Global Economic Times

One in Three Major Korean Firms Maintains 5-Year Profit Streaks; 11 Companies Post Over 100 Quarters of Consecutive Black Figures: Kim Young Min Reporter / Updated : 2026-09-23 08:59:47

One out of every three major South Korean corporations has maintained a continuous profit streak for at least five years since the year 2000, a corporate data analysis showed.

According to corporate data research institute CEO Score on the 23rd, an analysis of individual financial statements across 106 quarters—from the first quarter of 2000 to the second quarter of this year—for 351 companies that submitted semi-annual reports among South Korea's top 500 enterprises by revenue revealed that 117 companies (33.3%) achieved consecutive profits for 5 years (20 quarters) or longer.

Companies that sustained profits for 10 years (40 quarters) or more totaled 71 (20.2%), while those with unbroken profit streaks of 25 years (100 quarters) or more accounted for 11 firms (3.1%).

A total of 7 companies did not record a single deficit throughout the entire 106-quarter period, including KT&G, Hanssem, Korea Zinc, S-1, Shinsegae, CJ ENM, and Hyundai Mobis.

Additionally, Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance (105 quarters), Kumho Petrochemical (103 quarters), Kwang Dong Pharmaceutical (102 quarters), and Korea Steel Corporation (102 quarters) also maintained uninterrupted profit streaks exceeding 100 quarters.

Furthermore, 15 companies have never posted a single quarterly loss since their foundation. Hyundai Mobis recorded the longest streak since establishment at 95 quarters of consecutive profits, followed by Youngone Outdoor (68 quarters), Sunjin and KB Kookmin Card (62 quarters each), Chong Kun Dang (51 quarters), and Cosmax (50 quarters), among others.