December 24, 2025 — POSCO Holdings Inc. is ending the year with a familiar identity crisis—in a good way for investors. It’s still a steel heavyweight, but more and more of the market narrative is about battery materials, lithium resource security, and “green steel” pathways that could reshape earnings power over the next few years.
On Dec. 24, 2025, POSCO Holdings’ Korea-listed shares closed at KRW 314,000 (+3.29%) as attention returned to the group’s “second engine”: energy and battery materials. [1]
What changed today isn’t a single line item in a quarterly report. It’s momentum—driven by a concrete project announcement from a key affiliate, plus a steady drumbeat of capital allocation moves that link POSCO’s steel cash flows to longer-cycle bets in lithium, cathodes, and lower-carbon production.
Below is a full, publication-ready roundup of the current news, forecasts, and analyst views available as of Dec. 24, 2025, with the key risks investors should keep on the radar.
POSCO Holdings stock price today: 005490 (KRX) and PKX (NYSE ADR)
POSCO Holdings trades in two main places retail investors tend to follow:
- KRX: 005490 (ordinary shares in South Korea)
- NYSE: PKX (American Depositary Shares / ADR)
As of Dec. 24, 2025, 005490 closed at KRW 314,000, with the day’s range cited as KRW 305,000 to KRW 319,500 and a 52-week range of KRW 227,500 to KRW 342,000. [2]
For U.S. investors, POSCO’s PKX ADR was quoted around $54.56 on Dec. 24, with a day range of $53.98 to $54.94 (per the same data provider view). [3]
A detail that matters more than it sounds: each PKX ADR represents 1/4 of an ordinary share (1:4 ratio), per Citi’s depositary receipt program listing. That’s the “translation layer” between the two tickers. [4]
Today’s headline catalyst: POSCO Future M signs LFP cathode JV agreement
The most time-sensitive POSCO ecosystem story on Dec. 24 came from POSCO Future M—the group’s battery materials arm—announcing that it signed a joint venture agreement tied to lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathode materials.
Multiple outlets reported broadly consistent core points:
- The JV agreement was signed Dec. 23, involving CNGR and its Korean subsidiary (FINO / Pino, depending on transliteration). [5]
- The plan includes building an LFP cathode materials plant in Pohang (Yeongilman 4th General Industrial Complex). [6]
- Construction is slated to begin in 2026, with mass production targeted for 2027. [7]
- The project’s capacity ambition is up to 50,000 tons per year (expansion path). [8]
- POSCO Future M also plans to convert part of existing Pohang high‑nickel cathode lines toward LFP and begin supplying LFP cathode material in the second half of 2026. [9]
Why this matters for POSCO Holdings stock (not just Future M)
LFP has been winning share in batteries because it is generally cheaper and tends to have a longer cycle life, which fits the fast-growing energy storage system (ESS) market especially well. [10]
For POSCO Holdings shareholders, the point isn’t “LFP is trendy.” The point is that POSCO is trying to be present wherever volume growth concentrates—not only in premium EV chemistries. If the ESS buildout keeps accelerating, LFP-related materials can become a real throughput story rather than a science project.
And the timing is not random. Reuters analysis this month highlighted how battery chemistry shifts—particularly the rise of LFP—have reshaped the outlook for several battery metals, with uncertainty about “winner” materials over the next decade even as electrification continues. [11]
The medium-term strategy: lithium supply security and vertical integration
POSCO’s battery-materials narrative is increasingly about control of inputs, not just selling processed materials when the commodity cycle feels friendly.
Mineral Resources lithium deal: $765 million for a JV stake (Australia)
Reuters reported in November that Australia’s Mineral Resources agreed to sell a 30% stake in part of its lithium business to POSCO for $765 million, giving POSCO indirect exposure to major Australian lithium mines (Wodgina and Mt Marion). [12]
POSCO’s own newsroom framed the move as part of a broader push to secure “high-quality” lithium resources and strengthen raw material competitiveness. The company said the investment supports stable annual supply of lithium concentrate and ties into its ambition to become a top-tier lithium player. [13]
Argentina brine resources and DLE: the next “process edge”
POSCO’s newsroom also detailed additional moves around Argentina’s Hombre Muerto salt lake and explicitly discussed Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) as a faster alternative to traditional evaporation ponds—positioning DLE as a potential cost and sustainability advantage if it scales commercially. [14]
Investor translation: if steel is the cash engine, the battery-materials plan is built like a supply-chain chess game—secure inputs, expand processing, reduce exposure to price shocks, and (ideally) make margins less hostage to whoever controls the mine gate.
Steel isn’t going away: POSCO’s U.S. electric arc furnace move and the “green steel” narrative
POSCO Holdings is not abandoning steel; it’s trying to make steel more geographically resilient and less carbon-intensive, while also staying close to end-demand in automotive.
SEC filing: POSCO plans equity investment tied to Louisiana EAF project with Hyundai Motor Group
In a Dec. 16, 2025 SEC Form 6‑K, POSCO Holdings disclosed an investment plan connected to building an electric arc furnace (EAF) steel mill in Louisiana, describing it as a way to respond to changes in the North American steel market and support sustainable automotive steel production. [15]
Key disclosed elements include:
- Investment amount disclosed in KRW terms (KRW 858,561,094,870), tied to approximately USD 582 million using an exchange rate noted in the filing. [16]
- POSCO Holdings plans to establish a wholly owned SPC (POS‑Louisiana, tentative) that would invest in Hyundai Steel Louisiana LLC shares, targeting a 20% stake via that structure. [17]
- The filing lists the scheduled acquisition date as Dec. 31, 2027, with staged payments during the construction period. [18]
EAF matters because it is generally compatible with lower-carbon steelmaking pathways than traditional blast furnaces—especially when paired with cleaner electricity and higher-quality feedstocks.
Reuters: POSCO + BHP “near zero emissions” iron work
In another leg of the decarbonization story, Reuters reported in October that BHP and POSCO signed an agreement to advance hydrogen-based “near zero emissions” iron, centered on a demonstration plant at POSCO’s Pohang steelworks, targeting commissioning by early 2028 with 300,000 metric tons/year capacity. [19]
This is long-dated execution risk, but strategically important: if regulators and automakers keep tightening emissions requirements, low-carbon steel could shift from “nice-to-have” to “table stakes.”
The underappreciated risk factor: POSCO E&C industrial accident and work suspension order
Investors who only watch steel spreads and lithium prices miss a quieter (but very real) risk channel: construction and infrastructure-related liabilities.
On Dec. 19, 2025, POSCO Holdings filed a Form 6‑K disclosing a serious industrial accident at POSCO E&C (a subsidiary), stating:
- Location: Shinansan Line Section 4‑2
- Description: a worker was struck by a falling reinforcing bar installed at the top of a tunnel
- Casualties: 1 fatality, 2 injured
- Authorities issued a partial work suspension order for lining operations in the relevant section (per the filing). [20]
This is not just reputational—work stoppages, investigations, penalties, and knock-on project costs can bleed into financial performance.
A separate equity research report from Mirae Asset Securities (Oct. 28, 2025) pointed to construction accident-related losses and cost overruns as meaningful issues in the group’s infrastructure division, and suggested additional loss recognition could weigh on near-term results. [21]
POSCO Holdings dividend watch: record date will be set in February 2026 (per SEC)
Dividends matter for POSCO because many investors treat it as a hybrid: cyclical + income + transformation option.
In a Dec. 12, 2025 SEC filing, POSCO Holdings stated that, following an articles-of-incorporation change, the year-end dividend record date is no longer automatically the last day of the fiscal year. For FY2025, the record date is to be determined at a Board of Directors meeting in February 2026, and simply being on the shareholder registry on Dec. 31 does not automatically grant entitlement to the year-end dividend. [22]
That’s the kind of administrative detail that can surprise ADR investors who only glance at a calendar.
Analyst forecasts and price targets: what the market is implying for 2026
Forecasts are not facts (the market is a chaos engine with opinions), but consensus data shows how professional expectations are clustering.
Korea listing (005490): consensus targets cluster around low‑400k KRW
MarketScreener’s consensus snapshot for POSCO Holdings shows:
- Mean consensus: BUY
- Number of analysts: 24
- Last close: KRW 314,000
- Average target: KRW 411,583
- High: KRW 520,000
- Low: KRW 310,000 [23]
Investing.com’s consensus page reports a similar structure, including an overall “Strong Buy” framing and the same average/high/low target levels. [24]
TradingView’s forecast page lists a KRW 428,950 price target with a max estimate of KRW 740,000 and min estimate of KRW 320,000, and it summarizes the recent analyst rating blend as leaning “strong buy.” [25]
A published research view: Mirae Asset keeps “Buy” with TP KRW 430,000
A Mirae Asset Securities equity research report dated Oct. 28, 2025 maintained a Buy rating and target price KRW 430,000, while forecasting 2026 consolidated operating profit of KRW 3.55 trillion (described as a 60% YoY jump) and flagging a softer 4Q25 due to maintenance and infrastructure cost recognition. [26]
Even if you disagree with any single shop’s assumptions, the direction is clear: a meaningful slice of the Street is modeling a 2026 rebound profile.
U.S. ADR (PKX): targets are in the high‑$60s to mid‑$70s in common snapshots
For PKX, one widely viewed data page cited an average 12‑month price target around $69.46 (with “Strong Buy” indicated in that view). [27]
Separately, Citi’s ADR program listing confirms the ADR structure (again, 1 ADR = 1/4 ordinary share), which matters when comparing KRW targets to USD ADR targets. [28]
How to read POSCO Holdings in late 2025: a “barbell” stock with execution risk
Here’s the cleanest way to understand what the market is debating:
On one side of the barbell:
Steel cash generation, global cycles, and increasing emphasis on U.S.-linked production (Louisiana EAF) and lower-carbon technologies. [29]
On the other side:
Battery materials growth options—now broadened by an LFP cathode JV aimed at ESS demand—and a lithium supply chain push meant to reduce dependence on spot-market volatility. [30]
In the middle (where the dragons live):
Project execution, commodity swings, and non-trivial operational risk—highlighted this month by the POSCO E&C accident disclosure and related work suspension order. [31]
What to watch next (late 2025 into early 2026)
A few upcoming milestones are likely to drive the next wave of headlines and stock reactions:
- LFP plant progress: ground-breaking timeline (2026), conversion of existing lines, and any customer qualification signals—because materials projects live or die on ramp execution. [32]
- Dividend mechanics: the Board-set year-end dividend record date in February 2026 (per SEC). [33]
- Earnings cadence: market calendars currently point to a late January 2026 earnings timing expectation for POSCO Holdings (watch for confirmation via official channels). [34]
- Infrastructure risk updates: any regulatory or operational updates connected to the Shinansan Line incident and project status. [35]
- U.S. EAF project detail: follow-through disclosures around capital staging, governance, and commercial logic for North American automotive steel. [36]
References
1. www.investing.com, 2. www.investing.com, 3. www.investing.com, 4. depositaryreceipts.citi.com, 5. cm.asiae.co.kr, 6. cm.asiae.co.kr, 7. cm.asiae.co.kr, 8. cm.asiae.co.kr, 9. cm.asiae.co.kr, 10. cm.asiae.co.kr, 11. www.reuters.com, 12. www.reuters.com, 13. newsroom.posco.com, 14. newsroom.posco.com, 15. www.sec.gov, 16. www.sec.gov, 17. www.sec.gov, 18. www.sec.gov, 19. www.reuters.com, 20. www.sec.gov, 21. securities.miraeasset.com, 22. www.sec.gov, 23. www.marketscreener.com, 24. www.investing.com, 25. www.tradingview.com, 26. securities.miraeasset.com, 27. www.investing.com, 28. depositaryreceipts.citi.com, 29. www.sec.gov, 30. cm.asiae.co.kr, 31. www.sec.gov, 32. cm.asiae.co.kr, 33. www.sec.gov, 34. www.investing.com, 35. www.sec.gov, 36. www.sec.gov
