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Kakao Valuation Multiples

Discover Kakao's revenue and EBITDA valuation multiples, acquisitions, and investment history, alongside public comparables like New York Times, Pinterest, News Corp, Snap and more.

Kakao Overview

About Kakao

Kakao Corp is a technology and platform company engaged in digital services, content, mobility, and financial technology businesses. The company operates through seven reportable segments. The Kakao segment provides advertising and platform-based service offerings. The Kakao Games segment covers game development, publishing, and related services. The Kakao Entertainment segment focuses on entertainment planning and content production, and distribution. Kakao Mobility offers database-based information provision services, while Kakao Pay provides mobile platform-based financial services. Kakao Piccoma operates a platform for webtoon and web-novel supply, and the SM Entertainment segment engages in entertainment planning and content production.


Founded

1995

HQ

South Korea

Employees

4.0K

Financials (LTM)

Revenue: $6B
EBITDA: $1B

EV

$8B

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Kakao Financials

Kakao reported last 12-month revenue of $6B and EBITDA of $1B.

In the same LTM period, Kakao generated $6B in gross profit, $1B in EBITDA, and $407M in net income.

Revenue (LTM)


Kakao P&L

In the most recent fiscal year, Kakao reported revenue of $6B and EBITDA of $1B.

Kakao is profitable as of last fiscal year, with gross margin of 90%, EBITDA margin of 19%, and net margin of 6%.

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LTMLast FY202320242025202620272028
Revenue$6B$6B$5B$5B$5B
Gross Profit$6B$5B$5B$5B$5B
Gross Margin100%90%93%94%94%
EBITDA$1B$1B($480M)$686M$1B
EBITDA Margin19%19%(10%)13%20%
EBIT Margin10%9%6%6%9%
Net Profit$407M$365M($670M)$37M$325M
Net Margin7%6%(13%)1%6%

Financial data powered by Morningstar, Inc.

Kakao Stock Performance

Kakao has current market cap of $12B, and enterprise value of $8B.

Market Cap Evolution


Kakao's stock price is $28.16.

Kakao share price increased by 1.1% in the last 30 days, and decreased by 30.3% in the last year.

Kakao has an EPS (earnings per share) of $0.83.

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EVMarket CapPrice 1DPrice 1MPrice 3MPrice 12MEPS
$8B$12B-0.6%1.1%-9.4%-30.3%$0.83

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Kakao Valuation Multiples

Kakao trades at 1.4x EV/Revenue multiple, and 7.2x EV/EBITDA.

See NTM and 2027E valuation multiples for Kakao

EV / Revenue (LTM)


Kakao Financial Valuation Multiples

As of June 4, 2026, Kakao has market cap of $12B and EV of $8B.

Kakao has a P/E ratio of 30.5x.

LTMLast FY202320242025202620272028
EV/Revenue1.4x1.4x1.6x1.5x1.5x
EV/EBITDA7.2x7.2x(16.3x)11.4x7.2x
EV/EBIT14.1x15.3x25.5x25.7x16.1x
EV/Gross Profit1.4x1.6x1.7x1.6x1.6x
P/E30.5x34.0x(18.5x)n/m38.2x
EV/FCF13.3x11.2x19.1x15.9x15.0x

Multiples above and below 250x are considered non-meaningful (n/m). Valuation data powered by FactSet, Inc. and Morningstar, Inc.

Verified Kakao Valuation Multiples

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Kakao Margins & Growth Rates

Kakao decreased revenue by 2% but EBITDA grew by 3% in the last fiscal year.

In the most recent fiscal year, Kakao reported gross margin of 90%, EBITDA margin of 19%, and net margin of 6%.

See estimated margins and future growth rates for Kakao

Kakao Margins

Last FY202420252026202720282029
Gross Margin90%94%94%100%
EBITDA Margin19%13%20%20%
EBIT Margin9%6%9%11%
Net Margin6%1%6%8%
FCF Margin12%9%10%8%

Kakao Growth Rates

FY+1/FY23/2424/2525/2626/2727/2828/29
Revenue Growth(2%)4%3%3%
Gross Profit Growth9%4%3%9%
EBITDA Growth3%(243%)58%3%
EBIT Growth20%(1%)60%26%
Net Profit Growth27%(105%)789%43%
FCF Growth(37%)20%6%(16%)

Data powered by FactSet, Inc. and Morningstar, Inc.

Kakao Operational KPIs

Kakao's revenue per employee in the last FY averaged $1.4M, while opex per employee averaged $1.1M for the same period.

Kakao's Rule of 40 is 23% (metric relevant for SaaS companies only, counted as combined revenue growth rate and EBITDA margin).

Kakao's Rule of X is 28% (created by Bessemer, Rule of X is another metric to measure SaaS companies, ~1.5x stronger vs. the traditional Rule of 40, counted as revenue growth rate multiplied by 2.5 plus EBITDA margin).

Access forward-looking KPIs for Kakao
LTMLast FY202320242025202620272028
Rule of 4022%23%---
Bessemer Rule of X25%28%---
Revenue per Employee-$1.4M---
Opex per Employee-$1.1M---
S&M Expenses to Revenue5%45%49%49%48%
G&A Expenses to Revenue-2%3%2%2%
Opex to Revenue-81%87%88%85%

Data powered by FactSet, Inc. and Morningstar, Inc.

Valuation Multiples Across 230+ Verticals

Kakao Competitors

Kakao competitors include New York Times, Pinterest, News Corp, Snap, Match Group, Kunlun, LY Corporation, M3 Inc., TaTaTu and Duolingo.

Most Kakao public comparables operate across Consumer Apps, Online Content & News, Social Networks and Consumer SaaS.

EV/RevenueEV/EBITDA
Last FYLTM2027ELast FYLTM2027E
New York Times4.1x3.9x21.1x19.8x
Pinterest2.7x2.6x9.1x8.7x
News Corp1.9x1.8x11.1x10.2x
Snap1.8x1.7x15.8x11.7x
Match Group3.2x3.2x9.1x8.8x
Kunlun6.3x5.8x(38.9x)(58.2x)
LY Corporation2.0x1.8x8.8x7.3x
M3 Inc.3.1x2.4x11.4x9.4x

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Acquisitions by Kakao

Kakao has acquired 10 companies to date.

Last acquisition by Kakao was on January 1st 2024. Kakao acquired Yeonwoo Choi Company for undisclosed valuation.

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Latest Acquisitions by Kakao

Yeonwoo Choi Company
Grip
ZIGZAG
Parking Square
Description
-
Grip is a Jakarta-headquartered mobile application launched for e-commerce sellers in Southeast Asia. The platform enables merchants to list products, update promotional stories, broadcast live streams, and conduct real-time chat communications with buyers. Available on iOS and Android, Grip connects sellers directly to consumers through its marketplace features, emphasizing quick transactions and social commerce elements. The app targets small businesses in Indonesia, facilitating inventory management and order fulfillment alongside interactive selling sessions.
ZIGZAG is a Seoul-based mobile app that serves as a fashion meta-search engine for women across thousands of Korean online stores. The platform personalizes style recommendations, bookmarks favorite shops, and syncs retailer inventories with real-time pricing updates. ZIGZAG automates item matching to its interface, transforming fast fashion discovery in South Korea. Users browse tailored search results effortlessly, supporting the country's dynamic apparel market.
Parking Square Inc. is a Seoul-based developer of mobile parking solutions active in South Korea. Its Park Here app, available on iOS and Android, enables users to locate, book, and reserve spaces at discounted rates in urban garages and lots. Operators promote idle spots through the platform to boost occupancy and revenue. Founded on May 7, 2013, the company integrates real-time data for navigation guidance in high-density areas like Gangnam and Myeongdong districts.
HQ Country-South KoreaSouth KoreaSouth Korea
HQ City
-
Seoul
Seoul
Seoul
Deal Date1 Jan 20241 Dec 202115 Apr 202129 Feb 2016
Valuationundisclosed$319M$900M$13M
EV/Revenue
EV/EBITDA

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Investments by Kakao

Kakao has invested in 13 companies to date.

Latest investment by Kakao was on November 19th 2025. Kakao invested in Kakao Healthcare in their $34M Strategic investment round (EV/Revenue multiple available to Pro users).

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Latest Investments by Kakao

Kakao Healthcare
NFTBank
Humanscape
Superplastic
Description
Kakao Healthcare is a Seoul-based provider of digital health management services powered by Kakao's ecosystem. It offers telemedicine consultations via KakaoTalk integration, wearable data tracking through Kakao i Health app, and AI-driven health analytics for chronic disease monitoring. The company partners with hospitals like Samsung Medical Center and pharmacies for prescription delivery, expanding into mental health support and genomic testing services. Kakao Healthcare launched its platform in 2020, aiming to connect patients with 1,400 affiliated clinics nationwide.
NFTBank is a Seoul-based platform for managing NFT portfolios as non-fungible tokens. It aggregates assets from OpenSea, Blur, and LooksRare, offering tools to track floor prices, rarity scores, and liquidity metrics in real time. Holders convert illiquid NFTs into tradable tokens via its vault system, mitigating risks through automated rebalancing and lending options. The service supports Ethereum, Solana, and Polygon networks, with integrations for wallets like MetaMask and Phantom. Founded in 2021, NFTBank serves over multiple blockchain ecosystems worldwide.
Humanscape is a Seoul-headquartered health-tech firm focused on rare disease data platforms since 2018. The company aggregates genotype, clinical, and phenotype data from 100,000 patients across 500 diseases, enabling pharma partners like Novartis to accelerate drug trials by 30 percent. Its blockchain-secured database supports AI model training for precision medicine. Humanscape operates in South Korea, the United States, and Japan, with integrations to EHRs from Allscripts and Cerner. The platform has facilitated 20 investigational new drug applications.
Superplastic is a Vermont-based entertainment company that produces limited-edition designer toys, apparel, video games, and animated content featuring proprietary characters such as Janky, Gugg, and Floaty. Collaborations with artists like InkedKen and brands including Nike and Off-White drive its collectibles market presence. The company launched its own NFT platform in 2021, minting digital art tied to physical drops. Headquartered in Burlington since its 2017 founding, Superplastic expanded into Web3 with sold-out drops and partnerships with RTFKT and Bored Ape Yacht Club holders. Its products blend streetwear aesthetics with scarcity-driven pricing, appealing to global collectors through direct sales and pop-up events in cities like New York and Los Angeles.
HQ CountrySouth KoreaSouth KoreaSouth KoreaUnited States
HQ City
Seongnam
Seoul
Seoul
-
Deal Date19 Nov 202529 Sep 202218 Nov 202120 Oct 2021
RoundStrategic investmentSeries ASeries CSeries A
Raised$34M$29M$13M$20M
InvestorsCha Ai Healthkare; Kakao6th Man Ventures; Digital Currency Group; Ground X; Kakao; NAVER; NAVER D2SFKakaoBetaworks; Craft Ventures; Cyan Banister; Day One Ventures; Kakao; Founders Fund; Galaxy Digital; GV; Justin Timberlake; Index Ventures; The Chainsmokers; Jared Leto
Valuationundisclosed$297Mundisclosedundisclosed
EV/Revenue
EV/EBITDA

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About Kakao

When was Kakao founded?Kakao was founded in 1995.
Where is Kakao headquartered?Kakao is headquartered in South Korea.
How many employees does Kakao have?As of today, Kakao has over 4K employees.
Is Kakao publicly listed?Yes, Kakao is a public company listed on Korea Exchange.
What is the stock symbol of Kakao?Kakao trades under 035720 ticker.
When did Kakao go public?Kakao went public in 1999.
Who are competitors of Kakao?Kakao main competitors include New York Times, Pinterest, News Corp, Snap, Match Group, Kunlun, LY Corporation, M3 Inc., TaTaTu, Duolingo.
What is the current market cap of Kakao?Kakao's current market cap is $12B.
What is the current revenue of Kakao?Kakao's last 12 months revenue is $6B.
What is the current revenue growth of Kakao?Kakao revenue growth (NTM/LTM) is 2%.
What is the current EV/Revenue multiple of Kakao?Current revenue multiple of Kakao is 1.4x.
What is the current EBITDA of Kakao?Kakao's last 12 months EBITDA is $1B.
What is Kakao's EBITDA margin?Kakao's last 12 months EBITDA margin is 19%.
What is the current EV/EBITDA multiple of Kakao?Current EBITDA multiple of Kakao is 7.2x.
What is the current FCF of Kakao?Kakao's last 12 months FCF is $589M.
What is Kakao's FCF margin?Kakao's last 12 months FCF margin is 11%.
What is the current EV/FCF multiple of Kakao?Current FCF multiple of Kakao is 13.3x.
How many companies Kakao has acquired to date?As of June 2026, Kakao has acquired 10 companies.
What was the largest acquisition by Kakao?$3B acquisition of Daum Communications on 26th May 2014 was the largest M&A Kakao has done to date.
What companies Kakao acquired?Kakao acquired Daum Communications, MELON, Loen Entertainment, ZIGZAG, Grip, Parking Square, Kids Note, Path, Yeonwoo Choi Company, and Seoul Bus Mobile.
In how many companies Kakao has invested to date?As of June 2026, Kakao has invested in 13 companies.
What was the last Kakao investment?On 19th November 2025 Kakao invested in Kakao Healthcare, participating in a $34M Strategic investment round, alongside Cha Ai Healthkare.
In what companies Kakao invested in?Kakao invested in Kakao Japan, Kakao Healthcare, Tidesquare, NFTBank, Shift Up, Superplastic, Humanscape, Dunamu, Now Waiting, Korea Credit Data, Neubility, Tapas Media, and Seerslab.

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