▲ A view of downtown Seoul, where major corporations are concentrated.
Since the 2000s, approximately one in three major domestic conglomerates has maintained a surplus streak for more than five years.
According to corporate data research firm CEO Score on the 23rd, a study of individual financial statements from the first quarter of 2000 to the second quarter of this year for 351 companies among the top 500 domestic companies by revenue that submitted semi-annual reports showed that 117 companies, or 33.3% of the total, recorded consecutive operating profits for five years (20 quarters) or more during this period.
Companies that maintained a surplus for 10 years (40 quarters) or more accounted for 71 firms (20.2%).
There were 11 companies (3.1%) with a record of 25 years (100 quarters) or more.
Seven companies were found to have not recorded a single deficit across all 106 quarters: KT&G, Handsome, Korea Zinc, S-1, Shinsegae, CJ ENM, and Hyundai Mobis.
Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance (105 quarters), Kumho Petrochemical (103 quarters), Kwangdong Pharmaceutical, and Kiswire (102 quarters) also continued their deficit-free streaks for over 100 quarters.
Long-term surplus companies in the 80 to 100-quarter range included 15 firms such as LS ELECTRIC (99 quarters), Naver, Kakao, POSCO International (98 quarters), and SK (96 quarters), while 19 firms continued their surplus in the 60 to 80-quarter range, including Hyundai Elevator (79 quarters), Hyundai Capital, and KB Capital (78 quarters).
There were also 15 companies that have never posted a deficit since their foundation.
The longest record was held by Hyundai Department Store, which has maintained a surplus for 95 consecutive quarters since its establishment.
This was followed by Youngone Corporation (68 quarters), Sunjin, KB Kookmin Card (62 quarters), Chong Kun Dang (51 quarters), and Cosmax (50 quarters).
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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