[Click eStock] "Wonik IPS, a Must-Have Stock for Equipment Investors"

[Asia Economy Reporter Ji Yeon-jin] IBK Investment & Securities announced on the 10th that it raised its performance forecast for Wonik IPS based on strong results in the second quarter and maintained a buy rating and a target price of 63,000 KRW.

Geon-jae Lee, a researcher at IBK Investment & Securities, stated, "Wonik IPS supplies equipment for the entire process and operates evenly in the DRAM, NAND, and non-memory sectors, making it an essential stock to hold for investment in the equipment sector," adding, "Although interest in infrastructure-related companies showing proactive movements in the equipment sector will continue, as the year-end approaches, attention to the delivery of core high value-added equipment is expected to increase."

Wonik IPS recorded sales of 432.5 billion KRW in the second quarter, a 42.6% increase compared to the same period last year, and operating profit rose 96.8% to 100.9 billion KRW. Notably, the operating profit was 26% higher than the consensus of 80 billion KRW. This is analyzed to be due to NAND equipment, which had a high contribution to sales recognition.

Lee said, "We believe that NAND equipment, which is relatively more competitive than DRAM and is seeing large-scale investment, was key to the company's performance improvement," and added, "Starting with the strong results announced in the second quarter, the market's expectations for the semiconductor equipment sector are expected to rise."