Kiwoom Securities projected on the 19th that the growth of foldable devices in the finished IT products market will stand out, presenting Dowinsys [484120] and FineMtech [441270] as its top preferred stocks in the sector.

Researcher Kwon Min-gyu explained that Apple's first foldable iPhone, the "iPhone Duo," saw its estimated shipping dates delayed to next year within just one hour of the start of pre-orders, noting that this is "proof that market demand for the iPhone Duo was greater than expected."

However, he pointed out that component supply is acting as a stumbling block. Following a supply chain check, Researcher Kwon reported that "due to low yields of components such as external hinges and assembly process errors, the mass production schedule of the iPhone Duo was delayed from the third quarter to the fourth."

Even with additional orders, component procurement remains difficult, leading to expectations that maximum shipments within this year will be limited to the 6 to 7 million unit range.

On the other hand, he explained that market forecasts for next year's shipments are on an upward trend. He projected that iPhone Duo shipments will surge from 7 million units this year to 14 million units next year.

The global foldable smartphone market is also expected to grow steeply, driven by strong sales of the Galaxy "Z Fold 8" and the launch effect of the iPhone Duo.

Researcher Kwon emphasized that while shipment forecasts for standard bar-type smartphones, PCs, laptops, TVs, and tablets continue to be lowered for this and next year, forecasts for foldable devices are steadily rising.

Consequently, he predicted that investments will concentrate on foldable-related stocks that are expected to post solid earnings among finished IT products.

Regarding Dowinsys, Researcher Kwon stated, "As the sole supplier of Ultra-Thin Glass (UTG) going into the Galaxy Z8 Fold, it will achieve strong earnings in both the third and fourth quarters of this year thanks to additional order volumes driven by the strong sales of the Galaxy Z8 Fold."

In the case of FineMtech, he explained that it supplies internal hinges (plates) to global foldable device manufacturers utilizing Samsung Display panels, including the iPhone Duo.

Researcher Kwon predicted, "Due to a competitor's low yield and supply restrictions, it is expected to exclusively supply the initial volume, making it the biggest beneficiary of future sales expansion."

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