StocksMediumUpdated•Originally published 11 November 2026•Updated 12 November 2026•
1 min read
Naver Net Profit Drops 45.2% on Increased AI Infrastructure Investment
Key Facts
1Naver reported third-quarter earnings that fell short of analyst expectations.
2The profit decline was driven by slower revenue growth in core search-platform and e-commerce businesses.
Naver's net profit dropped 45.2% to 402.5 billion won in the third quarter of 2026. The company's operating profit also fell 20.9% to 451.3 billion won, missing analyst estimates for the period.
The decline in profitability was driven by increased investments in artificial intelligence infrastructure alongside slowing revenue growth in core search and e-commerce units. This financial performance follows South Korean economic data from November 10, 2026, which showed the unemployment rate at 2.5%, lower than the 2.8% forecast.