NEW YORK, Dec. 27, 2025, 11:16 a.m. ET — Market closed
Coupang, Inc. (NYSE: CPNG) is heading into the weekend with investors focused on one dominant catalyst: the company’s latest cybersecurity incident update, which helped calm fears that a widely reported breach in South Korea would translate into broader financial damage. With U.S. markets closed today, the next chance for shares to react will be the regular session on Monday, Dec. 29, after traders digest fresh headlines, regulatory signals, and ongoing litigation risk tied to the incident. [1]
What moved Coupang stock this week
The sharp move in Coupang stock followed the company’s Dec. 25 update regarding its Korean subsidiary, Coupang Corp. Coupang said it identified a former employee as the perpetrator and recovered devices used in the incident. It also said that while access involved accounts totaling roughly 33 million, the perpetrator “retained” data from only about 3,000 accounts—and that the retained user data was later deleted, with no evidence of transfer to outside parties. [2]
Coupang’s update emphasized that the exposed information did not include payment data or login credentials. The company also said the user data included 2,609 building entrance access codes, and indicated it would separately announce customer compensation plans in the near future. [3]
Regulators have not signed off on Coupang’s conclusions
A critical nuance for investors: South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT has publicly pushed back on the idea that the matter is settled. Reuters reported that the ministry said the incident remained under investigation and that Coupang’s allegations had not been confirmed by authorities, while also criticizing the company for what it described as a unilateral disclosure while the probe continues. [4]
KBS similarly reported that South Korean authorities said Coupang’s claims still require verification by the joint investigation team. That verification step—especially any official findings that differ from Coupang’s account—remains a key swing factor for sentiment when markets reopen. [5]
Where Coupang shares stand heading into the weekend
With no trading today, investors are anchored to Friday’s close and any extended-hours indications. KBS reported that Coupang shares ended Friday at $24.27, up 6.45% from the prior session. [6]
MarketBeat data showed Coupang’s closing price around $24.28 on Dec. 26, with extended trading quotes also tracked after the bell. [7]
Intraday, headlines about the updated breach scope helped drive a larger swing earlier in the session: Investopedia said shares were up roughly 9% during Friday trading after the update circulated. [8]
The SEC filing that still shapes the narrative
Even as the company’s more recent update reassured some traders, Coupang’s earlier Form 8‑K filing (dated Dec. 15, signed Dec. 16) remains central for risk framing. In that filing, Coupang disclosed it became aware of the incident on Nov. 18 and warned that Korean regulators could potentially impose financial penalties—though the company said it could not reasonably estimate losses at that time. The filing also noted the incident could drive higher expenses, litigation exposure, and management distraction, while stating operations had not been materially disrupted. [9]
The same 8‑K also disclosed leadership fallout: the chief executive officer of Coupang Corp. resigned on Dec. 10, and Harold L. Rogers—general counsel and chief administrative officer of Coupang, Inc.—was serving as interim CEO of the Korean subsidiary. [10]
Litigation headlines in the last 24–48 hours
Over the past day, multiple U.S. law firms have published notices related to a securities class action tied to the breach and disclosure timeline. A PR Newswire notice from Wolf Haldenstein stated a lead plaintiff deadline of Feb. 17, 2026, and described a putative class period spanning Aug. 6, 2025 through Dec. 16, 2025. [11]
A separate GlobeNewswire notice from Levi & Korsinsky also referenced a class action securities lawsuit and the same Feb. 17, 2026 deadline. [12]
Earlier this week, Reuters reported that Coupang had been sued in a U.S. investor class action in federal court in California, naming Coupang, CEO and Chairman Bom Kim, and CFO Gaurav Anand, with allegations focused on data-security representations and the timing of disclosure. [13]
Analyst forecasts and price targets: where Wall Street stands
While the cybersecurity event drove short-term volatility, sell-side analysts are largely modeling it as a cost and sentiment issue rather than an existential operational threat—at least for now.
Morgan Stanley analyst Seyon Park lowered the firm’s price target on Coupang to $31 from $35 while maintaining an Overweight rating, citing heightened risk and higher embedded cybersecurity spending, but still seeing minimal impact on operations. [14]
On the broader Street, MarketBeat showed a $33.25 average 12‑month price target based on tracked analysts and a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating (methodology varies across platforms). [15]
Nasdaq (via Zacks Equity Research) also pointed to a favorable tilt in brokerage recommendations, reporting an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.50 (between Strong Buy and Buy) based on recommendations it cited from 13 brokerage firms. [16]
What investors should watch before the next session
Because the NYSE is closed today, the highest-impact drivers for Monday’s open are likely to be new information rather than price action. Here’s what matters most for Coupang (CPNG) heading into Monday, Dec. 29:
1) Official confirmation (or contradiction) from South Korean authorities
Coupang says the retained dataset was limited, deleted, and not transferred externally—but South Korea’s science ministry has said those claims have not yet been verified. Any government update that confirms, refines, or disputes Coupang’s version could move the stock quickly. [17]
2) Customer compensation details
Coupang said it plans to separately announce compensation plans for affected customers. Investors will be watching whether this is a narrow, symbolic offer—or something that implies a larger financial hit and longer tail of reputational cost. [18]
3) Political scrutiny in Seoul
Chosunbiz reported that South Korea’s National Assembly plans joint hearings on the Coupang incident on Dec. 30–31, with lawmakers pressing for founder and chairman Bom Kim’s appearance. Even if no new technical findings emerge, political escalation can amplify regulatory and consumer sentiment risk. [19]
4) Litigation escalation and new filings
Reuters has already reported on the investor class action naming Coupang and top executives. In the near term, investors tend to focus less on the ultimate legal outcome (often slow-moving) and more on whether new complaints, motions, or disclosures change the expected cost profile. [20]
5) Analyst note flow and estimate revisions
Morgan Stanley’s Seyon Park explicitly flagged higher cybersecurity spending in forecasts. If additional banks follow with price-target cuts, rating changes, or higher cost assumptions, that can reset expectations—especially after a headline-driven bounce. [21]
Bottom line for Coupang stock (CPNG)
Coupang’s late-week rebound reflects a market leaning into the idea that the cybersecurity incident may be materially smaller than initial fears—particularly because the company says payment and login data were not compromised, and that retained data was limited and deleted. But with regulators still investigating and legal overhang building, the stock’s next leg is likely to hinge on verification: whether authorities corroborate Coupang’s findings, and whether the company’s next steps (including compensation) reinforce or undermine investor confidence. [22]
References
1. www.aboutcoupang.com, 2. www.aboutcoupang.com, 3. www.aboutcoupang.com, 4. www.reuters.com, 5. world.kbs.co.kr, 6. world.kbs.co.kr, 7. www.marketbeat.com, 8. www.investopedia.com, 9. www.sec.gov, 10. www.sec.gov, 11. www.prnewswire.com, 12. www.globenewswire.com, 13. www.reuters.com, 14. www.tipranks.com, 15. www.marketbeat.com, 16. www.nasdaq.com, 17. www.reuters.com, 18. www.aboutcoupang.com, 19. biz.chosun.com, 20. www.reuters.com, 21. www.tipranks.com, 22. www.aboutcoupang.com
