Motley Fool Backs Coupang as AI Buy With $29.6 Billion Value and 24 Million Active Customers
Updated
Updated · The Motley Fool · May 31
Motley Fool Backs Coupang as AI Buy With $29.6 Billion Value and 24 Million Active Customers
6 articles · Updated · The Motley Fool · May 31
Coupang was pitched as a cheaper AI play after Nvidia and Micron, with the South Korean group valued at $29.55 billion against $35 billion in trailing 12-month revenue.
AI is already embedded across its warehouse robotics, automation, advertising, fintech and food delivery units, and the company has also launched Coupang Intelligent Cloud to build AI data centers.
24 million active customers — nearly half of South Korea’s population — give Coupang a large base as faster delivery and low prices support e-commerce growth and expansion into categories such as food delivery.
A potential 2026 demand boost could come from South Korea’s chip boom, with Samsung and SK Hynix employee bonuses estimated at $40 billion combined, while Taiwan expansion is growing revenue by more than 100% year over year from a small base.
The bullish case hinges on sustained 12% annual revenue growth to about $61.7 billion in five years, which at a 10% margin would imply roughly $6.2 billion in earnings.
Can Coupang's expensive AI pivot finally deliver profits while battling giants like Temu and AliExpress?
With a massive fine and global rivals at its door, is Coupang truly an undervalued AI gem or a value trap?
Is Coupang's AI cloud the start of Asia's next AWS, or just a costly tool for its own logistics?