Brokerage research in South Korea continues to draw scrutiny as wide gaps in analysts' stock targets coincide with fast-changing views on the memory-chip cycle. FnGuide said 13,368 reports were issued on 605 KOSPI and KOSDAQ companies from January through the 7th of this month, with semiconductor and AI shares showing the biggest disagreements: SK hynix had a 6.3-fold spread in target prices across 183 reports and Samsung Electronics a 4.3-fold spread across 237 reports. More recently, brokerages have accelerated cuts to target prices for Samsung Electronics and SK hynix after both shares fell sharply from their June highs and some analysts concluded profits could peak this year rather than continue rising through 2028. Kiwoom Securities cut Samsung Electronics to 350,000 won from 390,000 won and SK hynix to 2.1 million won from 2.2 million won, while Mirae Asset Securities, Shinhan Securities, NH Investment & Securities, Daishin Securities and Samsung Securities also lowered targets. Even so, most firms have maintained buy ratings, and some remain highly bullish: KB Securities kept a 600,000 won target on Samsung Electronics and Korea Investment & Securities raised its SK hynix target to 4.7 million won from 3.8 million won, underscoring how differences in memory-price and earnings assumptions are widening the gap in valuation views.