[Featured Stock] POSCO Holdings Falls Below 300,000 After 33 Months... Dark Clouds Over Dual Pillars Battery and Steel

Stock Price Falls Below 300,000 Won for the First Time in 33 Months
Low-Price Competition in Chinese Steel Market and Weak Electric Vehicle Demand
Deteriorating Outlook for Secondary Battery Business After Trump Election

The stock price of POSCO Holdings has fallen below the 300,000 won mark for the first time in 33 months. This appears to be influenced by the darkening outlook for the company's two main businesses: steel and secondary battery materials.

As of 2:07 PM on the 13th, POSCO Holdings is trading at 290,500 won, down 14,500 won (4.75%) from the previous trading day. This is not only a 52-week low but also the first time the stock price has fallen below 300,000 won since February 2022.

The two core businesses of POSCO Holdings are steel and secondary battery materials. The steel sector is struggling due to China's 'low-price dumping' offensive, while the secondary battery sector is expected to face further difficulties following the sluggish electric vehicle market, its primary industry, and the election of U.S. President Trump, who opposes eco-friendly policies.

In fact, POSCO Holdings reported sales of 18.321 trillion won and an operating profit of 743 billion won in the third quarter, representing decreases of 3.4% and 37.9%, respectively, compared to the same period last year. In the steel sector, profitability declined mainly in the Chinese subsidiary due to continued weak demand and falling prices in China, leading to a drop in operating profit. The secondary battery materials sector saw a decrease in operating profit due to inventory valuation losses of cathode materials and reduced sales of anode materials. Both core businesses are experiencing simultaneous downturns.