
Pohang Iron and Steel Company ( POSCO )
POSCO
POSCO is a world-leading manufacturer of high-end steel and a pioneer in green new materials transformation, tracing its origins to 1968 and headquartered in Pohang, South Korea, with dual listings on the Korea Exchange (005490) and the New York Stock Exchange (PKX). Operating through capital-intensive in-house manufacturing, the company deeply focuses on metal structural materials within the full spectrum of building materials, offering a comprehensive portfolio spanning high-strength structural steel (HISTAR®), high-corrosion-resistant Zn-Al-Mg coated steel (PosMAC®), pre-coated steel, stainless steel, light-gauge steel framing, solar mounting systems, high-resolution printed decorative steel (PosART®), and low-carbon green steel (Greenate®). With 2025 global revenue of KRW 69.09 trillion (approximately $49.8 billion), POSCO operates two mega-scale integrated steelworks in Pohang and Gwangyang, along with numerous manufacturing bases in Indonesia, China, Vietnam, and beyond, employs approximately 44,500 people, and serves over 50 countries. Powered by world-leading advanced steel technologies (PosMAC® delivering 5-10 times higher corrosion resistance than conventional coatings, PosART® perfectly replicating natural stone and wood grains) and a strategic pivot toward new energy materials, POSCO is solidifying its position as a benchmark for premium Asian metal building materials through exceptional product premiums and technological moats.
Strengths: POSCO's core strength lies in its world-leading advanced steel technology moat and exceptional profit per ton, with its proprietary PosMAC® Zn-Al-Mg coated steel offering unmatched corrosion resistance and self-healing properties for solar mounting systems, making it the preferred choice for high-corrosion environments globally. Its powerful portfolio of premium products and strong brand premium command significant recognition in coated steel, stainless steel, and high-resolution printed decorative steel (PosART®), which serves as a perfect substitute for natural stone and wood. Forward-looking green transformation and strong shareholder returns, including a 2.5-million-ton electric arc furnace project in Gwangyang accelerating low-carbon steel production, sustained high dividends (KRW 10,000 per share in 2025) despite profit pressures.
Weaknesses: POSCO's primary weaknesses include heavy dependence on the Korean domestic construction market, with consolidated net profit nearly halving to KRW 504.4 billion in 2025, dragged down by its construction subsidiary (POSCO E&C) amid Korea's real estate downturn. Slowing demand growth in its newly entered battery materials sector, combined with weak global construction demand, led to significant operating profit declines. It faces intense competition from regional giants like Baowu Steel and Tsingshan in Southeast Asia and China, while heavy capital expenditures (approximately KRW 7 trillion annually) continuously pressure cash flow, with the integration of divested non-core assets in China and Vietnam yet to fully materialize.
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Strengths: POSCO's core strength lies in its world-leading advanced steel technology moat and exceptional profit per ton, with its proprietary PosMAC® Zn-Al-Mg coated steel offering unmatched corrosion resistance and self-healing properties for solar mounting systems, making it the preferred choice for high-corrosion environments globally. Its powerful portfolio of premium products and strong brand premium command significant recognition in coated steel, stainless steel, and high-resolution printed decorative steel (PosART®), which serves as a perfect substitute for natural stone and wood. Forward-looking green transformation and strong shareholder returns, including a 2.5-million-ton electric arc furnace project in Gwangyang accelerating low-carbon steel production, sustained high dividends (KRW 10,000 per share in 2025) despite profit pressures.
Weaknesses: POSCO's primary weaknesses include heavy dependence on the Korean domestic construction market, with consolidated net profit nearly halving to KRW 504.4 billion in 2025, dragged down by its construction subsidiary (POSCO E&C) amid Korea's real estate downturn. Slowing demand growth in its newly entered battery materials sector, combined with weak global construction demand, led to significant operating profit declines. It faces intense competition from regional giants like Baowu Steel and Tsingshan in Southeast Asia and China, while heavy capital expenditures (approximately KRW 7 trillion annually) continuously pressure cash flow, with the integration of divested non-core assets in China and Vietnam yet to fully materialize.
Listed market data
· weeklyHistory →- Share price
- KRW 276000.00
- 1Y change
- -8.9%
- Recent change
- +3.6%
- Since first close
- +107.5%
- Revenue (TTM)
- KRW$69.1 T (~$52 B, 2025)
11-03 → 11-04
from 2000-01
Financial history
Full market history- 2026-11KRW 276000.00—+0.9%
- 2026-10KRW 273500.00—-10.6%
- 2026-09KRW 306000.00—-9.6%
- 2026-08KRW 338500.00—+8.3%
- 2026-07KRW 312500.00—-1.4%
- 2026-06KRW 317000.00—-25.1%
- 2026-05KRW 423500.00—-8.3%
- 2026-04KRW 462000.00—+38.9%
- 2026-03KRW 332500.00—-19.5%
- 2026-02KRW 413000.00—+18.8%
- 2026-01KRW 347500.00—+13.9%
- 2025-12KRW 305000.00——
Ownership & Control
Latest available filings- Controlling entity
- Publicly held — no controlling shareholder disclosed
- Company type
- Manufacturer
- Insiders
- 1.48%
- Institutions
- 30.58%(218 holders)
- Free float
- 31.04%
Percentages are of total shares outstanding, aggregated from 13F-style filings via Yahoo Finance. Institutional figures reflect US-filed positions and may undercount owners filing elsewhere. No figure is shown where none is disclosed.
In the press
All coverage →5 latest headlines- How Posco's Odisha steel project, India's biggest FDI deal, fell through - Business Standardwww.business-standard.com2026-09-06
- International ESG Association (IESGA) collaborates with POSCO International to transform palm plantations into “carbon assets” - EurekAlert! Science News Releaseswww.eurekalert.org2026-07-17
- International ESG Association (IESGA) Collaborates with POSCO International to Transform Palm Plantations into "Carbon Assets" - Lelezardwww.lelezard.com2026-07-17
- Park Tae-joon: 'No POSCO Without Park Chung-hee' - 조선일보www.chosun.com2025-12-13
- South Korea dominates the world in steel production - NZZwww.nzz.ch2024-07-29
Quick Facts
Headquarters
Pohang, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea
Founded
1968
Employees
60,000
Revenue
KRW$69.1 T (~$52 B, 2025)
Factories
Gwangyang and Pohang world-class integrated steelworks plus dozens of global bases across Asia and Americas
Presence
Crude steel 37.79M tonnes (2025), battery materials + green steel
Listing
NYSE: KRXCategories
24 categories · scroll for more
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Data Sources & Methodology
This corporate profile is compiled from publicly available sources including company annual reports, SEC/regulatory filings, official press releases, and verified third-party industry databases. Financial figures reflect the most recent fiscal year disclosures and are cross-validated across multiple independent references.
VerityRank Score is calculated using a proprietary multi-dimensional model evaluating market presence, financial strength, operational scale, innovation capacity, and brand influence. Individual dimension scores are normalized against industry peers and updated quarterly.
Disclaimer: This profile is for informational purposes only. VerityRank makes no warranties regarding completeness or timeliness. This content does not constitute investment advice or endorsement.
Key references: POSCO Official Website | Wikipedia | NYSE: PKX | Reuters
