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Celltrion has surpassed Hyundai Motor in terms of market capitalization Monday, as the third largest company on the country's stock market, after Samsung Electronics and SK hynix.
The Korean pharmaceutical firm's market capitalization reached 37.1 trillion won ($34.8 billion) on the day _ higher than that of the country's largest carmaker with 33.2 trillion won. Celltrion has already overtaken POSCO with 32.2 trillion won and Naver with 31.3 trillion won.
The company's stock on the day rose 13.3 percent from the previous session, closing at 302,500 won on the KOSDAQ market.
Last month, the top ranking company on the junior tech-heavy index filed an application to the Korea Exchange so as to move to the KOSPI market, the nation's main bourse on which the above mentioned conglomerates are listed.
It is expected to make its KOSPI debut next month at the earliest, considering the process typically takes about 45 days.
If Celltrion continues to keep up this pace, the company will take the fourth spot on the benchmark index, following Samsung Electronics, SK hynix and the preferred stock of Samsung Electronics.
Because of the biosimilar producer's bright outlook on the expansion of its presence in the European and the U.S. markets, analysts said Celltrion will continue to remain strong.
"Celltrion will face various favorable factors for a few years," said analyst Kang Yang-ku at Hyundai Motor Investment & Securities.
"The company plans to release Herzuma, a biosimilar for the treatment of breast cancer, in the European market in the first quarter of this year. Also, it is expected to win approvals for Herzuma and Truxima, a biosimilar for treatment of haematological cancers, in the North American market in the second quarter."
In addition to Celltrion, the group's other affiliates have enjoyed the performance of their stocks from the beginning of this week.
Shares of Celltrion Healthcare, the company that conducts worldwide marketing, sales and distribution of biological medicines developed by Celltrion, closed at 117,500 won, up 7.8 percent from the previous session. Those of Celltrion Pharm, another subsidiary of Celltrion, closed at 66,800 won, up 4.38 percent from the previous session.
Against this backdrop, Celltrion Chairman Seo Jung-jin has recently become the nation's fourth-richest man in stock holdings, followed by SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won and Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Mong-koo.
The value of stock held by Seo surpassed 5 trillion won as of Friday, because of the rapid hike in Celltrion Healthcare shares, according to Chaebul.com, a conglomerate information provider.
Seo holds a 36.18 percent share of Celltrion Healthcare, but he does not own any Celltrion stocks.
Those richer than Seo in stock holdings were Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-hee, Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong and AmorePacific Chairman Suh Kyung-bae.
