[THE INVESTOR] Hyundai Motor’s earnings from the fourth quarter last year are likely to have missed market consensus, said KB Investment and Securities on Jan. 22. 

Its revenue fell 6.4 percent on-year to 22.9 trillion won (US$21.43 billion) and operating profit rose 1.7 percent to 1.04 trillion won, which is 11 percent lower than market expectations, estimated analyst Kang Seong-jin.

Its revenue this year will inch up 0.8 percent to 95.66 trillion won while operating profit will slide 5.4 percent to 457.8 billion won, forecast the analyst. 

Kang maintained a “buy” recommendation and 190,000 won target price, though, saying that there are not many variables. 

By Hwang You-mee (glamazon@heraldcorp.com)