Key Takeaways
- Capital Research and Management Company, part of Capital Group, acquired a 5.61% stake in KT&G.
- The stake was acquired through purchases made on April 22 and May 4.
- Foreign investors now hold 45.5% of KT&G’s outstanding shares.
- KT&G shares reached a record high of KRW 183,500, or $125, and closed above KRW 180,000 for the first time.
2Firsts, May 8，2026
According to the report, Capital Group, one of the world’s largest asset managers, has acquired a stake of more than 5% in South Korean tobacco company KT&G, adding its name to the company’s list of heavyweight foreign shareholders.
Capital Group’s stake reached 5.61%
In a regulatory filing on Friday, KT&G disclosed that Capital Research and Management Company, the investment management arm of Capital Group, had acquired a 5.61% stake through purchases made on April 22 and May 4.
Foreign shareholder base expanded
The move places Capital Group among KT&G’s prominent foreign shareholders.
The report said other major foreign shareholders include BlackRock, First Eagle Investment Management and Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC.
KT&G shares hit a record high
As foreign buying of Korean equities continued, KT&G shares rose to a record high of KRW 183,500, or $125, on the day and closed above KRW 180,000 for the first time.
The report said foreign investors now hold 45.5% of KT&G’s outstanding shares.
Q1 revenue and operating profit increased
The foreign investor interest comes as KT&G posts stronger earnings on the back of overseas cigarette sales. First-quarter revenue rose 14.3% from a year earlier to KRW 1.7 trillion, or about $1.16 billion based on KRW 183,500 equaling $125.
Operating profit climbed 27.7% to KRW 364.5 billion, or about $248.3 million.
Company cited international business as growth engine
KT&G pointed to its expanding international business as the engine of growth and reaffirmed its commitment to shareholder returns, including higher dividends.
An analyst at NH Investment & Securities said KT&G is expected to continue delivering industry-leading shareholder returns through additional share buybacks and cancellations in the second half, while overseas cigarette sales remain robust.
Image source: Korea Herald
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