[EQUITIES] Samsung Card’s share buyback to boost shareholder values: analyst

[THE INVESTOR] Hankook Investment & Securities said on Sept. 1 that Samsung Card’s recent decision to buy back shares would help boost shareholder value, adjusting the firm’s target price to 55,000 won (US$49) per share from the previous 48,000 won.

Samsung Card announced on Aug. 31 that it would buy back 5.79 million shares by Nov. 30, more than 60 percent of 9.31 million shares traded over the past three months.

“The huge buyback will have a major impact on the stock price for a short term,” said Lee Cheol-ho, an analyst at the securities firm.

“The ratio of return on equity is also expected to increase to about 5.4 percent next year.”

The analyst also upgraded the estimated dividend per share this year from 1,750 won to 1,800 won.

By Lee Ji-yoon (jylee@heraldcorp.com)