LS boosts dividends, expands global investment

Apr 17, 2026, 09:29 am

		0
MCM Engineering II facility operated by LS Electric. / LS Electric

Koo Ja-eun, chairman of LS Group, is seeing results from his “battery–power–semiconductor” strategy, which he has emphasized since taking office, as the group posts record-breaking performance. Riding a power industry supercycle, LS aims to raise its shareholder return ratio to 30 percent while expanding investments in global hubs such as North America, pursuing both growth and stability.

According to industry sources on April 16, LS Holdings will pay a year-end dividend of 2,500 won per share on April 21. Total dividends this year will reach 68.37 billion won, a 51.5 percent increase from 45.12 billion won a year earlier. The dividend payout ratio has also been raised to 25.3 percent. Affiliates are also actively enhancing shareholder returns. LS Electric paid 3,000 won per share on April 9, while LS Marine Solution plans to pay 160 won per share on April 23.

Alongside dividend increases, LS is accelerating efforts to boost per-share value through share cancellations. From this year through 2026, the company will cancel a total of 1 million treasury shares, or 500,000 shares annually over two years. Addressing concerns about overlapping listings of key affiliates, LS stated that it has no plans to list units such as LS MnM for the time being, citing sufficient internal cash flow to fund large-scale investments. This move aligns with the government’s corporate “value-up program” guidelines.

Such aggressive shareholder return policies are backed by strong affiliate performance. LS reported consolidated revenue of 31.83 trillion won and operating profit of 1.06 trillion won in 2025, maintaining its position in the “1 trillion won operating profit club” for a second consecutive year. The power supercycle — driven by surging electricity demand from AI data centers, replacement of aging power grids and expansion of renewable energy — has underpinned earnings growth. Rising copper prices on the London Metal Exchange, exceeding $9,000 per ton, have also supported profitability at LS MnM and LS Cable & System.

Affiliates are also delivering tangible results in global markets, particularly in North America. LS Electric recently secured a 100 billion won contract to supply ultra-high-voltage transformers to a major North American data center. Combined order backlogs for LS Electric and LS Cable surpassed 12 trillion won at the end of last year, ensuring revenue visibility for the next three to five years. LS MnM posted record revenue of 14.94 trillion won, while LS Mtron contributed to improved profitability with strong tractor sales in North America.

In addition, LS Eco Energy’s Vietnamese subsidiary LS-VINA obtained 230kV ultra-high-voltage cable certification from Dutch testing firm KEMA, meeting U.S. utility standards. This is seen as a foothold for entering the North American transmission infrastructure market, which is expected to grow to $7.9 billion by 2027.

Alongside shareholder returns, LS is also focusing on expanding its global footprint. The group said it is investing in a submarine cable plant in the United States and a power equipment hub in Utah, while strengthening its battery materials value chain and scaling up rare earth production to mitigate supply chain risks. It added that digital transformation across all business areas will further enhance operational efficiency.

#LS Group #Koo Ja-eun #LS Electric #LS Cable #LS MnM