Leading **South Korean brokerage houses** are poised to report robust **first-quarter earnings**, propelled by a significant surge in **stock trading activity**. This strong performance comes despite heightened **market volatility** influenced by ongoing geopolitical tensions and broader macroeconomic pressures, showcasing the sector’s resilience.
According to data released by financial analytics provider FnGuide on Tuesday, the collective **net profit attributable to controlling shareholders** for several prominent **Korean brokerages** is projected to reach approximately **2.79 trillion won ($1.9 billion)** for the January to March 2026 period. This includes industry giants such as **Korea Investment Holdings**, **Mirae Asset Securities**, **Samsung Securities**, **Kiwoom Securities**, and **NH Investment & Securities**.
This impressive figure represents a substantial **71.3 percent increase** compared to the 1.63 trillion won originally forecasted just three months prior, indicating a significant upward revision in expectations.
Collectively, these five key firms are anticipated to achieve **combined net profits** of around **3.1 trillion won**. This projection more than doubles their performance from the previous year and comfortably surpasses the general **market consensus** by over 20 percent.
Among these top performers, **Mirae Asset Securities** is expected to demonstrate the most significant **earnings growth**. Yuanta Securities estimates its **first-quarter net profit** could soar to an impressive **1.32 trillion won**, highlighting its strong market position.
Over the last three months, **earnings estimates** have also seen sharp upward revisions across other major players. **NH Investment & Securities** saw its estimates rise by 54.4 percent, **Korea Investment Holdings** by 45.6 percent, **Samsung Securities** by 35.5 percent, and **Kiwoom Securities** by 32.8 percent, reflecting broad-based sector optimism.
The primary driver behind this considerable **earnings boost** has been a dramatic increase in **brokerage commissions**, directly linked to the heightened investor engagement in the stock market.
Evidence of this heightened activity includes the **average daily trading value** on the **domestic South Korean stock market**, which hit **67 trillion won** in the first quarter—a remarkable 258.3 percent increase year-over-year. Furthermore, the total number of **stock trading accounts** in South Korea continued its upward trajectory, exceeding 103.7 million by the end of March, having first crossed the 100 million mark in late January.
jylee
