Korea stocks · Figures on this page update automatically.
The price above is one Samsung Electronics common share in Korean won, as traded on the Korea Exchange under code 005930. It is by a wide margin the largest company in the KOSPI, so its weight in the index means a big move in the stock pulls the whole Korean market with it. Much of that movement traces back to the memory cycle: Samsung's profits rise and fall with the price of DRAM and NAND chips, which swing between shortage and glut.
What is the difference between Samsung's common and preferred shares?
The common share, listed as 005930, carries voting rights, while the preferred share, 005935, has no vote but a slightly higher dividend entitlement. The preferred line normally trades at a discount to the common.
Why does Samsung matter so much to the KOSPI?
The KOSPI weights companies by market value and Samsung Electronics is the heaviest constituent by a long way. On a quiet day, much of the index's move is simply Samsung's move.
What is the memory chip cycle?
Memory behaves like a commodity: tight supply sends prices and margins sharply higher, which draws in new capacity until there is a glut and prices fall again. Samsung's earnings track that cycle closely, which is why its shares are usually discussed in terms of where the cycle stands.