Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

Coupang logo is seen in this illustration taken February 11, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

SummaryCompaniesSeoul says Coupang dispute not delaying trade, investment or security discussions with U.S.Official says investment is biggest bilateral issue, believes additional U.S. tariffs under Section 301 possibleSouth Korea, U.S. preparing second round of uranium enrichment and ​reprocessing talksSEOUL, July 22 (Reuters) - A top South Korean presidential official ‌said on Wednesday that a dispute with U.S.-listed e-commerce firm Coupang was not delaying discussions with Washington on trade, investment or security, despite concerns the case had become a source of tension in the alliance.

National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said the Coupang matter involved ​a legally established data leak affecting more than 33 million records, rejecting the company's claim that the incident ​only involved about 3,000 records.

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"That fact has been established," Wi told a briefing. "Discussions should start ⁠from that point."

The dispute surrounding South Korea's investigation into a data leak at the Seattle-based Coupang has become ​a source of friction, with U.S. officials and business groups accusing Seoul of unfairly targeting the company.

Wi said a recent ​meeting involving South Korea's ambassador to the U.S. and senior government officials was convened to review a broad range of bilateral issues rather than the Coupang case alone.

"Coupang was discussed, of course," he said. "But we agreed to prepare response measures by looking at various ​issues comprehensively and collectively."

While there are "various pending issues" between South Korea and the United States, "there are no signs ​that security consultations are being delayed because of them," Wi said.

He said discussions on South Korea's $350 billion investment pledge in the United States ‌were ⁠continuing, although no immediate outcome had yet materialised.

Wi said investment remained the biggest single issue in the bilateral relationship.

On trade, Wi said South Korea believed Washington could impose additional tariffs under Section 301 of the U.S. Trade Act connected to forced labour.

"Our general understanding is that even if Section 301 measures are taken, they would not exceed the ​broader tariff rate being discussed ​between South Korea and ⁠the United States," he said.

Washington last year lowered its tariff on South Korean imports to 15% from a threatened 25% after Seoul pledged the $350 billion investment package and $100 billion of ​energy purchases.

Seoul was continuing consultations with U.S. officials and providing relevant data and ​explanations, Wi said.

South ⁠Korean Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan headed to Washington on Wednesday for talks with senior U.S. officials on trade and investment cooperation, his ministry said.

Wi also said Seoul was closely watching a U.S.-Saudi nuclear energy pact because it could have indirect implications for ⁠South Korea.

There ​were no obstacles to ongoing security discussions with Washington, including consultations ​on uranium enrichment and spent-fuel reprocessing, he said, adding the sides held talks in June and were preparing a second round of meetings.

"If necessary, we ​are also prepared to go to the United States for discussions," he said.

Reporting by Kyu-seok Shim Editing by Ed Davies

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

By PYMNTS  |  July 20, 2026

 | 

South Korea’s decision to fine American-owned eCommerce firm Coupang is straining relations between the two countries, Reuters reported Friday (July 20).

South Korea said the fine was imposed over a data leak, but American lawmakers said the move raises questions about whether the country is treating U.S. companies fairly, according to the report.

The fine of 625 billion won (about $422 million) followed Coupang’s November 2025 data leak, per the report.

The dispute over the fine has become serious enough that South Korea’s ambassador to the U.S. returned to Seoul to discuss it with officials in President Lee Jae Myung’s administration, the report said.

The ambassador, Kang Kyung-wha, told local media, per the report: “The issue is dragging on much longer than I expected.”

A lawmaker who is a member of South Korea’s ruling Democratic Party, Park Sun-won, said in the report that the fine imposed on Coupang was for the data leak and that the fine “would be the same for any company.”

A U.S. State Department spokesperson said in the report that South Korea “should not impose disproportionate burdens on U.S. companies.”

Coupang told Reuters that the company hopes to find a constructive resolution.

It was reported in November 2025 that Coupang is considered the “Amazon of South Korea” and that the data breach exposed personal information of the company’s entire customer base. The exposed data was limited to customers’ names, email addresses, phone numbers, shipping addresses and some order histories.

In December 2025, it was reported that an investor class action lawsuit filed in California alleged that Coupang violated securities laws after the data breach by misleading investors about its data security practices and failing to disclose the breach in a timely manner.

Coupang announced in December 2025 that the perpetrator of the data breach, a former Coupang employees, retained data from only 3,000 accounts, did not transfer the data to others, and later deleted the data when news outlets began reporting the incident.

Days later, on Dec. 29, Coupang issued an apology from the company’s interim CEO and said it would begin offering vouchers worth up to 55,000 won ($38) to each of the 33.7 million customers affected by the cybersecurity incident.

In January, it was reported that two Coupang investors called on the U.S. government to investigate South Korea’s handling of the incident and said the U.S. could also impose trade remedies in response to what they said was discriminatory treatment of Coupang.

When South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Commission levied the roughly $412 million fine on Coupang in June, it was reported that the fine was the largest ever imposed for a privacy violation in South Korea.

South Korea's decision to fine e-commerce firm Coupang over a data leak has drawn criticism from Washington and raised questions about the country's openness to American tech, raising worries the matter is impacting ​Seoul's relations with the U.S.

Coupang, Inc. (CPNG - Free Report) is one of the stocks most watched by Zacks.com visitors lately. So, it might be a good idea to review some of the factors that might affect the near-term performance of the stock.

Shares of this company have returned -1.6% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.6% change. The Zacks Internet - Commerce industry, to which Coupang belongs, has gained 4.8% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?

Although media reports or rumors about a significant change in a company's business prospects usually cause its stock to trend and lead to an immediate price change, there are always certain fundamental factors that ultimately drive the buy-and-hold decision.

Earnings Estimate RevisionsHere at Zacks, we prioritize appraising the change in the projection of a company's future earnings over anything else. That's because we believe the present value of its future stream of earnings is what determines the fair value for its stock.

Our analysis is essentially based on how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to take the latest business trends into account. When earnings estimates for a company go up, the fair value for its stock goes up as well. And when a stock's fair value is higher than its current market price, investors tend to buy the stock, resulting in its price moving upward. Because of this, empirical studies indicate a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and short-term stock price movements.

For the current quarter, Coupang is expected to post a loss of $0.26 per share, indicating a change of -1400% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged over the last 30 days.

The consensus earnings estimate of -$0.33 for the current fiscal year indicates a year-over-year change of -375%. This estimate has changed -94.1% over the last 30 days.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $0.4 indicates a change of +222% from what Coupang is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has remained unchanged.

Having a strong externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, offers a more conclusive picture of a stock's price direction in the near term, since it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. Due to the size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, Coupang is rated Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Revenue Growth ForecastWhile earnings growth is arguably the most superior indicator of a company's financial health, nothing happens as such if a business isn't able to grow its revenues. After all, it's nearly impossible for a company to increase its earnings for an extended period without increasing its revenues. So, it's important to know a company's potential revenue growth.

For Coupang, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $8.86 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +4%. For the current and next fiscal years, $37.65 billion and $42.54 billion estimates indicate +9% and +13% changes, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryCoupang reported revenues of $8.5 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +7.5%. EPS of -$0.15 for the same period compares with $0.06 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $8.57 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of -0.72%. The EPS surprise was +74.58%.

Over the last four quarters, Coupang surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times. The company topped consensus revenue estimates two times over this period.

ValuationNo investment decision can be efficient without considering a stock's valuation. Whether a stock's current price rightly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects is an essential determinant of its future price performance.

While comparing the current values of a company's valuation multiples, such as price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), with its own historical values helps determine whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of the reasonability of the stock's price.

The Zacks Value Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which pays close attention to both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics to grade stocks from A to F (an A is better than a B; a B is better than a C; and so on), is pretty helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.

Coupang is graded C on this front, indicating that it is trading at par with its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

Bottom LineThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Coupang. However, its Zacks Rank #4 does suggest that it may underperform the broader market in the near term.

When deciding whether to buy, sell, or hold a stock, investors often rely on analyst recommendations. Media reports about rating changes by these brokerage-firm-employed (or sell-side) analysts often influence a stock's price, but are they really important?

Let's take a look at what these Wall Street heavyweights have to say about Coupang, Inc. (CPNG - Free Report) before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage.

Coupang currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.97, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 15 brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.97 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.

Of the 15 recommendations that derive the current ABR, eight are Strong Buy and one is Buy. Strong Buy and Buy respectively account for 53.3% and 6.7% of all recommendations.

Brokerage Recommendation Trends for CPNG

Check price target & stock forecast for Coupang here>>>

The ABR suggests buying Coupang, but making an investment decision solely on the basis of this information might not be a good idea. According to several studies, brokerage recommendations have little to no success guiding investors to choose stocks with the most potential for price appreciation.

Are you wondering why? The vested interest of brokerage firms in a stock they cover often results in a strong positive bias of their analysts in rating it. Our research shows that for every "Strong Sell" recommendation, brokerage firms assign five "Strong Buy" recommendations.

In other words, their interests aren't always aligned with retail investors, rarely indicating where the price of a stock could actually be heading. Therefore, the best use of this information could be validating your own research or an indicator that has proven to be highly successful in predicting a stock's price movement.

With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, which classifies stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), is a reliable indicator of a stock's near-term price performance. So, validating the Zacks Rank with ABR could go a long way in making a profitable investment decision.

Zacks Rank Should Not Be Confused With ABRIn spite of the fact that Zacks Rank and ABR both appear on a scale from 1 to 5, they are two completely different measures.

The ABR is calculated solely based on brokerage recommendations and is typically displayed with decimals (example: 1.28). In contrast, the Zacks Rank is a quantitative model allowing investors to harness the power of earnings estimate revisions. It is displayed in whole numbers -- 1 to 5.

It has been and continues to be the case that analysts employed by brokerage firms are overly optimistic with their recommendations. Because of their employers' vested interests, these analysts issue more favorable ratings than their research would support, misguiding investors far more often than helping them.

In contrast, the Zacks Rank is driven by earnings estimate revisions. And near-term stock price movements are strongly correlated with trends in earnings estimate revisions, according to empirical research.

In addition, the different Zacks Rank grades are applied proportionately to all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide current-year earnings estimates. In other words, this tool always maintains a balance among its five ranks.

Another key difference between the ABR and Zacks Rank is freshness. The ABR is not necessarily up-to-date when you look at it. But, since brokerage analysts keep revising their earnings estimates to account for a company's changing business trends, and their actions get reflected in the Zacks Rank quickly enough, it is always timely in indicating future price movements.

Is CPNG a Good Investment?In terms of earnings estimate revisions for Coupang, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has declined 94.1% over the past month to -$0.33.

Analysts' growing pessimism over the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by strong agreement among them in revising EPS estimates lower, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to plunge in the near term.

The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) for Coupang. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>

Therefore, it could be wise to take the Buy-equivalent ABR for Coupang with a grain of salt.

In the latest trading session, Coupang, Inc. (CPNG - Free Report) closed at $19.00, marking a +2.54% move from the previous day. The stock outperformed the S&P 500, which registered a daily loss of 0.28%. Elsewhere, the Dow saw a downswing of 1.09%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq appreciated by 0.2%.

Coming into today, shares of the company had gained 16.47% in the past month. In that same time, the Retail-Wholesale sector gained 0.18%, while the S&P 500 gained 1.64%.

Analysts and investors alike will be keeping a close eye on the performance of Coupang, Inc. in its upcoming earnings disclosure. On that day, Coupang, Inc. is projected to report earnings of -$0.26 per share, which would represent a year-over-year decline of 1400%. Alongside, our most recent consensus estimate is anticipating revenue of $8.86 billion, indicating a 3.97% upward movement from the same quarter last year.

For the annual period, the Zacks Consensus Estimates anticipate earnings of -$0.33 per share and a revenue of $37.65 billion, signifying shifts of -375% and +9.01%, respectively, from the last year.

It's also important for investors to be aware of any recent modifications to analyst estimates for Coupang, Inc. These recent revisions tend to reflect the evolving nature of short-term business trends. As a result, upbeat changes in estimates indicate analysts' favorable outlook on the business health and profitability.

Research indicates that these estimate revisions are directly correlated with near-term share price momentum. Investors can capitalize on this by using the Zacks Rank. This model considers these estimate changes and provides a simple, actionable rating system.

The Zacks Rank system, stretching from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), has a noteworthy track record of outperforming, validated by third-party audits, with stocks rated #1 producing an average annual return of +25% since the year 1988. Over the past month, there's been a 94.12% fall in the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. Coupang, Inc. presently features a Zacks Rank of #4 (Sell).

The Internet - Commerce industry is part of the Retail-Wholesale sector. This industry currently has a Zacks Industry Rank of 181, which puts it in the bottom 27% of all 250+ industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank assesses the vigor of our specific industry groups by computing the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks incorporated in the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Keep in mind to rely on Zacks.com to watch all these stock-impacting metrics, and more, in the succeeding trading sessions.

The South Korean government has used its regulatory authority to discriminate against U.S. companies and has waged an unprecedented campaign against online retailer Coupang, according to a House Judiciary Committee report released Wednesday.

The report is the result of an investigation opened by the committee in February. It highlights the treatment of Coupang, which is based in the U.S. but is known as the "Amazon of Asia," and other U.S. companies going back decades.

"South Korea's conduct is part of a broader attempt by foreign governments to weaponize their laws and regulations in an effort to harm American companies and limit their ability to compete in the global economy," the committee, which is chaired by Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, reported.

The South Korean embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.

The committee said in the report that Coupang has been the target of discriminatory pressure from the South Korean government that intensified in 2025 after a data breach perpetrated by a disgruntled former employee.

The company apologized for the breach and its CEO, Park Dae-jun, resigned as a result of the incident.

But according to testimony given to the committee by Coupang's acting CEO Harold Rogers — who took over in December after Park resigned — South Korean officials were informed by the company that same month that the scale of the breach was smaller than initially expected and "that the leak was limited in nature," according to the House Judiciary report. 

Despite that information, the committee found that the South Korean government launched a campaign against Coupang that included dozens of investigations, thousands of document requests, excessive fines and threats of criminal charges against Rogers, who is a U.S. citizen.

According to the committee, the South Korean National Intelligence Service compelled Coupang to send divers on a covert mission to retrieve a laptop used by the disgruntled former employee and that had been discarded in a river in Shanghai, then lied to the public about its involvement in the recovery operation.

"We regret the circumstances that led to the House Judiciary Committee's investigation and we remain committed to finding a constructive resolution so Coupang can once again serve as a bridge to strengthen the U.S.-Korea alliance, accelerating trade and investment that benefits both countries," the company said in a statement.

The result of South Korea's campaign against Coupang has been a more than 40% drop in Coupang's market capitalization, according to the committee, and could have a negative effect on its investors.

"South Korean regulators have consistently targeted Coupang and subjected the company to hostile regulatory treatment, unfair enforcement practices, and disproportionately large penalties not faced by their Korean competitors," the Judiciary report states.

The U.S. and South Korea have had a free trade agreement since 2012. South Korea has been a crucial trade partner for the U.S. in Asia, according to Demetrios Marantis, former acting U.S. trade representative under President Barack Obama, told CNBC.

But the relationship has at times been strained, and other digital companies based in the U.S. — like Google and Netflix — have also at times struggled with South Korean regulators, according to Marantis.

"Korea has had a long history of discriminating against foreign companies, just generally, and being protectionist, and a little bit inward looking," he said. "But the situation with Coupang — I have never seen anything this intense. This much of a whole-of-government assault on one company."

The U.S.-South Korea trade deal was renegotiated in 2025 as part of President Donald Trump's sweeping global tariffs. South Korea negotiated a lower tariff rate with Trump in exchange for investments in U.S. shipbuilding and national security, as well as regulatory rollbacks for American companies. 

In its report, the House Judiciary Committee argued South Korea's actions against Coupang violate the deal.

"South Korea's discriminatory treatment of American-owned businesses directly violates its recent trade agreement with the United States," the report states.

Coupang, Inc. (CPNG - Free Report) closed at $17.06 in the latest trading session, marking a -3.94% move from the prior day. The stock trailed the S&P 500, which registered a daily loss of 0.01%. Elsewhere, the Dow gained 0.14%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq lost 0.46%.

The stock of company has risen by 7.9% in the past month, leading the Retail-Wholesale sector's loss of 5.64% and the S&P 500's loss of 1.4%.

Market participants will be closely following the financial results of Coupang, Inc. in its upcoming release. The company is forecasted to report an EPS of -$0.14, showcasing a 800% downward movement from the corresponding quarter of the prior year. Meanwhile, our latest consensus estimate is calling for revenue of $8.93 billion, up 4.8% from the prior-year quarter.

For the entire fiscal year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of -$0.17 per share and a revenue of $37.75 billion, representing changes of -241.67% and +9.31%, respectively, from the prior year.

It is also important to note the recent changes to analyst estimates for Coupang, Inc. Such recent modifications usually signify the changing landscape of near-term business trends. As such, positive estimate revisions reflect analyst optimism about the business and profitability.

Our research demonstrates that these adjustments in estimates directly associate with imminent stock price performance. To benefit from this, we have developed the Zacks Rank, a proprietary model which takes these estimate changes into account and provides an actionable rating system.

The Zacks Rank system, which varies between #1 (Strong Buy) and #5 (Strong Sell), carries an impressive track record of exceeding expectations, confirmed by external audits, with stocks at #1 delivering an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the past month, there's been no change in the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. At present, Coupang, Inc. boasts a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

The Internet - Commerce industry is part of the Retail-Wholesale sector. At present, this industry carries a Zacks Industry Rank of 104, placing it within the top 43% of over 250 industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank evaluates the power of our distinct industry groups by determining the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks forming the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Ensure to harness Zacks.com to stay updated with all these stock-shifting metrics, among others, in the next trading sessions.

In the latest trading session, Coupang, Inc. (CPNG - Free Report) closed at $17.76, marking a +1.43% move from the previous day. This change outpaced the S&P 500's 0.1% loss on the day. Meanwhile, the Dow gained 0.35%, and the Nasdaq, a tech-heavy index, lost 0.43%.

The company's shares have seen an increase of 13.19% over the last month, surpassing the Retail-Wholesale sector's loss of 6.49% and the S&P 500's loss of 1.34%.

Analysts and investors alike will be keeping a close eye on the performance of Coupang, Inc. in its upcoming earnings disclosure. The company's earnings per share (EPS) are projected to be -$0.14, reflecting a 800% decrease from the same quarter last year. Meanwhile, the latest consensus estimate predicts the revenue to be $8.93 billion, indicating a 4.8% increase compared to the same quarter of the previous year.

Regarding the entire year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates forecast earnings of -$0.17 per share and revenue of $37.75 billion, indicating changes of -241.67% and +9.31%, respectively, compared to the previous year.

Investors might also notice recent changes to analyst estimates for Coupang, Inc. These revisions help to show the ever-changing nature of near-term business trends. As a result, upbeat changes in estimates indicate analysts' favorable outlook on the business health and profitability.

Our research demonstrates that these adjustments in estimates directly associate with imminent stock price performance. We developed the Zacks Rank to capitalize on this phenomenon. Our system takes these estimate changes into account and delivers a clear, actionable rating model.

Ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), the Zacks Rank system has a proven, outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks returning an average of +25% annually since 1988. Within the past 30 days, our consensus EPS projection remained stagnant. Coupang, Inc. is holding a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold) right now.

The Internet - Commerce industry is part of the Retail-Wholesale sector. This industry, currently bearing a Zacks Industry Rank of 110, finds itself in the top 46% echelons of all 250+ industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our individual industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Make sure to utilize Zacks.com to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and more, in the coming trading sessions.

The 2026 stock market continues to be shaped by several key investing themes, including artificial intelligence (AI), space, semiconductor chips, the data center build-out, and the ancillary companies that support these industries. In this excitement, many region-dominating, consumer-facing stocks have gotten left behind by the market -- and I think that's a once-in-a-decade opportunity for investors.

Here are five niche-leading growth stocks to consider buying on the dip as the market turns its attention elsewhere.

Image source: The Motley Fool.

1. MercadoLibre: 37% below 52-week high Latin American e-commerce and fintech behemoth MercadoLibre (MELI 0.10%) is a 59-bagger since its 2007 initial public offering and has become a key component of the region's economy. MercadoLibre is now home to 84 million active buyers and 82 million fintech users and continues to experience incredible growth rates, with its sales rising 49% in its latest quarter.

However, as the company spends heavily on its logistics network to offer features like a lower free shipping threshold in Brazil and continues to grow its loan portfolio faster than its overall revenue, its margins have dipped this year, prompting the stock's pullback.

Today's Change

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Now trading at a reasonable 43 times earnings -- considering its blistering sales growth rates, expansion into new geographies, and budding growth optionality through its new adjacent products -- MercadoLibre might be my favorite stock to add to right now.

2. Coupang: 46% below 52-week high It has been a brutal year for South Korean e-commerce juggernaut Coupang (CPNG +1.16%) following its data leak from November 2025 that affected over 33 million customers. This leak led to a $409 million fine by South Korean regulators and prompted U.S.-based Coupang to spend $1.2 billion on a voucher program to make amends with its customers. This has weighed heavily on the company's recent results.

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17.51

That said, I think the worst is finally behind the company. Management noted that it has recouped 80% of the memberships it lost during the fiasco, and has been buying shares back hand over fist while its price remains discounted.

Currently trading at about 0.9 times sales -- near its lowest-ever mark -- Coupang looks like a reasonably priced buy as it expands further into Taiwan and Japan while building out a larger ecosystem of offerings for its members.

3. Sea Limited: 54% below 52-week high Southeast Asian e-commerce and fintech company Sea Limited (SE +3.09%) also dominates its region, much like MercadoLibre and Coupang. However, its shares have traded down sharply over the past year. The company's margins dipped while it defended its territory through seller incentives and various promotions.

While this is a reasonable reaction from the market, I think it has been overdone -- especially as Sea grew sales by 47% in its latest quarter. Best yet, Sea's VIP membership grew by 40% to over 10 million customers, and Brazil remained the fastest-growing market for Shopee (Sea's e-commerce unit).

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91.79

Interested investors will want to keep a close eye on loan performance in the fintech unit. But for now, things look fine, and the growth looks incredible, with Monee loan principal outstanding soaring 71%.

Trading at just 23 times forward earnings, while guiding for sales growth of 25% in 2026, Sea remains an intriguing growth stock, provided its profitability doesn't turn negative.

4. Grab Holdings: 46% below 52-week high Singapore-based mobility, delivery, and fintech "super app" Grab Holdings (GRAB 0.86%) has quickly become the leading power in Southeast Asia. In its last quarter, Grab grew sales by 24% and users by 16%, bringing its total to nearly 52 million.

However, despite its steady 20%-plus growth over the past year, Grab's stock has plummeted amid market concerns about its minimal profitability. These concerns are perfectly valid -- at some point, we want to see some tangible profits -- but I think it is far too early to worry about profitability, considering the number of irons that Grab has in the fire.

With taxis, rental cars, motorcycles, food and grocery delivery, package delivery, and even a suite of fintech products sold across eight countries in Southeast Asia, Grab isn't a simple operation, and it may take time for profitability to fully bloom. However, this complexity should prove to be a feature, not a bug, for investors looking at the long haul, as peers won't easily replicate it.

Trading at 38 times forward earnings (despite minimal profitability so far), Grab could quickly outgrow its reasonable valuation as it continues expanding.

Image source: The Motley Fool.

5. Uber: 28% below 52-week high Shares of the world's leading ride-hailing app, Uber Technologies (UBER 2.35%), remain more volatile than the stock's impressive underlying operations might suggest. Facing mounting worries from a growing list of competitors offering autonomous ridesharing vehicles, Uber's stock has slid over the last year. However, I think it is short-sighted to say this is catching Uber by surprise.

In fact, Uber already has numerous autonomous vehicle (AV) partnerships in place, and could theoretically become a more profitable company as it relies on fewer human drivers. Furthermore, I think Uber is well-positioned to become the "aggregator" of choice for autonomous vehicle makers, which will likely find access to the company's 200 million monthly active customers a natural fit to partner with.

Trading at just 15 times free cash flow, despite growing sales by 10% in its latest quarter, Uber is being priced as though AVs will only hurt the company's business, rather than providing the tailwind I think they could become.

Discover why the latest sell‑offs in MercadoLibre (MELI 1.25%) and Coupang (CPNG 2.49%) could set up compelling long‑term opportunities, despite credit, regulatory, and reinvestment risks. Watch the video below to see how patient investors might benefit.

*This video was published on Jun. 12, 2026.

Danny Vena, CPA has positions in Coupang and MercadoLibre. Karl Thiel has positions in MercadoLibre. Rick Munarriz has positions in MercadoLibre. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends MercadoLibre. The Motley Fool recommends Coupang. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Coupang (CPNG 2.29%), an e-commerce platform in South Korea and internationally, closed Wednesday at $17.91, down 13.70%. Shares fell after Q1 results showed an 8% revenue increase but a sharp swing into net losses stemming from the costs of last year’s data breach. Trading volume reached 79.9 million shares, about 238% above its three-month average of 23.6 million shares. Coupang IPO'd in 2021 and has fallen 64% since going public.

How the markets moved todayThe S&P 500 rose 1.48% to 7,366, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 2.02% to finish Wednesday at 25,839. In internet retail, industry peers Alibaba Group closed at $141.44, up 6.94%, and JD.com finished at $30.69, rising 3.40% as investors weighed competitive dynamics.

What this means for investorsCoupang’s Q1 results fell well short of analysts’ expectations as the company navigated its 2025 data breach and began showing the financial costs of the $1.2 billion voucher program it put in place for customers. While this remediation will weigh on Coupang’s results through 2026, management noted that 80% of the WOW memberships lost due to the breach had returned by April, suggesting it continues to successfully recover from the fiasco.

Additionally, the company’s growth segment (Developing Offerings) grew sales by 25% as its expansion in Taiwan continued to deliver hyperscale growth. Management also noted that its food delivery service (Eats) and its nascent Japanese operations (Rocket Now) also continued to scale well. Trading at just 0.96 times sales, Coupang remains a promising turnaround stock (and holding) for me.

Josh Kohn-Lindquist has positions in Coupang. The Motley Fool recommends Alibaba Group, Coupang, and JD.com. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

CHARLESTON, W. Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--WV-based business reaches millions of new customers overseas with Coupang.

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Stocks trading under $20 have a way of getting ignored by Wall Street, especially when the headlines surrounding them turn ugly. Yet that is precisely the kind of price point where retail investors occasionally get handed a chance to buy a category-leading business at a discount the market would never offer in calmer times. With shares down 30.22% year to date and a deep-pocketed director writing nine-figure checks at these levels, one name keeps surfacing for investors who feel they missed the boat on Amazon a decade ago.

With that in mind, here is one stock trading under $30, and actually well under $20, that looks like an unstoppable growth story available at a temporarily depressed price.

Coupang (NYSE:CPNG) Coupang (NYSE:CPNG | CPNG Price Prediction) is the dominant South Korean e-commerce operator, often described as the Amazon of South Korea, with a flywheel that spans Coupang, Coupang Eats, Coupang Play, Rocket Now, and Farfetch.

Shares closed at $16.46 on May 27, 2026, sitting just above the 52-week low of $15.03 and far below the 52-week high of $34.08. For a retail investor, that means buying a company with a $28.9 billion market cap at roughly the price the stock first carried as a young IPO, even though the underlying business has grown materially since.

On the fundamentals, Coupang generated $34.534 billion in full-year 2025 revenue, up 14.09% year over year, with net income of $214 million and free cash flow of $527 million. Wall Street is leaning constructive: four Strong Buys, ten Buys, two Holds, and one Strong Sell, with an average price target of $27.12, well above current levels. The PEG ratio of 0.448 and forward earnings multiple of 35 suggest growth is being underpriced relative to the trajectory.

The bull case in plain language: while myopic investors fixate on domestic tech valuations, billionaire money managers are quietly accumulating shares of the dominant player in one of the highest-density digital economies on Earth. Q3 2025 showed what operational leverage looks like here, with revenue rising 17.81% year over year, operating income up 48.62%, and free cash flow swinging to $442 million from a loss. Active customers reached 24.6 million by year end, the domestic retail market share climbed to 15.1% in 2024, and the Developing Offerings basket (Eats, Play, fintech, Farfetch) is growing 32% year over year. Insiders are voting with cash: Director Neil Mehta accumulated 7,350,104 shares between March 11 and 13, 2026 at prices between $18.3994 and $18.6787, and the company expanded its buyback authorization to $2 billion on May 15, 2026.

The key risk that needs flagging: the data breach disclosed in late 2025 compromised 33+ million user accounts, contributed to a Q4 2025 net loss of $26 million, and triggered class-action lawsuits and a $1.2 billion customer compensation program. Korean Won weakness and widening losses in Developing Offerings add further noise. Management says “growth rate impacts have begun to stabilize and recover heading into Q1 2026,” and Q2 2026 adjusted EBITDA margin guidance of 1% to 2% supports that view, but execution still matters.

For investors who can stomach the lawsuit overhang, Coupang at sub-$20 looks like a capital-efficient compounder being priced as if the breach is a permanent impairment to the franchise.

A low share price alone is never a reason to buy or avoid a stock. Coupang is cheap because real headwinds, regulatory, legal, and operational, are colliding with a long-term growth story that may or may not reaccelerate on management’s timeline. Do your own research, size positions accordingly, and weigh the recovery thesis against the very real risks before treating any sub-$20 entry point as a gift.

Coupang remains a buy as it recovers from a major data breach, with normalization expected post-2026. CPNG absorbed $1.1bn in breach-related costs, causing a 300bp EBITDA margin drop and revenue slowdown, but maintains strong cash flow and a $4bn net cash position. 2027-2028 forecasts call for resumed growth, with EBITDA margins rebounding to 9% and adjusted net income increasing 7x by 2028.

International expansion creates new opportunities for businesses, brands and customers across Coupang’s global network

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Coupang, Inc., a U.S.-based technology leader, today was named to the Fortune 500® for the fourth consecutive year, jumping 10 places to No. 132 as it continues to grow and advance its innovative global fulfillment and logistics network. The Fortune 500® ranks the largest U.S. companies by total revenue each year.

“As a U.S. technology company, Coupang is redefining global commerce and driving economic expansion by bridging the gap between businesses and customers worldwide,” said Robert Porter, Coupang chief global affairs officer.

Share Seattle-based Coupang generated $34.5 billion in revenue in 2025, an increase of 14% over the prior year, powered by its focus on innovation, customer service and expansion in new markets.

Coupang has set a new standard for speed and quality in online services, applying artificial intelligence across its operations to help businesses, including in the U.S., reach new international customers. Coupang has operations and support services in geographies including the U.S., Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, China, India, Japan and across Europe. Its reach spans more than 190 countries and territories, connecting tens of millions of customers to quality products.

Enabling cross-border commerce at scale

“As a U.S. technology company, Coupang is redefining global commerce and driving economic expansion by bridging the gap between businesses and customers worldwide,” said Robert Porter, Coupang chief global affairs officer. “Last year, our strategic investments in advanced AI, custom robotics and cutting-edge logistics drove over $5 billion in exports of U.S. goods and services. Building on this momentum, we will continue to seek to create unprecedented opportunities for businesses across the United States, Korea, Taiwan and Japan, and for customers in all 190 markets we serve.”

Coupang provides end-to-end logistics solutions that help businesses grow in new markets. The company works with businesses from cherry farmers in the U.S. to olive oil artisans in Italy and skilled textile crafters in Japan to sell to new customers outside their home countries. Coupang supports their growth through a range of turn-key services to help them compete and thrive, including fulfillment and logistics solutions, marketing, customer service and export assistance to connect their products to global customers.

In 2025, Coupang enabled the sale of billions of dollars' worth of goods and services from U.S. businesses to international markets. In South Korea, small business sellers on Coupang grew their sales by 21% in 2025, more than 100 times the national small business growth rate.

Coupang also connects global luxury brands with customers worldwide through Farfetch. With more than 1,400 brands, boutiques and department stores, Farfetch serves customers in 190 countries and territories with the United States as its largest market, accounting for millions of customers.

Driving rapid growth in Taiwan

Coupang is accelerating its growth and investment in Taiwan. The company opened its fourth smart fulfillment and logistics center in Taiwan in 2026, expanding the company’s advanced global logistics network in the country. This technology powers Rocket Delivery, which now reaches across approximately 70% of Taiwan’s geography, providing next-day delivery seven days a week. Coupang has invested in Taiwan across multiple phases, including the largest approved U.S. investment in Taiwan last year and the second-largest approved foreign investment overall.

Technology driving global commerce

Coupang has invested billions of dollars in artificial intelligence, robotics and cloud computing to support the growth of its global operations. Its logistics network uses AI to forecast demand, streamline fulfillment and optimize delivery across regions. These systems are powered by Coupang Intelligent Cloud, enabling scalable AI training and real-time data processing. Since its founding in 2010, Coupang has developed an integrated technology and logistics ecosystem designed to deliver fast, reliable service across diverse markets.

Recognized for innovation and impact

Coupang’s innovation continues to receive international recognition. In 2026, it was named to the LexisNexis Top 100 Global Innovators list for the second consecutive year. The company also ranked No. 2 in Fast Company’s 2025 list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies in the Retail category.

About Coupang

Coupang is a technology and Fortune 150 company listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CPNG). It provides retail, restaurant delivery, video streaming, and fintech services globally through brands including Coupang, Eats, Play, Rocket Now, and Farfetch.

Coupang, Inc. (CPNG - Free Report) has been one of the most searched-for stocks on Zacks.com lately. So, you might want to look at some of the facts that could shape the stock's performance in the near term.

Shares of this company have returned -4% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +5.5% change. The Zacks Internet - Commerce industry, to which Coupang belongs, has lost 6.6% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?

Although media reports or rumors about a significant change in a company's business prospects usually cause its stock to trend and lead to an immediate price change, there are always certain fundamental factors that ultimately drive the buy-and-hold decision.

Revisions to Earnings EstimatesRather than focusing on anything else, we at Zacks prioritize evaluating the change in a company's earnings projection. This is because we believe the fair value for its stock is determined by the present value of its future stream of earnings.

Our analysis is essentially based on how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to take the latest business trends into account. When earnings estimates for a company go up, the fair value for its stock goes up as well. And when a stock's fair value is higher than its current market price, investors tend to buy the stock, resulting in its price moving upward. Because of this, empirical studies indicate a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and short-term stock price movements.

For the current quarter, Coupang is expected to post a loss of $0.14 per share, indicating a change of -800% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -640% over the last 30 days.

For the current fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of -$0.17 points to a change of -241.7% from the prior year. Over the last 30 days, this estimate has changed -13.3%.

For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $0.4 indicates a change of +336.8% from what Coupang is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed -31%.

With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank -- is a more conclusive indicator of a stock's near-term price performance, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Coupang.

The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:

12 Month EPS

Revenue Growth ForecastEven though a company's earnings growth is arguably the best indicator of its financial health, nothing much happens if it cannot raise its revenues. It's almost impossible for a company to grow its earnings without growing its revenue for long periods. Therefore, knowing a company's potential revenue growth is crucial.

In the case of Coupang, the consensus sales estimate of $8.93 billion for the current quarter points to a year-over-year change of +4.8%. The $37.75 billion and $42.7 billion estimates for the current and next fiscal years indicate changes of +9.3% and +13.1%, respectively.

Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryCoupang reported revenues of $8.5 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +7.5%. EPS of -$0.15 for the same period compares with $0.06 a year ago.

Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $8.57 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of -0.72%. The EPS surprise was +74.58%.

Over the last four quarters, Coupang surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times. The company topped consensus revenue estimates two times over this period.

ValuationWithout considering a stock's valuation, no investment decision can be efficient. In predicting a stock's future price performance, it's crucial to determine whether its current price correctly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects.

Comparing the current value of a company's valuation multiples, such as its price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), to its own historical values helps ascertain whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, whereas comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of how reasonable its stock price is.

The Zacks Value Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which pays close attention to both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics to grade stocks from A to F (an A is better than a B; a B is better than a C; and so on), is pretty helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.

Coupang is graded C on this front, indicating that it is trading at par with its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.

Bottom LineThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Coupang. However, its Zacks Rank #3 does suggest that it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term.

In the latest close session, Coupang, Inc. (CPNG - Free Report) was down 4.97% at $15.12. This move lagged the S&P 500's daily loss of 1.62%. Elsewhere, the Dow saw a downswing of 1.87%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq depreciated by 1.98%.

The company's shares have seen an increase of 0.06% over the last month, surpassing the Retail-Wholesale sector's loss of 6.71% and the S&P 500's loss of 0.03%.

Market participants will be closely following the financial results of Coupang, Inc. in its upcoming release. It is anticipated that the company will report an EPS of -$0.14, marking a 800% fall compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Meanwhile, our latest consensus estimate is calling for revenue of $8.93 billion, up 4.8% from the prior-year quarter.

In terms of the entire fiscal year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates predict earnings of -$0.17 per share and a revenue of $37.75 billion, indicating changes of -241.67% and +9.31%, respectively, from the former year.

It's also important for investors to be aware of any recent modifications to analyst estimates for Coupang, Inc. These recent revisions tend to reflect the evolving nature of short-term business trends. As a result, upbeat changes in estimates indicate analysts' favorable outlook on the business health and profitability.

Our research shows that these estimate changes are directly correlated with near-term stock prices. To utilize this, we have created the Zacks Rank, a proprietary model that integrates these estimate changes and provides a functional rating system.

The Zacks Rank system ranges from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell). It has a remarkable, outside-audited track record of success, with #1 stocks delivering an average annual return of +25% since 1988. The Zacks Consensus EPS estimate remained stagnant within the past month. Currently, Coupang, Inc. is carrying a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

The Internet - Commerce industry is part of the Retail-Wholesale sector. At present, this industry carries a Zacks Industry Rank of 150, placing it within the bottom 39% of over 250 industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Don't forget to use Zacks.com to keep track of all these stock-moving metrics, and others, in the upcoming trading sessions.

The fine for the personal-data breach at the e-commerce company is the largest ever imposed on a single company in South Korea.

By PYMNTS  |  June 11, 2026

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South Korean authorities levied Wednesday (June 10) a historic 624.7 billion won (about $412 million) fine against the eCommerce giant Coupang following a massive data breach that affected approximately two-thirds of the nation’s population.

This penalty, handed down by the Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC), represents the largest ever imposed for a privacy violation in South Korea, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday (June 10).

The PIPC’s investigation uncovered that a former employee maintained unauthorized access to personal information from nearly 34 million accounts over several months without being detected. PIPC

According to the report, PIPC Chairperson Kyung Hee Song said the breach was not the result of advanced hacking techniques but rather “negligent management” and an “inadequate basic safety management system” that failed to keep pace with Coupang’s aggressive expansion and reliance on large-scale customer data to provide innovative services.

The financial penalty is divided into two main parts: 423.6 billion won for the actual data leak and 201.1 billion won for the non-consensual collection of data. In addition, Coupang Fulfillment Services, the company’s logistics subsidiary, received a separate fine for the unlawful use of personal information to create an employment restriction list.

The incident has also evolved into a diplomatic point of contention between South Korea and the United States. While Coupang operates primarily in South Korea, it is incorporated in the U.S. and listed on the American stock market. This unique position led major investor Greenoaks Capital Partners to allege “discriminatory treatment” of the company and request a U.S. government investigation, Bloomberg reported. In response, South Korean lawmakers have pushed back against what they describe as U.S. political interference.

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Beyond the administrative penalties in South Korea, Coupang is currently facing an investor class action lawsuit filed in California for alleged violations of U.S. securities laws. The complaint asserted that the retailer misled investors by understating its susceptibility to cyberattacks and overstating the strength of its data safeguards in official filings. Furthermore, the lawsuit alleged that the company failed to provide a timely disclosure of the breach.

Coupang (CPNG) saw its shares surge in the last session with trading volume being higher than average. The latest trend in earnings estimate revisions may not translate into further price increase in the near term.