[Click eStock] "Hanwha Ocean, Q1 Earnings Surprise Expected"

DS Investment & Securities estimated on the 27th that Hanwha Ocean's first-quarter earnings outlook will exceed expectations, forecasting a rebound in its stock price. They maintained a buy rating and a target price of 100,000 KRW.

Researcher Yang Hyung-mo of DS Investment & Securities predicted that Hanwha Ocean's stock price will rise starting in April.

He stated, "The first reason is an earnings surprise. The first-quarter consensus is sales of 2.9 trillion KRW, operating profit of 130 billion KRW, and an operating margin of 4.4%. However, we estimate that the operating margin will be maintained at around 5%. Therefore, operating profit will exceed 150 billion KRW."

The order increase cycle expected to resume from April is also seen as supporting the stock price rise.

Researcher Yang said, "We expect a total of 4 to 5 projects underway, including a North American LNG ship series project of about 7 to 9 vessels, as well as projects for European and Asian shipowners. The North American LNG project is expected to receive approvals over time, so orders will inevitably increase, making concerns about order declines in 2025-2026 unfounded," he analyzed.

He also noted that the U.S. maritime defense momentum is rapidly materializing. He explained, "The newly appointed U.S. Maritime Administrator pointed out that China's commercial and military shipbuilding capabilities threaten the U.S., and argued that to respond, the U.S. must comprehensively leverage economic and military power through a 'maritime national strategy.' The U.S. maritime defense momentum is quietly but rapidly becoming a reality."