SK hynix Inc. and HANMI Semiconductor Co. were the sole two Kospi members who earned more than 30 percent of their revenue from operations in the second quarter, whereas the overall operating margin of Korean Inc. averaged at mid-8 percent in April-June period.

According to an analysis conducted by Maeil Business News Wednesday on preliminary second quarter earnings released by 165 Kospi- and Kosdaq-listed companies, six showed operating margin ratio of over 30 percent. Operating profit margin is calculated by dividing operating profit by total revenue to measure profitability.

The average profit margin of 165 companies in the second quarter was 8.5 percent, down 1 percentage point from the same period a year ago, the study showed.

Chip equipment manufacturer HANMI Semiconductor listed on the Kospi had the highest operating margin of 35 percent. The company raised 43.9 billion won in operating income in the April-June period, up 20 percent on year, on sales of 123.2 billion won, up 13 percent.

It was the company’s best-ever earnings since inception thanks to the improved global distribution conditions and an increase in key equipment orders including micro SAW and Vision Placement and TC and Flip Chip Bonder for TSVs, according HANMI Semiconductors. It also reported 33 percent in operating profit margin in the January-March period and the second quarter of last year.

SK hynix, the third-largest market cap stock on the main Kospi bourse, also delivered a 30 percent profit margin. Its operating income surged 56 percent on year in the second quarter to 4.2 trillion won and sales 34 percent to 13.8 trillion won. Robust performance was led by a rise in NAND flash memory prices and greater yield from its 176-layer design on top of high-performance server memory sales. SK hynix’s profit margin stood at 23 percent in the first quarter and 26 percent in the second quarter of last year.

In the secondary Kosdaq market, four companies reported profit margin higher than 30 percent – Wemade Max Co. (36 percent), medical equipment manufacturer T&L (34 percent), Chips & Media Inc. (31 percent), and screen golf service provider GOLFZON (31 percent).

Among top market cap stocks, bellwether Samsung Electronics’ second quarter operating margin came to 18 percent, LG Energy Solution 3 percent, Samsung Biologics 26 percent, LG Chem 7 percent, Hyundai Motor 8 percent, and Samsung SDI 9 percent.

By Park Yoon-ye and Lee Eun-joo

[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]