machinlax were among the top net sells.
Selling pressure also appeared in growth stocks that had recently seen significant rises. Rainbow Robotics and Robotis saw profit-taking after short-term surges, and EcoPro and EcoPro BM also recorded a sell-off amid a general breather in the secondary battery sector. In the bio sector, HLB Genomics was included in the top net sells, reflecting supply-demand pressure from short-term surges.
The market interprets this institutional trading as a sector weight adjustment. Funds are being moved from recently surging semiconductor equipment stocks to bio, medical devices, and some industrial goods, which have relatively lower price burdens and expected earnings improvements.
The securities industry believes the mid-to-long-term trend of expanding AI semiconductor investment and improving memory industry conditions remains valid, but short-term volatility in semiconductor equipment stocks could increase.
On the other hand, the bio sector is expected to see continued institutional buying, centered on companies with strong earnings and technological competitiveness, as expectations for technology exports, new drug development, and the aesthetic medical device market growth persist.