Kakao, KR7035720002

LS Securities cuts Kakao stock target from KRW 55,000 to 42,000

Published on 10/20/2026 at 01:07 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

Q2 revenue reached KRW 2.098 trillion, up 9 percent year on year. Kakao stock was KRW 32,100 on October 19, 2026, below target.

Results and analyst caution

LS Securities cut its Kakao target from KRW 55,000 to KRW 42,000 on October 15, 2026.
Kakao reported KRW 2.098 trillion in second-quarter 2026 revenue, up 9 percent year over year.
Kakao stock was last at KRW 32,100 on October 19, 2026.

Kakao, KR7035720002, Illustration mit AI erstellt.

Kakao (ISIN KR7035720002) faces a lower analyst target after LS Securities reduced its price objective from KRW 55,000 to KRW 42,000 on October 15, 2026. According to Aju Daily, the research house kept its Buy rating while citing delayed external commerce connections and uncertainty linked to Kakao's planned personnel split.

Three dated Kakao milestones

On August 6, 2026, Kakao reported second-quarter revenue of KRW 2.098 trillion and operating profit of KRW 277.0 billion. The figures represented year-over-year increases of 9 percent and 36 percent, respectively, while the operating margin reached 13 percent, according to Kakao.

On October 14, 2026, Kakao scheduled its third-quarter 2026 results presentation for November 5, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. KST. The filing identifies the event as a management-results presentation and question-and-answer conference call, as reported by FinancialFilings. On October 15, LS Securities cut its target to KRW 42,000 from KRW 55,000 and retained its Buy rating, according to Aju Daily.

What does the target cut mean?

The reduction equals 23.64 percent from the former target. The new KRW 42,000 objective lies 30.84 percent above Kakao's KRW 32,100 closing price on the KRX on October 19, 2026. LS Securities forecast third-quarter revenue of KRW 1.966 trillion, operating profit of KRW 228.1 billion and an operating margin of 11.6 percent, according to Aju Daily. The forecast points to slower profit growth than Kakao delivered in the second quarter.

Next results date

The next scheduled company event is Kakao's third-quarter 2026 results presentation on November 5, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. KST. That release should provide the next measurable test of platform growth and the company's investment in agentic artificial intelligence services.

KRW price and valuation

Kakao was last at KRW 32,100 on the KRX on October 19, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. KST. Its 52-week range was KRW 30,250 to KRW 69,700, while market capitalization stood at KRW 14.2 trillion on the same date. The stock's immediate setup therefore combines a target premium with a wider valuation gap to its yearly high.