Don’t Just Say “Good Stock!” How to Analyze Company Value in Korean Like a Pro Analyst 📈

Phase 1: Introduction

Greeting: Hello! This is your Senior Editor at Daily Hangul. 👋

So, you’ve mastered the basics of buying and selling stocks in Korean. You can say “사요” (buy) and “팔아요” (sell). But imagine you are at a dinner gathering in Yeouido (Korea’s Wall Street), and someone asks why you picked a specific company.

If you just say, “음… 회사가 좋아요” (Um… the company is good), you sound like a tourist.

But if you say, “현재 주가는 저평가되어 있고, 재무 건전성이 탄탄합니다” (The current stock price is undervalued, and the financial health is solid), suddenly, everyone puts down their chopsticks and listens. You transform from a foreigner into a serious market participant.

Today, we are diving deep into Corporate Valuation (Fundamental Analysis). These are the C1-level expressions used by analysts, news anchors, and serious individual investors.

(Transparency Note: This guide is built from real questions asked by expat finance professionals working in Seoul.)

Phase 2: Deep Dive (Core Expressions)

Here are the top 3 expressions you need to sound like a pro when analyzing a company.

1. 저평가되다 (To be undervalued)

• Pronunciation: [Jeopyeongga-doeda] Sounds like ‘Juh-pyung-gah’ + ‘day-da’.
• Meaning: Literal: Low-evaluated / Real: Undervalued.
• Editor’s Insight: This is the holy grail of value investing. You don’t just say a stock is “cheap” (싸다). “Cheap” sounds like it’s low quality. 저평가 implies the market is wrong, and the potential is high. Conversely, 고평가 (overvalued) is used when a stock is too expensive relative to its value.
• Situation Check: Used in both Casual (investor meetups) and Formal (board meetings) settings.

2. 실적 턴어라운드 (Earnings Turnaround)

• Pronunciation: [Siljeok Teon-eo-ra-un-deu]
• Meaning: A turnaround in financial performance.
• Editor’s Insight: Yes, Koreans use the English word “Turnaround” frequently in finance! But it is almost always paired with 실적 (performance/results). It specifically refers to a company moving from a deficit (적자) to a surplus (흑자). Using this Konglish phrase instantly marks you as an insider.
• Situation Check: Very common in stock reports and news.

3. 성장 동력 (Growth Engine/Driver)

• Pronunciation: [Seongjang Dongnyeok] Note: The ‘ryeok’ sounds more like ‘nyeok’ due to nasalization rules.
• Meaning: Literal: Growth Power / Real: Future Growth Driver.
• Editor’s Insight: When analyzing a company’s future, you need to identify what will make them money next year. Is it AI? Is it EV batteries? That specific factor is the 성장 동력. If a company has no future plan, you might say, “성장 동력이 부재합니다” (Growth drivers are absent).

Phase 3: Textbook vs. Real Life

At the C1 level, we move away from simple descriptions to analytical jargon.

Editor’s Note: Notice the use of 펀더멘털 (Fundamental). It is used just as often as the pure Korean word 기초 체력 (Basic physical strength/fitness) when describing a company’s core value.

Phase 4: Cultural Context

The Art of “Dart” and “Gongsi”

In Western markets, you look at the SEC or EDGAR. In Korea, if you want to show you really know your stuff, mention DART (다트). It stands for the Data Analysis, Retrieval and Transfer System.

Instead of saying “I read the report,” try saying:
* “다트에서 공시 확인하셨나요?” (Did you check the public disclosure on DART?)

Nunchi in Investing

Koreans often practice humility regarding their own portfolio (even if they made a killing), but they can be quite critical/analytical about companies.
* Do: Critically analyze a third-party company using data (PBR, PER).
* Don’t: Brag too loudly about your own returns unless you are very close with the listener. If you made money, say “운이 좋았어요” (I got lucky), even if it was your brilliant analysis of the 저평가 status.

Phase 5: Real-World Scenario

Setting: A casual business lunch in Gwanghwamun. Mark (Expat) is discussing a potential investment with Minji (Fund Manager).

Mark: 요즘 A전자 주가 흐름이 좀 답답하네요.
(The stock price flow of A Electronics is a bit frustrating these days.)

Minji: 맞아요. 하지만 저는 지금이 바닥이라고 봐요. PBR이 1배 미만이거든요.
(Right. But I see this as the bottom. The PBR [Price-to-Book Ratio] is under 1x.)

Mark: 확실히 저평가 구간이긴 하네요. 그런데 성장 동력이 있을까요?
(It is certainly in the undervalued zone. But do they have a growth engine?)

Minji: (끄덕이며) 네, 다음 분기부터 반도체 부문에서 실적 턴어라운드가 예상됩니다.
((Nodding) Yes, an earnings turnaround is expected in the semiconductor sector starting next quarter.)

Mark: 그럼 분할 매수로 접근해야겠네요.
(Then I should approach it with split buying/scaling in.)

Phase 6: 10-Second Shadowing

Let’s practice a sentence you can use to summarize your analysis. Pay attention to the pauses / to sound authoritative.

“단기적인 변동성은 있지만, / 기업의 펀더멘털을 봤을 때 / 지금은 저평가 상태입니다.”

• Romanization: Dangijeogin byeondongseong-eun itjiman, / gieob-ui peondeomenteol-eul bwasseul ttae / jigeum-eun jeopyeongga sangtae-imnida.
• Translation: There is short-term volatility, but considering the corporate fundamentals, it is currently in an undervalued state.

Acting Tip: Speak clearly and calmly. Do not raise your intonation at the end of the sentence; keep it flat to sound objective.

Phase 7: FAQ & Troubleshooting

Q: Can I use the word “개미 (Ant)” to describe investors in a business meeting?
A: Be careful. 개미 refers to individual retail investors.
* Yes: If you are discussing market trends broadly (e.g., “The ‘Ants’ are buying heavily.”).
* No: Do not call your client or your boss an “Ant.” It implies they lack professional information or capital. Use 개인 투자자 (Individual Investor) instead.

Q: What is the difference between 적정 주가 and 목표 주가?
A: They are similar.
* 적정 주가 (Fair Value): Theoretical price based on calculation.
* 목표 주가 (Target Price): The price an analyst actually predicts the stock will hit. Use “목표 주가” when citing securities reports.

Phase 8: Wrap-up

One-Liner Summary: To analyze value like a pro, focus on 저평가 (Undervalued), 실적 턴어라운드 (Turnaround), and 성장 동력 (Growth Engine).

Action Mission: Open a Korean finance news app (like Naver Finance) and look for a headline containing “턴어라운드” or “저평가.” Read the first paragraph!

Discussion: Have you ever found a “Korean hidden gem” stock? Tell us about it in the comments using today’s vocabulary!

Phase 9: Quiz

1. Which word best describes a stock that is cheaper than its intrinsic value?
   a) 고평가 (Overvalued)
   b) 저평가 (Undervalued)
   c) 상한가 (Upper Limit)

2. How do you say a company is moving from a loss to a profit?
   a) 실적 턴어라운드
   b) 주가 폭락
   c) 배당 삭감

3. What is the “Konglish” word used for a company’s basic financial health?
   a) 멘탈 (Mental)
   b) 펀더멘털 (Fundamental)
   c) 센티멘털 (Sentimental)

(Answers: 1.b, 2.a, 3.b)