Kiwoom Securities' high-net-worth clients rose sharply over the past year, and their holdings have been reshaped around large-cap semiconductor and auto stocks such as Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix and Hyundai Motor, the firm showed.

Kiwoom Securities said on Aug. 25 that its analysis of investment trends among its retail clients showed the number of individual customers had exceeded 9.05 million as of the end of last month.

That compares with 8.13 million at the end of July last year, an increase of about 920,000, or 11 percent.

The rise in high-net-worth clients was steeper than the overall client growth. Clients with deposited assets of 1 billion won or more increased 80.7 percent from the end of July last year, and those with 3 billion won or more rose about 90 percent.

High-net-worth clients' holdings also changed. The top holdings among clients with deposited assets of 1 billion won or more were Samsung Electronics, NAVER, SK Hynix, Kakao and Doosan Enerbility in July last year, in that order.

Last month, the order changed to Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, Hyundai Motor, Doosan Enerbility and NAVER. SK Hynix and Doosan Enerbility stayed near the top, while Hyundai Motor newly moved into third place.

Changes were similar among clients with 3 billion won or more. In July last year the order was Samsung Electronics, NAVER, Kakao, SK Hynix and Doosan Enerbility, but last month it was reshaped to Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, Hyundai Motor, Doosan Enerbility and Samsung Electro-Mechanics.

By age group, preferred holdings differed by generation. SK Hynix was the most widely held stock among investors in their 20s and younger, and those in their 30s. In July last year it ranked outside the top tier for both age groups, but last month it rose to No. 1 for both.

Among those aged 40 and older, Samsung Electronics held on to the top spot in holdings.

Hyundai Motor moved into the upper ranks across all age groups. In July last year it was included in the upper ranks only among investors in their 30s and 40s, but last month it was ranked around third to fourth across every age group, from those in their 20s and younger to those aged 60 and older.

Samsung Electronics preferred shares also newly entered the upper ranks among those in their 30s, 40s, 50s and those aged 60 and older.

By contrast, Kakao and Alteogen dropped out of the top five stocks across all age groups last month. In July last year, Kakao was included in the upper ranks among those in their 40s and 50s, and Alteogen among those in their 30s.

Doosan Enerbility stayed in the upper ranks for a second straight year among those in their 20s and younger, and those aged 60 and older.

A Kiwoom Securities official said, "Among high-net-worth clients recently, preferences in the 20s-30s generation stand out for stocks with high growth expectations, while interest among those aged 40 and older continues in stocks that have market representation and stability."