Goldman Sachs downgrades Kangwon Land stock to Neutral on cost concerns

Published 07/08/2025, 13:58
Goldman Sachs downgrades Kangwon Land stock to Neutral on cost concerns

Investing.com - Goldman Sachs downgraded Kangwon Land Inc (KS:035250) from Buy to Neutral on Thursday, maintaining a price target of KRW20,000 that implies a 7% potential upside from current levels.

The South Korean casino operator’s stock has appreciated 18% year-to-date, driven by a reversal of mass-market drop since the first quarter of 2025, record high FY24 dividends of KRW1,170 announced in March, and improved macroeconomic outlook in Korea.

Despite these positive factors, Kangwon Land’s second-quarter 2025 results fell significantly below expectations, with EBITDA of KRW77.3 billion representing a 17% year-over-year decline, primarily due to a 35% surge in payroll costs.

Goldman Sachs cited three key reasons for the downgrade: gross gaming revenue growth momentum unlikely to accelerate near-term due to delayed table capacity expansion, cost inflation eroding much of the revenue growth, and a heavy capital expenditure cycle ahead with lower likelihood of enhanced shareholder returns.

At its current price, Kangwon Land trades at 9 times FY25 estimated EV/post-tax EBITDA and offers a 5.1% dividend yield, compared to mid-cycle averages of 11 times and 3%, respectively.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

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