Investors are focused on Seoul Semiconductor's early trading trend on the 18th. With the domestic stock market closed on the 17th for a substitute holiday, the key point to watch on the next trading day, Tuesday the 18th, will be how the recently announced second-quarter results and brokerage assessments affect investor sentiment. In particular, the gap between external growth and profitability is drawing attention.

■ Q2 Revenue Growth vs. Operating Profit Falling Short of Expectations

According to brokerage assessments, Seoul Semiconductor achieved revenue growth in the second quarter but failed to fully meet market expectations in terms of operating profit. Accordingly, it has been suggested that in Tuesday's early trading, the market's center of gravity may shift toward the possibility of future profit improvement rather than revenue growth.

Daishin Securities published a report on Seoul Semiconductor on the 12th titled '2Q Revenue Growth Is Positive,' presenting an investment opinion of 'Marketperform' and a target price of 9,500 won. It should also be noted that this report is not a newly issued document ahead of the early trading session on the 18th, but an existing report published on the 12th.

Daishin Securities analyzed that Seoul Semiconductor's operating profit for the second quarter of 2026 reached 3.5 billion won, turning to profit year-on-year and increasing 96.3% compared to the previous quarter, but fell short of existing estimates. For the third quarter, it estimated an operating profit of 5 billion won, representing a year-on-year turnaround to profit and a 43.3% increase from the previous quarter. It also cited the expansion of sales of high-reliability products centered on automotive LEDs as a key variable.

However, it also pointed out the need to confirm whether revenue growth is not merely one-off but leads to sustained improvement in performance.

■ Market's Focus: 'Speed and Sustainability of Profit Improvement'

This is also an important point for investors looking ahead to Tuesday's early trading. While increased revenue is itself a positive factor, the stock market often reacts sensitively to the future pace and sustainability of profit growth rather than already-announced results.

For Seoul Semiconductor as well, how much profitability improves alongside the growth of its automotive LED business could influence the company's future valuation. Even if the sales proportion of high-reliability products expands, the actual operating profit contribution may vary depending on costs, product composition, and customer demand.

Ultimately, what needs to be confirmed in the early trading session on the 18th is how much significance the market assigns to the second-quarter revenue growth figure, and whether expectations for third-quarter profit improvement can move investor sentiment. However, it is impossible to predict at this point whether the stock price will rise or fall on Tuesday, as the domestic and international market environment and supply-demand conditions formed during the market holiday, as well as investor sentiment after the opening, will all be reflected.

Seoul Semiconductor's Tuesday performance report card has not yet been released. With second-quarter external growth, expectations for third-quarter profit improvement, and conservative brokerage assessments of the results all intertwined, which side investors weigh more heavily in the early trading session on the 18th is expected to be the first point of interest.

[This article was written with AI assistance. This article is not intended to solicit investment, and investment decisions and the responsibilities arising therefrom rest with the investor. Information requires re-verification. This publication bears no legal or financial responsibility.]