NEW YORK (ET) — As of 12:03 a.m. ET on Saturday, December 27, 2025, U.S. stock exchanges are closed for the weekend, freezing prices until the next regular session opens on Monday, December 29.
That timing matters because Coupang, Inc. (NYSE: CPNG) just delivered one of the more headline-driven moves you’ll see in thin year-end markets: the stock jumped sharply Friday after the company provided new details about a major cybersecurity incident in South Korea—details investors largely interpreted as “less severe than feared,” even as regulatory probes and U.S. securities litigation remain active overhangs. [1]
Coupang stock price today: where CPNG left off after Friday’s surge
Coupang shares closed Friday, December 26 at $24.27, up 6.45% on the day, after trading between roughly $24.25 and $25.38, with volume around 30 million shares. [2]
Multiple market reports noted the move was even more dramatic intraday—roughly high single digits—as the cybersecurity update circulated. [3]
Because it’s the weekend, that close is effectively the last “official” marker investors have until Monday’s opening prints—when the same news can re-price again via premarket trading and opening auctions.
Why Coupang stock jumped: the company says breach impact was narrower than feared
The key catalyst was Coupang’s December 25 update on the cybersecurity incident involving its Korean subsidiary. In that statement, the company said its investigation indicates:
- The perpetrator accessed 33 million accounts, but retained limited user data from ~3,000 accounts and then deleted it.
- The retained data included 2,609 building entrance codes; Coupang said no payment data, login data, or individual customs numbers were accessed.
- Coupang said the perpetrator did not transfer data to others and that the company has retrieved and secured devices used in the incident.
- Coupang also stated it hired Mandiant, Palo Alto Networks, and Ernst & Young to conduct forensic work. [4]
That combination—limited retention, no payment/login compromise, and no alleged onward distribution—helped explain why the stock rallied hard after weeks of anxiety pricing.
But investors should also notice the fine print: authorities are still investigating, and company conclusions can diverge from what regulators ultimately confirm.
Reuters reported that South Korea’s science ministry said its investigation was ongoing and it had not confirmed Coupang’s claims, while also criticizing Coupang for releasing findings unilaterally. [5]
The risk investors can’t ignore: SEC filing flags penalties, litigation, and leadership change
Coupang’s own Form 8‑K (dated December 16, 2025) is important reading because it frames how the company is messaging “materiality” to U.S. investors. In that filing, Coupang said it became aware on November 18, 2025 of unauthorized access to customer accounts at its Korean subsidiary.
Key points from the 8‑K include:
- A former employee may have obtained name, phone number, delivery address, and email associated with up to 33 million accounts, plus “certain order histories” for a subset.
- Coupang said no banking information, payment card information, or login credentials were obtained.
- Coupang said operations were not materially disrupted, but warned it faces risks including regulatory penalties, litigation, remediation costs, and potential revenue impacts.
- The CEO of the Korean subsidiary resigned December 10, and Coupang’s General Counsel Harold L. Rogers became interim CEO of the Korean unit. [6]
For stockholders, that’s the core tension right now: the company is arguing “operations intact,” while simultaneously acknowledging a potentially expensive tail of regulatory, legal, and reputational consequences.
Lawsuit watch: U.S. securities class action adds a second front to the fallout
On December 22, Reuters reported Coupang was sued in a U.S. investor class action tied to the breach. The complaint alleges that Coupang, CEO/Chairman Bom Kim, and CFO Gaurav Anand misled investors about cybersecurity practices and did not disclose the breach in a timely way. Reuters also reported the case seeks damages for investors who purchased Coupang securities between August 6 and December 16, 2025. [7]
This matters for Monday because litigation headlines can generate gap risk (big price changes between sessions), especially in late-December liquidity.
South Korea scrutiny: special tax audit reported after breach
Adding to the uncertainty, Reuters also reported that South Korea’s National Tax Service launched a special audit of Coupang following the breach, citing Yonhap. The report said the probe involves reviewing transactions with Coupang’s U.S.-listed parent company and noted escalating public/political criticism surrounding the incident. [8]
Even if the market views the cybersecurity impact as operationally contained, investors still have to price the possibility of regulatory escalation—and that can affect risk premiums and analyst models.
Macro backdrop: why year-end market conditions can amplify single-stock headlines
Coupang’s move happened in a market environment that’s basically tailor-made for headline volatility: light volume, few catalysts, and investors debating whether the traditional “Santa Claus rally” continues.
On Friday, December 26, Reuters reported Wall Street finished a quiet post-Christmas session slightly lower (S&P 500 down 0.03%), with volume on U.S. exchanges at 10.22 billion shares versus a 20-day average of 15.98 billion. Reuters quoted Carson Group chief market strategist Ryan Detrick, who said the market was “just simply catching our breath” after a strong run. [9]
Associated Press similarly emphasized subdued, post-holiday trading, with major indexes only fractionally lower and many institutional players effectively done for the year. [10]
In that setting, a stock like CPNG—already sensitive due to breach headlines—can swing more than usual because fewer counterparties are standing in the way.
Fundamentals check: what Coupang’s latest earnings say about the underlying business
The breach dominates near-term price action, but longer-term investors still come back to the same question: Is Coupang compounding into a durable cash generator?
In its Q3 2025 results (reported November 4, 2025), Coupang said:
- Net revenues: about $9.3 billion, up 18% year over year (20% constant currency)
- Gross profit: about $2.7 billion, with gross margin 29.4%
- Operating income:$162 million
- Net income attributable to Coupang stockholders:$95 million
- Active customers:24.7 million, up 10% year over year [11]
Reuters/Refinitiv’s earnings snapshot added more segment color: Product Commerce net revenues rose 16%, Developing Offerings net revenues rose 32%, and trailing twelve-month operating cash flow increased to $2.4 billion. [12]
Coupang also disclosed it repurchased 2.8 million Class A shares for $81 million during the quarter. [13]
This is why CPNG has remained on many “long-term growth” screens: the company has been showing scale economics and improving cash generation—even while it continues funding newer businesses (e.g., Eats, fintech, streaming, and international expansion).
Analyst forecasts: price targets remain higher, but cybersecurity costs are now in the models
Wall Street’s view going into the breach period was broadly constructive. Reuters/Refinitiv data cited an average analyst stance of “buy” (with buy/strong-buy dominating) and a median 12‑month price target of $35.50 at the time of Coupang’s Q3 earnings. [14]
That target is notably above the most recent close near $24, implying substantial upside if the company executes and the breach fallout doesn’t permanently impair growth or margins.
But analyst math is being revised.
Morgan Stanley: target cut after breach risk repriced
A note reported by TheFly said Morgan Stanley analyst Seyon Park lowered Coupang’s price target to $31 from $35, kept an Overweight rating, and cited “heightened risk” after the breach—embedding higher cybersecurity spending into forecasts while expecting minimal operational impact. [15]
Barclays and others: targets were being raised earlier in Q4
Earlier, targets were moving up in the wake of earnings season. Nasdaq reported that Barclays raised its target to $40 from $36 and maintained an Overweight rating (as of November). [16]
Investor takeaway: the Street is now doing a delicate two-step—crediting Coupang’s growth/cash flow trajectory while adding an explicit “cybersecurity + regulatory + legal” cost line that didn’t exist at this scale a month ago.
What investors should know before the next session on Monday, Dec. 29
Because the exchange is closed right now, investors can’t react in real time—so the smart move is to pre-plan what you’ll do if CPNG gaps up or down at the open.
1) Watch for weekend headlines from regulators and prosecutors
Coupang’s own update is detailed, but Reuters reported regulators have not confirmed its conclusions yet. Any official statement validating—or disputing—key points (scope, exfiltration, penalties) can move the stock fast. [17]
2) Track litigation developments (even “procedural” ones)
The U.S. investor class action creates a steady drip of headlines. Even if the long-term financial impact is uncertain, markets often reprice on perceived probability of settlement costs or disclosure risk. [18]
3) Expect thinner liquidity and bigger opening moves
Late December trading can be jumpy. Reuters and AP both highlighted light volume conditions, which can amplify stock-specific moves. [19]
4) Keep an eye on the next earnings window—but treat dates as estimates
Market calendars currently estimate Coupang’s next earnings around February 24, 2026, based on prior reporting patterns (the company has not confirmed a specific date in that calendar entry). [20]
5) Re-check the bull and bear cases with the new information
- Bull case (simplified): breach impact contained, customer trust recovers, regulators don’t impose business-crippling penalties, and Coupang keeps compounding revenue and cash flow (as Q3 results suggested). [21]
- Bear case (simplified): reputational damage slows growth, compliance/security costs rise structurally, and litigation/regulatory penalties drag on margins and valuation multiples. [22]
Bottom line for Coupang stock (CPNG) heading into Monday
Coupang stock enters the next session with momentum after a cybersecurity update eased worst-case fears—but it’s not a “problem solved” stamp. The company’s own SEC filing flags potential penalties and litigation, Reuters reports active investigations and a U.S. class action, and at least one major bank has already adjusted price targets to reflect a higher risk profile. [23]
In the current year-end tape—light volume, index levels near records, and investors watching the “Santa Claus rally” window—CPNG may trade less like a sleepy e-commerce compounder and more like a headline-sensitive event stock until there’s regulatory clarity. [24]
References
1. www.aboutcoupang.com, 2. stockanalysis.com, 3. www.investopedia.com, 4. www.aboutcoupang.com, 5. www.reuters.com, 6. www.sec.gov, 7. www.reuters.com, 8. www.reuters.com, 9. www.reuters.com, 10. apnews.com, 11. ir.aboutcoupang.com, 12. www.tradingview.com, 13. www.tradingview.com, 14. www.tradingview.com, 15. www.tipranks.com, 16. www.nasdaq.com, 17. www.reuters.com, 18. www.reuters.com, 19. www.reuters.com, 20. www.marketbeat.com, 21. ir.aboutcoupang.com, 22. www.sec.gov, 23. www.sec.gov, 24. www.reuters.com
