Gate News message, April 17 — Naver and Kakao are forecast to deliver stronger Q1 2026 results, with both companies posting year-on-year gains in revenue and operating profit, according to FnGuide. Naver is projected to report revenue of 3.1 trillion won (US$2.14 billion) and operating profit of 560.9 billion won (US$381 million), while Kakao is expected to reach 2 trillion won (US$1.37 billion) in revenue and 179.5 billion won (US$122 million) in operating profit. Growth is driven by commerce and advertising expansion, though analysts noted that AI products remain in early stages and are unlikely to materially boost earnings this year.
Both companies are ramping up AI infrastructure investments. Naver spent a record 2.2 trillion won (US$1.51 billion) on research and development in 2025 and invested 1.3 trillion won (US$898 million) in capital expenditure, including 1.2 trillion won (US$789 million) for servers and related equipment. Naver completed South Korea’s largest AI computing cluster in January, featuring 4,000 Nvidia B200 (Blackwell) graphics processing units. Kakao allocated 1.3 trillion won (US$884 million) to R&D and plans to invest 424.9 billion won (US$289 million) to build its Ansan data center through 2029.
Both companies have shifted strategy from standalone chatbots to integrating AI agents into existing products. Naver is shutting down its standalone chatbots CLOVA X and Cue on April 9, redirecting focus to deploying AI agents across its service ecosystem. In the Naver Plus Store app, a shopping AI agent analyzes purchase history and recommends products. Kakao plans to integrate its Kanana AI brand into KakaoTalk, enabling features such as meeting scheduling and venue suggestions, with payment settlement through KakaoPay and KakaoBank.
Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third parties and does not represent the views or opinions of Gate. The content displayed on this page is for reference only and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Gate does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and shall not be liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Virtual asset investments carry high risks and are subject to significant price volatility. You may lose all of your invested principal. Please fully understand the relevant risks and make prudent decisions based on your own financial situation and risk tolerance. For details, please refer to
Disclaimer.
Related Articles
ETF Launch Fails to Stem Tide As XRP Sinks to $1.81, Lowest Since April
Crypto asset manager Bitwise’s launch of a spot XRP exchange-traded fund on Nov. 20 failed to lift the token, which fell to $1.81 — its weakest level since April — before a broader Nov. 21 sell‑off drove monthly losses above 20%.
ETF Launch Followed by Double-Digit Losses
The highly
Coinpedia5m ago
Hong Kong Stocks Close Lower on April 17; Hang Seng Index Falls 0.89%, New Stock Surges 144%
Hong Kong stocks closed lower on April 17, with the Hang Seng Index dropping 0.89%. Blue-chip stocks varied, as Alibaba gained amid AI advancements. Newly listed stocks surged, showcasing strong investor interest, while gold stocks fell due to geopolitical tensions.
GateNews6m ago
Netflix Co-Founder Reed Hastings to Step Down from Board in June After 30 Years
Reed Hastings will step down from Netflix's board in June after nearly 30 years, marking a shift in leadership for the company. His departure comes amid disappointing earnings and challenges following the withdrawal from an acquisition deal.
GateNews18m ago
Apple iPhone Shipments Surge 20% in China Despite Market Decline, Driven by Government Subsidies
Apple's iPhone shipments in China rose 20% in Q1, outpacing competitors amid a 4% decline in overall smartphone sales, supported by a government subsidy program. Huawei leads the market, while Apple's supply chain allows it to manage rising costs effectively.
GateNews28m ago
Military Drone Supplier Aevex Prices IPO at $20 Per Share, Set to List on NYSE Friday
Aevex priced its IPO at $20 per share, raising $320 million and achieving a market valuation of $2.2 billion. Specializing in AI-driven defense drones, Aevex will list on the NYSE under "AVEX" on April 18.
GateNews41m ago
Oil and Gas Land Management Firm EagleRock Land Files for U.S. IPO, Targeting $200M Fundraise
EagleRock Land filed an IPO application targeting $200 million, focusing on land management in the Permian Basin. Based in Houston, it controls 236,000 acres and generated $72 million in revenue in 2025. The company plans to list on NYSE American under EROK.
GateNews45m ago
