KT&G, Handsome, Korea Zinc, S-1, Shinsegae, CJ ENM and Hyundai Mobis remained profitable through all 106 quarters from the first quarter of 2000 through the second quarter of this year, corporate data researcher CEO Score said.
The study examined standalone financial statements from 351 companies among South Korea's 500 largest by sales that filed half-year reports.
Long profit streaks were relatively common among the big businesses.
A total of 117 companies or 33.3 percent remained profitable for at least 20 consecutive quarters, equivalent to five years.
Seventy-one companies maintained operating profits for at least 40 quarters, while 11 stayed in the black for 100 quarters or more.
Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance recorded a 105-quarter streak, followed by Kumho Petrochemical with 103. Kwang Dong Pharmaceutical and Korea Steel Pipe logged 102 quarters each.
Other lengthy runs included LS Electric with 99 quarters and Naver, Kakao and POSCO International with 98 each.
CEO Score also found 15 companies that had never posted an operating loss since their establishment.
Hyundai Department Store had the longest such run at 95 quarters, followed by Youngone Corp. with 68 and Sunjin and KB Kookmin Card with 62 each.
AJP Takeaways
- Seven major Korean companies have posted operating profits in all 106 quarters since 2000.
- One-third of the 351 companies surveyed stayed profitable for at least five consecutive years.
- Seventy-one companies maintained operating profits for at least 10 years.
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