Kookmin Bank (ADR) (NYSE:KB)

South Korea Play

stock of the day

Growth in Korean economy.

Will go back to $90. Is doing fine.

South Korea bank.

Banks have rallied lately but there is still a long way to go yet...

This is an OK company trading at a ridiculously low price (below book value as of Friday'sclose). Current price makes sense only if the company is in imminent risk of collapse; but while there is some reason for pessimism, there doesn't seem to be any justification for *this* level of pessimism.

The importance of this company in Korea would be difficult to overestimate. It is difficult to imagine any government simply allowing KB to collapse. This is not to say that it's "too big to fail," but it is unlikely that failure would occur unless accompanied by a general collapse of the Korean financial sector -- which does not appear, currently, to be on the horizon.

10.000

Also one of the most consensual banking stocks worldwide.

A Price/Book of 1.54 and a 5 year annualized return on equity of 15.4%. Looks like a great buying opportunity.

Anything with "KB" as its acronym gets a thumbs up from me.

It also just opened an office in great country of Kazakhstan! How bout them apples? P/E of 10.57 isn't bad either.

Well managed Korean bank

Just take a look at that PEG ratio and compare it to most any domestic firm. Good combo of a high-growth corporation coupled with an undervalued stock.

They've done very well over the last 5+ years and should carry this into performance into the next 5+ years.

I really wish I had found this stock a month ago. It's gone from being retardedly undervalued, to just undervalued. I feel Korea is still cheap, and this is a great play based on the low P/E, forward P/E and PEG ratios.

homebuilding

3

KB is down today on the collapse of their deal to by KEB, but their fundamental situation (48% market share in Korea) remains el primo in a growing market and their plans to expand internationally should strengthen the franchise with or without KEB (which they could bid for again if LoneStar decides to put it on the market again which is likely if the Korean prosecutors ever get bored of chasing their tails on LoneStar's acquisition of KEB three years ago).

housing moving