[Special Stock] NAVER Surges Over 12% on Expectations of Earnings Growth and Appointment of AI Secretary

NAVER's stock price is showing strength as expectations rise for improved earnings driven by the expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) services. As of 10:12 a.m. on June 18, NAVER was trading at 231,500 won, up 25,000 won (12.11%) from the previous trading day.

On this day, Daol Investment & Securities maintained its "Buy" rating on NAVER, stating that "continued Home Feed effects and the expansion of AI services will support earnings." The firm also raised its target price from 240,000 won to 280,000 won.

Kim Hyeyoung, a researcher at Daol Investment & Securities, said, "This year, revenue is expected to reach 11.8526 trillion won, up 10.4% year-on-year, and operating profit is projected to increase by 11.8% to 2.2231 trillion won." "The Home Feed effect continues to contribute to advertising revenue. From the second half of the year, the AI Briefing service plans to expand the proportion of fact-based queries from 1% to 20% within the year." In addition, the company plans to launch 'AI Tab,' an integrated agent service similar to Alphabet's 'AI MODE' in the United States, next year.

Meanwhile, investor expectations for NAVER are also rising following the appointment of Ha Jungwoo, head of NAVER Cloud AI Innovation Center, as the first-ever Presidential Secretary for AI Future Planning, a position newly established after the inauguration of the Lee Jaemyung administration. Ha, born in 1977, is the youngest secretary in the current administration and has consistently represented the industry's concerns to the government, never hesitating to voice critical opinions.