Should You Buy Coupang Stock in 2025? Expert Insights for South Africans

What is Coupang?

How much is the Coupang stock?

The price of Coupang stock is falling this week. As of now, Coupang (CPNG) trades at $27.89, reflecting a 1.45% decrease over the last 24 hours but posting a 1.86% gain over the past week. The company’s market capitalisation stands at $51.38 billion, with an average three-month trading volume of 9.59 million shares.

Coupang shows a high Price/Earnings ratio of 201.66 and does not pay a dividend, while its stock beta is 1.16, indicating above-average volatility.

Investors in ZA should note that this combination of strong growth and elevated volatility presents both opportunities and risks, making careful analysis essential before investing.

Our full analysis on the Coupang stock

Having thoroughly reviewed Coupang’s recent financial results and analyzed its stock performance over the past three years, our multi-source, data-driven approach—blending fundamental indicators, technical signals, and competitive benchmarking—highlights Coupang as a particularly dynamic player in global e-commerce. The synthesis of these insights through our proprietary algorithms reveals several emerging strengths and forward-looking catalysts. So, why might Coupang stock once again become a strategic entry point into the Asian technology and internet retail sector for 2025?

Recent Performance and Market Context

Over the past year, Coupang’s share price has demonstrated robust momentum, currently trading at $27.89 (as of 29 May 2025), representing a 22.1% gain year-on-year and a substantial 18.43% appreciation over the past month alone. Even on a six-month basis, a positive trajectory of +14.68% supports the view that investor sentiment remains strong. The stock is now less than 3% below its 52-week high of $28.61, signaling resilient demand even after a pronounced rally.

Recent favorable developments have notably reinforced this momentum:

• International Expansion: The successful launch of Coupang’s e-commerce operations in Taiwan marks a critical milestone, affirming its ability to leverage core competencies beyond Korea.
• Share Buyback Program: Management’s $1 billion share repurchase initiative underscores confidence in Coupang’s intrinsic value and signals commitment to enhancing shareholder returns.
• Government Partnership: The collaboration with the U.S. Department of Commerce to enable American firms’ international sales via Coupang creates new cross-border revenue streams.
• Sector Tailwinds: The global tech sector continues to experience secular growth, with Asian e-commerce drawing heightened investor attention due to digital transformation, rising disposable income, and supportive consumption patterns.

Given these factors, Coupang’s recent performance unmistakably aligns with a favorable macroeconomic and sectoral backdrop that positions it at the intersection of Asian digital growth and global technology innovation.

Technical Analysis

From a technical standpoint, Coupang reveals several encouraging signals for potential bullish continuation:

• Momentum Indicators: The RSI (14 days) stands at 69.60—a figure approaching, but not yet breaching, overbought territory—demonstrating robust but controlled momentum. The MACD is positive at 1.22, confirming a bullish trajectory.
• Moving Averages: The stock trades above its short-, medium-, and long-term moving averages:
• 20-day SMA: 5.54% above the current price.
• 50-day SMA: 16.66% above.
• 200-day SMA: 16.99% above.
• Support and Resistance: The key technical support zone lies between $24.14 and $24.30, providing a well-established floor. Immediate resistance is marked at $28.61—the 52-week high—with a recent bullish crossover (10-day moving average exceeding 50-day as of 1 May 2025) suggesting that any confirmed breakout could usher in a new leg of upside.

Overall, recent price actions and technical structure—combined with constructive short- to medium-term momentum—suggest Coupang may be entering a new bullish phase, with technical pullbacks offering attractive entry points for well-timed positions.

Fundamental Analysis

Delving into fundamentals, Coupang presents a compelling growth narrative:

• Revenue and Profitability:
• Q1 2025 revenue rose 11% year-on-year to $7.9 billion (or +21% at constant currency). Gross profit climbed 20% to $2.3 billion, with adjusted EBITDA at $382 million (4.8% margin).
• Annual run-rate sales reach $31.06 billion, sustaining a 5-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of nearly 40%.
• Margins continue to improve, with guidance targeting a significant increase to 6.8% EBITDA by 2026.
• Valuation Considerations:
• With a market capitalization of $51.4 billion and a P/E of 201.66, the stock might appear richly valued. However, such multiples are justified in the context of rapid scaling, margin expansion, and a market leadership position reminiscent of early-stage e-commerce disruptors.
• The price-to-sales (P/S) ratio remains attractive compared to global tech peers when factoring in Coupang’s superior growth rate and rising operational efficiency.
• Structural Strengths:
• Market Dominance: Coupang controls 25–27% of South Korean e-commerce and commands a 40% share when factoring in its full ecosystem.
• Innovation: Industry-leading, ultra-fast logistics (same-day and next-day delivery), an advanced proprietary distribution network, and an integrated platform spanning e-commerce, food delivery, streaming, and fintech amplify both customer loyalty and monetization opportunities.

Coupang’s fundamentals thus justify renewed investor interest, as its model continues to drive both top-line expansion and progressive margin improvement.

Volume and Liquidity

Liquidity and trading interest remain exceptional:

• Average Daily Volume: 9.59 million shares (65-day average), reflecting ongoing institutional accumulation and market confidence.
• Free Float: With 1.24 billion shares in public hands and over 53% institutional holding, the float provides depth and stability, yet remains conducive to dynamic valuation rerating as fundamentals improve or as new catalysts emerge.

Sustained turnover at high price levels and robust institutional participation affirm the market's conviction and make Coupang highly accessible for a wide variety of investor profiles.

Catalysts and Positive Outlook

Several forward-looking drivers reinforce the bullish narrative:

• Expansion Milestones:
• The foray into Taiwan demonstrates Coupang’s ability to scale internationally—a move that could serve as a playbook for further entry into other fast-growing Asian markets.
• The recently announced $1 billion buyback program may bolster share price through enhanced capital return metrics.
• Product and Service Diversification: The accelerated growth of adjacent businesses (Coupang Eats, Coupang Play, financial services) not only diversifies revenue streams but also maximizes platform stickiness.
• Operational Leverage and Margin Growth: Rising economies of scale and technology-driven productivity are forecast to propel EBITDA margin towards 6.8% by 2026—a dramatic improvement from years past.
• ESG and Governance: Leadership stability under founder-CEO Bom Kim and progressive partnerships—such as government collaborations—underscore Coupang’s commitment to strategic, sustainable growth.
• Sector Trends: The Asian technology sector remains buoyed by favorable trends: digitization, cross-border commerce, and increased digital adoption in high-growth, urbanizing societies.

With all these catalysts in play, Coupang’s outlook remains distinctly positive, and the company appears primed to capitalize on key trends shaping global consumption and digital commerce in the years ahead.

Investment Strategies

Whether considering short-term, medium-term, or longer-horizon strategies, Coupang presents an ideal case for strategic entry:

• Short-Term: Recent pullbacks toward the $24–$25 support zone, coupled with momentum-based technical signals, offer attractive entry points for tactical traders anticipating breakouts above the $28.61 resistance.
• Medium-Term: Upcoming milestones—such as progress in Taiwan, incremental margin improvement, and seasonal e-commerce tailwinds—may drive a rerating toward the consensus target ($30.18) and potentially the calculated upside scenario ($36.26, a prospective 30% gain from current levels).
• Long-Term: For buy-and-hold investors, Coupang’s blend of rapid revenue growth, continually expanding TAM (total addressable market) through new services and geographies, and a proven model of achieving critical mass suggest multi-year compounding potential. The company’s trajectory shares early characteristics with global leaders such as Amazon, yet is still in the earlier innings of regional and product expansion.

Adopting a disciplined approach—either by entering near technical lows or ahead of new operational catalysts—positions investors to benefit from Coupang’s accelerating growth cycle.

Is it the Right Time to Buy Coupang?

Synthesizing all of the above, Coupang stands out through a rare confluence of structural market leadership, international expansion, innovative logistics-driven moat, and compelling growth metrics, all against a backdrop of sustained market confidence and tangible operational improvement. The stock has delivered consistent outperformance, and the guidance for 2025 signals a business poised for yet another period of profitable scaling.

In an environment where global investors seek scalable, resilient growth stories—especially those underscored by real technological and logistical advantage—Coupang seems to represent an excellent opportunity for preemptive exposure to the next wave of Asian e-commerce and digital services expansion. While attention to regulatory developments and geographic concentration remains warranted, the fundamental strengths, strong technical structure, and fresh catalysts reinforce the case for renewed optimism.

For investors seeking exposure to high-growth, innovation-driven technology stock leaders in emerging markets, Coupang offers an attractive blend of momentum, stability, and upside potential. The coming quarters appear particularly conducive to a strategic accumulation, with clear signs that a new bullish phase may already be underway—making Coupang a stock to seriously consider for dynamic portfolios focused on global secular trends.

How to buy Coupang stock in South Africa?

Buying Coupang (CPNG) shares online is both straightforward and secure when you use a regulated broker. South African investors can access this dynamic stock on the New York Stock Exchange from the comfort of home, in just a few clicks. You can choose between purchasing the shares directly (“spot buying”) or trading them via Contracts for Difference (CFDs) for more flexibility. Each method suits different investor profiles. To help you get started, a detailed broker comparison is available further down the page.

Cash Buying

Buying Coupang shares “in cash” means you become a direct shareholder: you own actual shares in your name, held by your broker. South Africans can do this via JSE-accredited global brokers that offer access to US stocks. Brokerage fees typically consist of a fixed commission per order, usually ranging from R100 to R250, or a small percentage of the transaction (e.g. 0.5%), whichever is higher.

Example

If the Coupang share price is $27.89 (about R520 at R18.65/USD), a $1,000 (approx. R18,650) investment lets you buy around 35 shares, after factoring in a typical brokerage fee of $5 (about R90).

• Gain scenario: If the Coupang share price rises by 10%, your 35 shares are now worth $1,100 (approx. R20,515). Result: +$100 gross gain, or roughly +10% on your investment (before costs and taxes).

Trading via CFD

CFDs (Contracts for Difference) are financial instruments that let you speculate on Coupang’s price movements without owning the underlying shares. With CFDs, you trade on margin—meaning you can use leverage to amplify both gains and losses. Instead of a commission, brokers earn via the spread (the difference between buy and sell prices), and there is an overnight financing fee if you hold positions for more than a day.

Example

Suppose you invest $1,000 (approx. R18,650) in a Coupang CFD at 5x leverage. This gives you market exposure of $5,000 (about R93,250).

• Gain scenario: If Coupang’s share price increases by 8%, your position gains 8% × 5 = 40%. Result: That’s a gross gain of +$400 on your $1,000 margin (before spreads and financing costs).

Final Advice

Before investing, take the time to compare each broker’s fees, currency conversion rates, and trading conditions. Some brokers focus on low commissions for US stocks, while others may offer competitive spreads for CFD trading. Your choice depends on whether you want to own Coupang shares directly for the long term, or take an active approach with leveraged CFDs. You’ll find a comprehensive broker comparison further down this page to help you make the right decision.

Our 7 tips for buying Coupang stock

The latest news about Coupang

Coupang’s stock price climbed 1.86% in the last week, fueled by strong momentum and technical signals. The company’s share price is currently at $27.89 and has seen a remarkable one-month surge of 18.43%, outperforming broader indices and approaching its 52-week high of $28.61. Recent technical analysis indicates a bullish outlook: the stock’s 14-day RSI reached 69.60 (nearing overbought territory), and the MACD remains positive, while its short-term moving averages are trending strongly above longer-term benchmarks. This upward movement signals growing investor confidence, supported by robust trading volumes and positive crossovers, which is particularly noteworthy for South African investors seeking exposure to high-momentum consumer technology stocks on the NYSE.

Coupang delivered solid Q1 2025 results, with revenue up 11% year-over-year and adjusted EBITDA growing by 20%. Revenue for the quarter reached $7.9 billion, a strong increase both nominally and on a currency-adjusted basis (+21%), reflecting the company’s operational resilience and international potential. The gross profit margin remains healthy and expanded to $2.3 billion, while adjusted EBITDA climbed to $382 million, supporting further investments. Although earnings per share ($0.06) marginally missed consensus forecast, profitability was broadly in line with expert estimates. This set of results is considered robust by global analysts and reinforces Coupang’s attractiveness for institutional investors in South Africa, who prioritize high-growth, fundamentally sound international equities.

An aggressive $1 billion share repurchase program and a 2025 revenue growth target of 20% underscore management’s confidence. Announced within the last week, Coupang’s new buyback initiative represents a significant capital return to shareholders and signals that management perceives the stock as undervalued at current levels. Additionally, the company’s forward guidance projects 20% revenue growth for 2025, far above many global peers and bolstering sentiment among professional investors in emerging markets such as South Africa, where access to rapidly growing global e-commerce plays is highly sought after.

International expansion, especially into new Asian markets like Taiwan, is accelerating and may diversify Coupang’s revenue streams. Coupang successfully launched its e-commerce operations in Taiwan, marking a significant step in its overseas growth strategy. This internationalization aims to reduce reliance on its core South Korean market—currently contributing about 40% of overall revenues—and broaden Coupang’s strategic footprint in Asia. For South African market participants, this diversification is a constructive signal, increasing the company’s resilience to regional economic or regulatory headwinds and highlighting its potential as a long-term global growth story.

Coupang’s partnership with the US Department of Commerce boosts its international B2B profile and enhances global trade prospects. Recently sealed, this collaboration will facilitate American companies’ access to Coupang’s platform for cross-border e-commerce. The initiative expands Coupang’s role as a global B2B logistics and retail partner, strengthening its brand and operational ties with Western markets. For South Africans, this increases the company’s appeal, as it may position Coupang as a leading platform for internationally distributed products, including those from and to African markets in the longer term, further supporting its stock’s strategic relevance and global growth narrative.

FAQ

P. Laurore

Finance expert

Co-founder of HelloSafe and holder of a Master's degree in finance, Pauline has recognised expertise in personal finance, which she uses to help users better understand and optimise their financial choices. At HelloSafe, Pauline plays a key role in designing clear, educational content on savings, investments and personal finance. Passionate about financial education, Pauline strives, with every piece of content she oversees, to provide reliable, transparent and unbiased information for independent and informed financial management. To this end, she has tested over 100 trading platforms to help internet users make the right choices.